Bengals news surrounds the team’s chances of repeating in the AFC North and also around Jessie Bates potentially being traded before the regular season gets underway.
The Cincinnati Bengals shocked the world last year by not only making the playoffs but winning the AFC North and representing the AFC in the Super Bowl. They came up short but no one in Cincinnati was disappointed with how the season went.
Despite last year’s success, not everything is smiles and sunshine. Jessie Bates was slapped with the franchise tag after the two sides failed to come to an agreement on a new contract. The Bengals have until July 15 to ink him to a new deal or else he’ll play on the franchise tag, something Bates has claimed he refuses to do.
Another option is for the team to trade Bates and this is the way to go if the team doesn’t think they’ll be able to work out a deal. They need to at least get something for him if a new deal isn’t possible.
Here’s what’s trending in Bengals news.
- Are Cincinnati Bengals clear-cut AFC North favorites [“Good Morning Football”, NFL.com]
- Cincinnati Bengals boast best cap situation of any NFL team [Chris Rolling, Bengals Wire]
- Predicting all 17 games on Bengals’ schedule [“NFL Total Access”, NFL.com]
- Eagles mailbag: How much would it cost to get Jessie Bates? [Dave Zangaro, NBC Sports]
- 6 players the Bengals were right to move on from in 2022 [Stripe Hype]
The article linking the Eagles to a potential Bates trade is definitely an interesting read if you haven’t checked that article out already.
Zangaro writes:
"The Bengals are going to want a first-round pick. They’d be crazy not to start there, especially when they’re talking to the Eagles, who have two first-rounders in 2023. In 2020, the Jets traded Jamal Adams to the Seahawks and got a first-round pick and in 2019 the Dolphins traded Minkah Fitzpatrick to the Steelers and got a first-round pick. So even though Bates isn’t as good as those two, the Bengals are going to ask for a first-rounder."
Sure, Cincinnati might ask for a first-round pick because why wouldn’t they? Now whether or not a team is willing to part ways with a first-round pick for a safety is another thing. How bad do the Eagles want Bates on their team?
Truthfully, a more realistic asking price for Bates is, at best, a second-rounder. Don’t get me wrong — Bates is a great player but he put together his worst regular season a year ago and didn’t turn it on until the playoffs. The Eagles, or anyone who pulls the trigger on a Bates trade, would be fools to part ways with a first-round pick to land him.
It’ll be interesting to see what happens with Bates as we continue to inch closer to the July 15 deadline.
As for the team repeating in the AFC North, they’re currently not favored to do so on WynnBET sitting with +210 odds while the Browns are the favorites with +160 odds. The Deshaun Watson trade is to thank for that but will Watson play much this season? Once we know more there, that’ll answer a lot of questions in the division.
Will the Bengals win the AFC North again? Will Jessie Bates be traded before the season begins? What do you think, fans?