Bengals trades – Syndication Server

Cincinnati Bengals implored to strike up trade with Packers

One trade suggestion for the Bengals loops in the Packers.

During one of the most crucial stretches of the organization’s history, the Cincinnati Bengals will look at all avenues to improve the team this offseason.

While contracts for the likes of Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and Trey Hendrickson take the spotlight, other means of improving the roster will also get a look.

Take, for example, striking up trades. One interesting hypothetical idea just proposed? Calling the Green Bay Packers about linebacker Quay Walker, courtesy of Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport:

Walker has struggled at times for Green Bay. He needs to clean up his tackling and he’s still refining his game, but the prospect of adding more length and athleticism to pair with Wilson could make this a better defense next season.

It’s easy to handwave such an idea away because the roster already boasts Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt.

But as outsiders, we can’t 100 percent know how new coordinator Al Golden feels about both for the future. He helped coach both up, yes, but with full control of the overall unit, perhaps he wants different skill sets for his scheme.

Walker has struggled with 20 missed tackles and has issues in coverage, but the former first-round pick has some interesting upside and is on an affordable rookie contract before a fifth-year option.

If nothing else, perhaps this is an example of a mid-tier move the Bengals could look to do this offseason while shuffling the roster up.

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Trey Hendrickson’s agent provides update on contract talks with Bengals

The latest on the Trey Hendrickson saga.

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson ramped up the pressure on the front office this week during a public appearance.

During the interview, Hendrickson effectively threw out an extension-or-trade ultimatum while stressing that he absolutely does not want to leave the Bengals.

Hendrickson’s agent, Harold Lewis, followed up not long after by telling WLWT’s Charlie Clifford that he will meet with the Bengals next week.

“The ultimate goal is to make him a Bengal for the long-term,” Harold said, per Clifford.

The latest comes roughly a week after Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin spoke about Hendrickson and the earned pay raise coming his way.

Tobin, though, understandably, stressed that team and player have to agree on what exactly the raise looks like.

Hendrickson requested a trade last year before playing during the season and leading the NFL in sacks. He’s dramatically underpaid compared to his production, but the fact he’s hovering around the age of 30 and the Bengals have other big names to pay complicates things.

No matter how it turns out, fans could start to get some answers next week.

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Trey Hendrickson issues Bengals ultimatum over contract and trade

Trey Hendrickson didn’t hold back in a new interview.

The situation between the Cincinnati Bengals and star defender Trey Hendrickson was always going to get messy.

Wednesday served up proof.

Appearing on Pat McAfee’s show, Hendrickson was blunt in his assessment of his current situation with the Bengals.

One sentence summed it up well: “I want to help win a Super Bowl for Cincinnati if I’m there or not.”

Translated: Extension or trade me.

“I think the offseason is a good time to address contract issues,” Hendrickson said. “You don’t wanna become a distraction for the team because the goal is to win a Super Bowl for Cincinnati..If there’s something we can agree on I would love to stay in Cincinnati.”

It’s unfortunate things have reached this point for the Bengals. Hendrickson requested a trade last offseason due to dissatisfaction with his current contract.

Now, it seems the two parties haven’t been on the same page in the wake of the season ending. Even worse, while Hendrickson said he appreciated recent public comments made by Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin, he would’ve preferred to hear it from the team, rather than through public means.

The fact Hendrickson is this open to being traded speaks volumes, as does his desire to not let this linger into training camp.

For what it’s worth, quarterback Joe Burrow is next up on the media tour around the Super Bowl on Thursday, and he’s been mildly critical and open about things, too.

Duke Tobin has been speaking about contract extensions..

“I would have preferred to hear about this differently than my dad texting me a tweet..

Obviously the table is being set..

I love to play football and I love for my play to do the talking” ~ Trey Hendrickson #PMSLive https://t.co/1vudxJtMjk pic.twitter.com/V8h18NLgh6

— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) February 5, 2025

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Bengals trade idea, plus contract juggling and comp pick, isn’t all that bad

Some interesting ideas to keep in mind about a possible Bengals trade.

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t going to stop being mentioned as a top destination for wideouts in free agency and the draft until a decision on the future of Tee Higgins becomes clear.

Likewise, the Bengals won’t stop being mentioned alongside Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp until they either figure out the Higgins situation or something else happens with Kupp.

Higgins remains priority No. 1 for the Bengals right now. But there are some interesting points raised from a Bengals perspective worth examining, courtesy of Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, who suggests a fourth-round pick might be enough to make a trade happen:

“The Rams may be balking at paying Kupp over the next two seasons, but L.A.’s opponent in Super Bowl LVI would actually be saving money by swapping out Higgins for Kupp–and that’s without restructuring Kupp’s deal. The compensatory pick the Bengals get for Higgins’ departure would be higher than what they are giving up here.”

