The Cincinnati Bengals are preparing for their first international game in the Joe Burrow era, as they play against the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid on Sunday. With a win, the Bengals would go to 6-2 and gain much-needed ground on the Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2), who have a bye this week.
Sunday marks the last week of games before the trade deadline, which comes on Tuesday. It will give the Bengals' front office a last look at this roster before they decide whether to make a move and push this team to become even more of a contender.
There's been a lot of talk around a potential trade for Colts running back Jonathan Taylor in recent weeks, but any deal would likely take a first-round pick to get done. It's not out of the realm of possibility, but it seems more likely that the Bengals will make a move to improve the defense.
The defense does look better this year compared to last season; however, there's still one major weakness which the Bengals have failed to address. Al Golden's unit is one of the worst in the league against tight ends. The Bengals have allowed the second-most receiving yards per game to the position (88.7) and the second-most receptions per game (7). So, why not do something to fix that before the deadline...
The Bengals should trade for Falcons linebacker Divine Deablo
In terms of stopping tight ends, the position that you would look at in coverage is the strong-side linebacker, who is usually lined up on the same side as the tight end, whether that be in man or zone coverage.
The Bengals' starting strong-side linebacker is Oren Burks, who has just nine solo tackles on the year, and has a PFF coverage grade of 50.0, with opposing quarterbacks posting a passer rating of 118.5 when targeting his coverage.
If the Bengals traded for an experienced and proven strong-side linebacker, they may just solve their tight end issue. This is where Divine Deablo comes into play. The 28-year-old spent four years with the Las Vegas Raiders, before moving to Atlanta in 2024. His current contract is due to expire at the end of the season, making him an upcoming free agent, and someone that the Bengals could get for pennies on the dollar.
According to A-Z Sports' trade simulator, the Bengals could easily get Deablo for a 2027 fifth-round pick, and considering his pending free agent status, maybe even a sixth-rounder. It's not that Deablo is an elite linebacker by any means, but he excels in the area that Cincinnati doesn't, and so it would be a very smart move for this front office.
Last season, Deablo was ranked as the 12th-best linebacker in the NFL by PFF, and he is particularly strong in coverage against tight ends. It is no coincidence that the Falcons only allow 54.9 receiving yards per game to the position compared to Cincy's 88.7.
It's a minimal price for the Bengals to make a move which could genuinely fix one of their biggest issues on defense. In a season where we're seriously contending, not just for the AFC North, but for a potential Super Bowl run, it's an absolute no-brainer.
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