The Cincinnati Bengals may not be aggressive buyers at the NFL trade deadline, but then again, this front office has shown that they're in attack mode more than ever after this offseason.
Cincinnati's myriad reinforcements on defense are paying off in a big way. Rather than resting on laurels despite an admittedly impressive 4-2 start, why not push the envelope a little more? Fire up the fan base and make a deadline deal!
As for teams who could be sellers around the trade ultimatum, the 0-6 Los Angeles Chargers are a prime suspect.
Bolt Beat's Alex Insdorf compiled a list of 10 potential players the Chargers could put on the block, with compensation outlined for each of them. Who do I like most out of that bunch, which doesn't include my would-be No. 1 Derwin James? Let me tell you.
Keaton Mitchell and Tuli Tuipulotu stand out as top Bengals trade targets from Chargers
Let's get Tuli Tuipulotu out of the way first because he's just a fun fix to an underrated dilemma the Bengals will soon face.
Myles Murphy is a free agent this coming offseason and looks like a replaceable starter. Shemar Stewart is an apparent bust. If you're a 17th overall pick and are a healthy scratch, you might be expendable. Just saying.
Do the Bengals really want to roll into 2027 by overpaying to keep Murphy? Or count on Shemar or a short-armed Cashius Howell to just step in as a full-time starter? Or is Cedric Johnson the guy?
Not sold on any of those options. Give me Tuipulotu if he can be had. Big "if."
Insdorf surmises that the Chargers may not allow Tuipulotu to get away, and that it'd cost a second- or third-round pick for any suitor to snag him:
"The Chargers had all summer to get a deal done with Tuli Tuipulotu. They didn't. For that reason, teams will still try to call on the productive EDGE rusher. Tuipulotu in theory is the most valuable asset the Chargers have on this list. He's now up to 19 pressures and two sacks on the season. He's still just 24 years old after a full rookie contract in the league. Sure, in theory that's a second or third-round pick player type of cost."
Why the Bolts didn't extend Tuipulotu immediately after he posted 8.5 and 13 sacks the past two seasons respectively is beyond me. If they don't want to pay him, I'd be happy for the Bengals to. Or they could franchise tag him next offseason after a trade. That'd be far better than counting on the current defensive end options not named Boye Mafe.
OK thanks for indulging my fantasy take there. Now the more pragmatic option: Keaton Mitchell, a sensationally speedy running back who'd provide just what the Bengals need in the backfield.
Chase Brown is sort of explosive but doesn't make nearly enough defenders miss to be a feature back. Samaje Perine has never been the bell cow in any offense, and doesn't have home run hitting ability like Mitchell does. Both Brown and Perine are free agents after this season, too.
From what Insdorf indicates here, it sounds like Mitchell would be a better scheme fit with Cincy's less robust menu of running plays — even if he's a touch expensive:
"Mitchell has had a decent season with 35 carries for 139 yards and a receiving TD. But he has yet to really find his footing on the outside zone rushing looks that McDaniel intended to use him in. Contractually, Mitchell has a $6.1 million cap hit next season. But he also doesn't have any guaranteed salary. The Chargers would save $4.25 million against the cap in 2027 if they were to move on from Mitchell via cut."
This Bengals running game is ready to pop. They just need a true burner alongside Joe Burrow to make that fraction of a difference and really balanced this offense out. Mitchell is just the guy they're looking for, and Insdorf estimates it'd only cost a sixth-round pick.
Keaton Mitchell for a sixth-round pick? Uhh...sign me up. When he was with the Ravens last year, Mitchell had 10 carries for 85 yards and a TD against Cincinnati in two games.
Mitchell averaged 8.4 yards per carry en route to 396 yards as a rookie in 2023. Although he suffered a torn ACL to cut that year short, he's still only 24 years old. It's not like he has a lot of wear and tear, either, because the Chargers aren't making him their feature back.
I would love to see what Mitchell could do when complemented with a passing attack like Cincinnati's. Sure feels like he'd cook.
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