A fourth-round pick to acquire Kupp isn’t all that bad when considering the other notes there. For one, the compensatory pick for losing Higgins would be notable.

And two, there’s always the possibility that Kupp restructures his current contract upon arrival. That would free up more cap space than anticipated if he’s the Higgins replacement, letting the team funnel more cash into other problem areas (interior offensive line and the entire defense).

As we’ve stressed repeatedly, the Bengals aren’t really a legit Kupp trade candidate. Higgins is a much better option and, beyond the trade cost and contract, Kupp is on the wrong side of 30 with spotty attendance woes the past few years.

That said, if the worst happens with Higgins, factors like comp picks and some contract wizardry (either restructure after trade or team-friendly in free agency) are factors to keep in mind with Kupp.

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Cincinnati Bengals have surprisingly good odds to land former All-Pro

Oddsmakers really like the idea of this former All-Pro joining the Bengals.

While we’ve suggested the Cincinnati Bengals don’t appear to be the best fit as a trade partner for Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp, that doesn’t mean everyone agrees on that point.

In fact, it would appear that oddsmakers tend to love the idea.

Over at DraftKings, for example, the Bengals are co-favorites to land Kupp, listed at +500 — tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers. Four teams sit at +600 just behind them.

As of now, those lines are pretty similar, no matter where one looks.

Two big factors play a role here. One, there’s the easy-to-make connection between Zac Taylor and the Rams. Two, the fate of Tee Higgins with the Bengals is a question mark.

Despite this, Higgins is still obviously option No. 1 for the Bengals and things have taken a drastic shift in his return outlook since he changed agents.

If Higgins leaves, though, Kupp might make some sense if he’s available as a free agent, hence the strong odds. The fact he’s going to be 32 years old soon and has attendance issues notwithstanding, he’d be near the top of the list in free agency if the price is right.

That said, this certainly isn’t advice suggesting to take the strong odds.

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Bengals flip Tee Higgins for top star in Luka Doncic-inspired trade idea

This NBA-inspired trade idea won’t happen, but it does touch on a few interesting points.

By now, Cincinnati Bengals fans might’ve heard about the stunning, blockbuster NBA trade that sent Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Those fans also might’ve seen a few NFL comparisons for the sake of fun, too.

And while nothing in real life might end up compared to the colossal dud that was the Cleveland Browns trading for Deshaun Watson, the Doncic move has inspired lots of big, unrealistic, and lopsided trade ideas (which is the point of the fun exercise).

One of the most notable from a Bengals perspective comes from Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox, who suggests the Bengals apply a second franchise tag to Tee Higgins and trade him to the New England Patriots in exchange for cornerback Christian Gonzalez:

Sign-and-trade deals are common in the NBA. They’re less common in the NFL, though tag-and-trade agreements do occur. Last offseason, for example, cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and pass-rusher Brian Burns were both traded after first receiving the franchise tag.

The idea gets points for being savvy enough to loop in the common trope that is NBA sign-and-trades.

What’s interesting about the Bengals is that, if Higgins totally wants out of town, that sort of deal might be something Cincinnati explores.

Gonzalez, for what it’s worth, was a 2023 first-round pick who is clearly on his way to superstardom and the Bengals have big problems at the spot with Cam Taylor-Britt erratic and both Dax Hill and DJ Turner coming back from injury.

Even more interesting, though? The Bengals could very well opt to franchise tag Higgins again and keep him at a roughly $26 million cost, which would fly far under the average annual value he might get on the open market as a free agent.

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Bengals aren’t fit for Cooper Kupp trade — but it keeps getting suggested

The Bengals making a trade with the Rams for Cooper Kupp doesn’t make sense.

While Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tee Higgins wants to know his long-term fate as soon as possible, outsiders continue to suggest alternatives.

If the Bengals can’t come to terms on an extension with Higgins while also paying Ja’Marr Chase, they have a bevy of other ways they could attempt to fill the void left by his departure in free agency.

The most prominent example right now making the rounds comes in the wake of the revelation that the Los Angeles Rams are attempting to trade wideout Cooper Kupp.

ESPN NFL analyst Dan Orlovsky listed the Bengals as just one of four teams that make sense as a fit for Kupp.

To be blunt, the fit doesn’t make a lot of sense. Kupp has a past with Zac Taylor and might be interesting on the same field as Chase.

But the surrounding factors are the issue. On the money front, Kupp would be due $20 million in 2025 and nearly that same number in 2026 — after the Bengals cough up assets to strike the trade (and if he doesn’t want an extension upon arrival).

Kupp is also going on 32 years old in June and hasn’t played a full season since 2021. He played in just 12 games in each of the last two seasons and nine the year before that.

