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The Cincinnati Bengals didn’t end up as sellers at the trade deadline last season.
But that could change in 2020.
Just ask ESPN’s Bill Barnwell, who pointed out two notable Bengals players as likely trade candidates — John Ross and Billy Price.
While listing Ross, Barnwell proposed a trade that sends him to the New England Patriots in exchange for a sixth-round pick and wrote the following:
Another first-rounder from the prior regime gone wrong, Ross had injury issues in college at Washington, and he hasn’t been able to stay healthy as a pro. The No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 draft has flashed as a deep threat, but after dropping two passes in the opener, he was a healthy scratch before missing Week 5 with an illness. The Bengals have already declined his fifth-year option and will likely move on from the 25-year-old after the season.
Barnwell also suggests the Bengals send Price to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for a seventh-round pick.
And yes, that’s about as good as trade compensation figurest to get for either player. Ross has shown flashes as a redzone weapon and deep threat in the past, but his miserable connection with Joe Burrow (at least so far) has had him completely out of the lineup. Even the idea of his spacing an offense isn’t a good one, as a team as desperate for help as the Bengals hasn’t been using him.
With Price, it’s hard to imagine any team actually trades for him. He’s been downright horrific when inserted at guard (38.8 grade at PFF this year), but like Ross, the Bengals will probably take anything than can get for what is a surefire eventual departure.
Don’t expect trades to happen with either player, but if offers were to come in for some reason, the Bengals would be foolish not to jump.