CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Bengals enter the second half of October with a 3-2 record, an offense led by Joe Burrow, and a defense that has improved considerably from last season. With the NFL trade deadline approaching on November 10, the question is whether Cincinnati should look outside the organization for help.
The Bengals are in position to compete for a playoff spot, but they've also shown some weaknesses through their first five games. With Baltimore coming up Sunday and the AFC North race already looking competitive, adding a player or two could help address those problems before they become more costly.
The Defense Has Improved, But Questions Remain
Cincinnati's offseason investment in its defensive front has produced encouraging results. The Bengals have recorded 17 sacks through five games, with Boye Mafe, Dexter Lawrence, and Jonathan Allen each contributing three.
The improved pass rush has helped Cincinnati limit opposing quarterbacks, but stopping the run remains a different story. The Bengals are allowing five yards per carry, and Miami rushed for 217 yards in Cincinnati's 31-24 victory before the bye week.
Opponents have rushed for more than 150 yards in each of Cincinnati's last three games, creating a problem that could become more noticeable against physical divisional opponents. While the defense is allowing fewer points overall than it did last season, the inability to consistently stop opposing running backs remains a concern.
Adding another dependable run defender could help, although there's no guarantee that a midseason acquisition would immediately solve the problem. Cincinnati also has to determine whether its current personnel can improve through better tackling, positioning, and execution.
Don't Overlook the Offense
The Bengals' passing game remains their greatest strength. Burrow has thrown for 1,361 yards and 11 touchdowns through five games, while Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins give him one of the NFL's better receiving combinations.
Running the football has been less successful. Cincinnati is averaging just 3.6 yards per rushing attempt and has scored only two rushing touchdowns, leaving the offense heavily dependent on Burrow.
The Bengals showed improvement against Miami, rushing for 117 yards after managing only 23 against Jacksonville the previous week. Samaje Perine contributed 68 yards on 14 carries, but one productive performance doesn't establish that the problem has been fixed.
Adding another running back is an option, although Cincinnati might get more value from improving its blocking and finding a more consistent approach with the players already on the roster. The offensive line has done a better job protecting Burrow, but opening running lanes has been a different challenge.
Depth at tight end is another consideration following Tanner Hudson's placement on injured reserve with a pectoral injury. Mike Gesicki and Drew Sample remain the team's primary options, while Erick All Jr. could take on a larger role. Whether the Bengals need additional help at the position will depend partly on how much confidence they have in their current depth. Keep an eye on rookie Jack Endries, too. The seventh-round pick out of Texas had an impressive training camp, and the coaching staff has spoken highly of him.
Finding the Right Deal
The Bengals don't necessarily need a blockbuster trade. A dependable rotational defender, an experienced linebacker, or an affordable depth player could make a difference without requiring Cincinnati to surrender valuable draft picks.
That said, let's be honest. Talking about potential trades is mostly a futile exercise. One of the things that bothers me most about other writers and publications is the endless stream of mock trade articles that amount to little more than fantasy. None of us knows what calls have been made, which players are actually available, or what their teams would want in return. Without that information, most trade speculation is just guesswork dressed up as analysis in an effort to make money.
The Bengals have already invested heavily in their roster and have enough talent to make a postseason run. A trade should strengthen that roster rather than become a reaction to one bad performance.
With nearly three weeks remaining until the deadline, Cincinnati has time to evaluate its options. Sunday's matchup against Baltimore should provide another useful test of where the Bengals stand.
My preference? Stay the course, keep improving, and make a run at the Lombardi Trophy. There's already enough talent in Cincinnati to win a championship.