The Bengals just don’t make a habit of paying their own guys over 30 big contracts, let alone somebody else. And if they aren’t bringing back Higgins, they figure to roll the cash spend to another problem area on the roster, not the spot with a historic, top-in-league contract already.

If the Bengals manage to lose Higgins in the coming months, they will probably be looking for more reliable attendance at a more affordable rate. But until the future at wideout becomes clear for the team, suggestions like this will keep making the rounds.

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NFL analysts suggest controversial top Bengals trade target

The Bengals wouldn’t consider a trade like this…right?

Of the positions the Cincinnati Bengals need to fix this offseason, cornerback tends to fly under the proverbial radar.

While Dax Hill and DJ Turner showed promise last year as long-term options, both are now working back from season-ending injuries.

As such, free agency and the draft seem like top options for the Bengals when it comes to fixing the premium position.

Bleacher Report, though, goes a bold direction while listing Green Bay Packers cornerback Jaire Alexander as the top trade target priority for the Bengals:

A pair of Green Bay defenders could be interesting for the Bengals for different reasons. The defense needs an overhaul and bringing on a veteran cornerback like Jaire Alexander could be an aggressive step towards fixing it. Alexander has struggled with injuries over the last few seasons but has two All-Pro selections on his resume. If he can return to that form he would be a huge boost for the Bengals secondary.

This one registers as a controversial suggestion, though. Going into his age-28 season, Alexander is a $25.4 million cap hit in 2025, which escalates to $27.8 million in its final year in 2026.

Not only is Alexander pricey, he suited up in just seven games in each of the last two seasons. He’s played more than seven games in a season just once since 2021.

Right now, the Bengals need reliable attendance at the cornerback spot in addition to high upside. Cam Taylor-Britt’s erratic play, plus Hill, Turner and sophomore Josh Newton present a core the team hopes can upswing under new coordinator Al Golden.

If the Bengals make a trade or add a veteran, it’s going to be somebody who won’t cost as much as Alexander, while also bringing a more stable presence.

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Bengals urged to trade Trey Hendrickson to NFC contender

The Bengals get a big draft haul in a trade idea involving their star defender.

The Cincinnati Bengals have a budding Trey Hendrickson problem this offseason.

That much was revealed in a recent report, which wasn’t all that shocking considering Hendrickson demanded a trade last offseason due to dissatisfaction with his contract.

But one could argue that Hendrickson ranks second or third in terms of the Big Three needing new deals from the Bengals this offseason. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the others.

And that’s why Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport suggests the Bengals trade Hendrickson to the Detroit Lions in exchange for a 2025 second-round pick and 2026 third-round pick:

Hendrickson and Hutchinson would be a phenomenal duo on the edge. The Lions have the salary-cap space to make an extension for Hendrickson work.

Push your chips into the middle of the table, Lions. Get what you can for a player who won’t be extended, Bengals.

Given the miserable state of the defense around Hendrickson and his NFL-leading 17.5 sacks last year, it’s hard to imagine the Bengals let him get away.

That said, this is about the compensation the Bengals could expect if things get to this point. While he paced the NFL in sacks and doesn’t appear to be slowing down just yet, Hendrickson is 30 years old and will want a top-tier extension.

The Bengals, of course, are in win-now mode and haven’t developed talent properly over the last few years, so swapping Hendrickson for draft picks would be a major step back in more ways than one.

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Bengals oddly listed as top landing spot for All-Pro WR

The Bengals seem like a team ready to get Tee Higgins back. But if they don’t, would this be an option?

Given the struggles of Jermaine Burton and other misses, the Cincinnati Bengals feel like a team pacing to get Tee Higgins back on an extension this offseason.

Until that actually happens, though, the Bengals will keep coming up in trade and free-agency speculation.

A good recent example comes from Bleacher Report’s Maurice Moton, who lists the Bengals as one of the top landing spots in the league for Los Angeles Rams wideout Cooper Kupp:

Kupp also has ties to Bengals head coach Zac Taylor, who served as the Rams’ assistant wide receivers coach in 2017. As the Bengals’ primary play-caller, Taylor could see Kupp as a trustworthy veteran who fits in his offense.

Knowing how the Bengals like to operate, though, the discussion is pretty moot from the jump. Kupp feels like a cut candidate for the Rams if they can’t find a trade partner, but Kupp is starting to age (31) and hasn’t played a full season since 2021.

On paper, the idea of Kupp spacing an offense alongside Ja’Marr Chase is nice. But an agent change, Joe Burrow’s demands and reports point to Higgins returning.

If the Bengals are going to spend big on a non-Chase contract, it’s going to be on the guy already proven within the offense and beloved in the building and city.

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