The Cincinnati Bengals are closing in not only on a momentous game in Madrid, but a potentially even more momentous NFL trade deadline if they have the desire to seize such an opportunity.
I wouldn't even put this on the Bengals' radar in the past. They believe in the guys they have in the locker room to famously paraphrase Zac Taylor. With the utmost gratitude from Who Dey Nation, this Cincinnati's brass decided to not delude themselves this offseason and actually built a Super Bowl-worthy roster.
Thus far, Dexter Lawrence is playing like a Defensive Player of the Year candidate. Joe Burrow is playing like a legit MVP contender. The team's record is 5-2. And yet...there's a sneaky feeling that they could get considerably better with the right trade before the November 10th ultimatum.
Worth diving deeper into this landmark date on the NFL calendar from a Cincinnati perspective? Methinks yes.
- When is the 2026 NFL trade deadline?
- Jonathan Taylor is the big catch, but can the Bengals meet Colts' demands?
- Bengals' biggest needs and best targets at the trade deadline
- Latest Bengals trade rumors
When is the 2026 NFL trade deadline?
- Date: November 10, 2026
- Time: 4 p.m. ET
- Last Bengals game before then: vs. Falcons (Nov. 8 in Madrid)
Jonathan Taylor is the big catch, but can the Bengals meet Colts' demands?
My trade deadline big board for the Bengals has Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor firmly entrenched at the top.
Certain cherry-picked advanced stats from this year would suggest Chase Brown is actually better than Taylor in some areas. Let's not overthink this and use our eyeballs, shall we? Brown is not a fraction as explosive, elusive, or productive as Taylor, who was an MVP candidate last season during Indy's hot start.
The tricky thing is, there are many suitors coveting Taylor's services. I could easily see another team outbidding the Bengals. For me, I'm fine with spending what should be a late first-round pick to get him.
The 10th overall pick for Sexy Dexy was well worth it. Bringing clarity to the running back position by dealing for Taylor is well worth it for Cincinnati, who'll soon see Brown and Samaje Perine hit free agency.
Everyone outside of our fanbase understands that Jonathan Taylor is a top 3-5 RB in football at 27 years old. All the opposition are scared shitless of us getting him (ask your group chat). & the only people that don’t realize this are nitpicking segmented only favorable data… https://t.co/RuR0wkscVB
— ZIM (@zimwhodey) November 5, 2026
Bengals' biggest needs and best targets at the trade deadline
Stripe Hype contributor Christopher Kokaliares' piece serves as a stellar summary of these needs. The primary ones are running back, tight end, linebacker, and safety.
My favorite targets by position are as follows:
- Running back: Jonathan Taylor (Colts), Tony Pollard (Titans), Keaton Mitchell (Chargers)
- Tight end: Juwan Johnson (Saints), Dallas Goedert (Eagles)
- Linebacker: Zack Baun (Eagles), Daiyan Henley (Chargers)
- Safety: Amani Hooker (Titans), Justin Reid (Saints)
Really could use another tight end with Erick All Jr. out for the season due to a torn ACL. Linebacker is a concern in perpetuity until another notable player is added. Same goes for safety. Tough week to be facing Jessie Bates, I'll tell you that.
Hopefully the Colts' fire sale continues and the Chargers don't delude themselves into thinking they can still make something happen this year after a 0-7 start. That would be the epitome of a sunk-cost fallacy. Not sure Jim Harbaugh even knows what that is.
The Eagles are also falling apart. Goedert would be a cool weapon at tight end, but Zack Baun would transform both Cincinnati's linebacker corps and pass rush with his versatility.
As for the two Titans mentioned, well, Pollard just ran all over the Bengals in Week 8 and Hooker intercepted Joe Burrow three times. I wouldn't have let them get on the plane back to Nashville and just took either 'em to Spain. Oh well.
Latest Bengals trade rumors
Jonathan Taylor is absolutely on Cincinnati's radar
NFL insider Jordan Schultz specifically named the Bengals as a suitor for Jonathan Taylor, in addition to the Vikings, Packers, Broncos, and Giants.
Now that Jordan Mason is back for Minnesota, and the G-Men and Broncos seem to have plenty deep backfields, to me it should come down to Green Bay and Cincinnati. I could see the Packers prevailing, but then again, other than the Micah Parsons trade, they're not super inclined to pull off these big blockbusters.
Who would've thought? Me forecasting the historically conservative freaking Packers and Bengals as the most logical Taylor trade contenders. What a world we live in.
Bengals potential first-round bust Shemar Stewart is reportedly a trade target
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, Shemar Stewart would be a surprising non-target. And to be real, this is the only other trade rumor of note to emerge from Cincinnati in recent weeks.
The Bengals typically keep a tight seal around the building. Not many leaks save for the ones that Jordan Schultz reports on. It'd be quite the bailout for another team to take Stewart off Cincinnati's hands.
If ever there was a time for Stewart to step up to the plate, it'd be right about now. Rookie second-rounder Cashius Howell just underwent wrist surgery and the entire complexion of the Bengals' front seven has changed with his long-term absence.
Suspicions about an impending trade will only intensify if Stewart doesn't see significant action in Madrid. We'll all find out together here soon...
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