Bengals: PFF proposes trade with Patriots to upgrade O-line

This is an article that concerns protecting Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow, so it’s automatically relevant in 2021.

With the trade deadline coming up, NFL writers are getting more article-happy, so we’re just following the trend.

Brad Spielberger of PFF recently released a list of players who could be on the move, including one intriguing acquisition for the Bengals.

PFF proposes that the New England Patriots could trade offensive lineman Ted Karras to Cincinnati in return for a 2022 seventh-round pick.

Financially, the deal works. But does it make sense?

Spielberger writes:

"The downside is minimal if anything, as Karras can also serve as a quality reserve interior offensive lineman. Cincinnati acquired a conditional seventh-round pick from the Giants in the Price trade, so the team could end up with interior defensive lineman B.J. Hill and interior offensive lineman Ted Karras for a swap of seventh-rounders."

Ah, yes. The Billy Price trade. Or as we like to call it, the Billy Price grand larceny.

Stripe Hype’s Leigh Oleszczak wrote about how the trade was a win-win for both the Bengals and the Giants, but one month later, it’s clear that Cincinnati got the longer stick in that deal.

Could lightning strike twice? Could the Bengals unearth yet another golden ticket, this time from the New England Patriots ahead of the deadline?

Cincinnati Bengals could entertain trade for Patriots OL Ted Karras in 2021

Two weeks ago, the Patriots shocked the league when they announced they planned to move on from 2019 Defensive Player of the Year Stephon Gilmore, who has since found a welcoming home in Carolina.

New England has shown they’re amenable to a trade when it comes to important roster moves, and according to PFF, Ted Karras could be another Patriot on the trading block.

How Karras ended up on New England in 2021 springs from some strange circumstances, but the more important point here is that the Bengals could use a competent lineman like him.

Despite only playing 38 percent of offensive snaps for the Patriots, Karras has earned the eighth-best pass-blocking grade among interior O-linemen through Week 5 (81.3), splitting time between left and right guard, With Bengals’ current starter Trey Hopkins still returning to full strength, Karras would at the very least provide value as a rotational depth piece.

The Bengals aren’t normally used to having a strong O-line, but now that they have a decent one in 2021 (fingers crossed), they could obtain Karras for the extra interior insurance, because a premium QB like Joe Burrow deserves that kind of lush, velvety protection.

Cincinnati have been badly burned in the past for asking questions like, “What’s the worst that could happen?” By adding Karras to the offensive line corps, they would be setting themselves up for every bit of success this season and for a legitimate playoff run.