The Bengals’ path forward is staring them right in the face, and it runs through Indianapolis.
With the Colts unloading talent this week in a full-on fire sale, Jonathan Taylor has become the name hovering over the trade market. That’s exactly why Cincinnati is being urged to swing big again. They already spent draft capital to remake the defense with Dexter Lawrence, and the argument now is that they should use the same aggressive approach on offense.
Former NFL offensive lineman Breiden Fehoko made the case bluntly on X, saying, "The Bengals can lock in a guaranteed Super Bowl if they trade for Jonathan Taylor. Teams would choose to either run a light box to defend Ja’Marr (Chase) and Tee (Higgins) or load up to stop JT. YOU CAN'T DO BOTH," Fehoko declared on X.
That idea is tied to more than just star power. Cincinnati’s schedule is soft enough that pushing all in makes sense, and the Bengals are sitting on the AFC’s No. 1 seed hunt with what has been described as the easiest remaining schedule in the league by a wide margin. The message is simple: this is the time to attack.
Taylor also fits a football need. Landon Belote broke down how the Colts running back has been effective this season out of under center looks, which could help Cincinnati address its own issues in that area. He’s been a productive runner from shotgun as well, and he has been a steady presence since entering the league in 2020, with only one season graded below 65.3 overall.
Of course, the price won’t be cheap. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that the Colts do not want to move Taylor, and the asking price could reach a first-round pick. Cincinnati does have eight draft picks in the upcoming spring, including an extra projected third-round compensation pick at No. 99 overall, which gives them some flexibility if they decide to make a push.
There’s also the contract to consider. Taylor is set to begin a new extension worth more than $20 million next season and again in 2028.
That’s the kind of problem a team sorts out later if it gets to chase a title now. In the worst case, he could be released in the offseason for a $10 million cap hit and $11 million in savings, but the more likely reality is that he would remain the lead back going forward.
Right now, only Tahj Brooks is under contract.
Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show that the Colts’ stance is likely to keep teams guessing over the next two weeks before the deadline. "I think the owner doesn't want to trade.
We have two weeks from now until the deadline," Schefter said on The Pat McAfee Show. "I'm sure they don't want to trade Jonathan Taylor.
And if I had to guess today, I would say I don't think they will trade Jonathan Taylor.
"But I think there are going to be teams that are interested out there that will try to have conversations, make offers, and if the Colts don't change their stance, they won't trade Jonathan Taylor. But again, I think the owner doesn't want to trade him.
For the record, right now. Now, that doesn't mean it won't happen, that may just be their stance to drive up the price."
That uncertainty doesn’t really change Cincinnati’s assignment. The Bengals have already shown they’re willing to spend capital for a proven difference-maker, and this feels like another chance to do exactly that. With the schedule lining up and the AFC race within reach, the push to stay aggressive is only getting louder.
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From Cincinnatis side, the appeal is obvious too. Any time a contender in the AFC loses a disruptive defender off the schedule, it catches the attention of a coach preparing for the next stretch of games. Both brothers had a lighthearted take on the deal ahead of their teams upcoming matchups, and for Bengals fans, the best part may be that their head coach sounded like he appreciated the timing just as much as the rest of them did. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Running Back Search Just Got Much Tougher Than Fans Hoped
The market for running back help just got a lot more complicated, and Cincinnati is watching from the same uncomfortable place as everyone else. Indianapolis has reportedly already turned down a trade offer for Jonathan Taylor that included multiple draft picks, a sign that any team trying to pry him loose is going to have to pay a premium. With the Broncos, Packers, Vikings, Giants and Seahawks all said to be interested, the bidding could turn into exactly the kind of expensive chase the Bengals would rather avoid.
For Cincinnati, the issue is not just need, but price. Taylor would bring name value and upside, but the cost is shaping up to be steep enough that the Bengals are unlikely to jump in. Instead, they may have to look for a more realistic fit on the trade market, with Tony Pollard emerging as the kind of option that better matches their budget and roster priorities. [Read more 🡒]