T. J. Houshmandzadeh will once again possibly play a role for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason, this time ahead of the 2020 NFL draft via Joe Burrow.
Houshmandzadeh has had an influence on the Bengals in the past, perhaps most prominently while he helped train John Ross.
Now Houshmandzadeh has revealed he’ll work with Jordan Palmer on Joe Burrow, the likely first overall pick by the Bengals.
But Houshmandzadeh had a noteworthy opinion when asked about the idea of the Bengals trading the No. 1 pick — and likey the rights to Burrow — in exchange for draft picks, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
“Do I want to draft him if I’m the Bengals? Yeah. But if the Dolphins are going to offer me three first-rounders, or if some team is going to offer me two first-rounders this year and a first-rounder next year, I have to strongly consider it for the good of the team. …
“I’m friends with the Browns. Mike, Troy and Katie and Paul. People still connect me with the Bengals. I would like to see them do well. That’s why I say, if you can get picks, you have to consider it. If not, you draft Joe and you hope it works out.”
Houshmandzadeh makes it clear the Bengals should go get Burrow if they think he’s the guy. But he sets the asking price of three first-round picks as what might make him pause.
Should it? Maybe. But while a trio of first-round selections would be nice, the Super Bowl just showed a Patrick Mahomes outweighs a defensive line littered with first-round prospects. And trading out of No. 1 also means missing on the storyline that is an in-state product like Burrow coming home with a chance to save the franchise.
Like Houshmandzadeh admits, it’s a tough call.
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