The NFL trade deadline came and went on Tuesday and the Cincinnati Bengals did not make a single move. Unfortunately, they don't even get an "A" for effort because they failed to acquire Arnold Ebiketie from the Eagles, which is a bad look on multiple fronts.
Meanwhile, some front offices are capable of critically looking at their rosters, identifying weak spots, and trading for players who address those. Seems pretty straightforward, no?
Seldom is it ever so simple in Cincinnati. Would that it twurrrrr so saimple.
Indeed alas the Buffalo Bills and Denver Broncos, both of whom have elite QBs in Josh Allen and Bo Nix — KIDDING! — and are AFC division leaders, made one huge splashy move apiece.
Daiyan Henley is just the type of spark the Bengals could've used at linebacker
OK so the Chargers are a dumpster fire. For whatever reason they've just imploded this season and they felt fine about selling off one of their starting linebackers in Daiyan Henley. It only cost the AFC West rival Broncos a 2027 fourth- and 2028 fifth-round pick, per Adam Schefter.
Unless Demetrius Knight Jr. starts getting sent almost exclusively as a blitzer, or Barrett Carter valmorphanizes into a better athlete and player, neither of them can hold Henley's jock.
Remember that the Bolts had an excellent defense that went to the playoffs in the prior two years under mastermind Jesse Minter. Henley was the green dot linebacker for those top-flight units, and he's also one of the more engaging, entertaining personalities in the sport. Check out pretty much any interview of his. He'd have been a great locker room guy in Cincy.
But onward we go. The coaching staff and front office have their heels dug in on Knight and Carter. Surely that won't come back to bite us!
Prolific Joe Burrow interceptor Amani Hooker suddenly makes Bills' defense far more formidable
Another Schefty bomb: Amani Hooker from the Titans to the Bills as Buffalo gives up a second- and fifth-round pick to get the deal done.
Just like I advocated for the Bengals to trade for Henley, I homed in on Hooker once he picked off Joe Burrow thrice in Week 8. Hooker has the versatility to play nickel or box safety, too, so he would've been even more useful in Cincinnati given the current state of affairs (starting nickelback Jalen Davis on IR, etc.).
The Bills have notoriously struggled in the secondary this year (29th vs. the pass; surprised acquiring Geno Stone didn't help! Kidding of course), and it hasn't mattered much thanks to Josh Allen. Rather than trust their in-house guys, they did something about it. The Bengals now have to continue counting on Jordan Battle in big spots. An avoidable risk if you ask me!
But again...Buffalo and Denver recognized two available, high-quality players to help their defense. The Bengals have clear defensive flaws yet chose to stand pat. This is not the vibe of a truly all-in team for a Super Bowl.
I credit Cincinnati's brass for coming very far in one offseason. But really? No trades at the trade deadline for this team? Joe Burrow is playing like an MVP, and honestly,how the Bengals approached and ultimately botched the trade deadline should strengthen his case for that award if anything!
Add us as a preferred source on Google