The Bengals may not be staring at a long list of obvious offseason departures, but 2026 could still bring a surprise or two. Cincinnati’s roster is in its best shape of the Joe Burrow era, and that kind of depth forces hard choices. When a team gets this loaded, even useful players can become movable pieces.
Three names stand out as the most realistic trade candidates: cornerback Dax Hill, wide receiver Andrei Iosivas, and defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr. None of them is a lock to be dealt, but each has enough uncertainty around his role that a trade would not come out of nowhere.
Hill is the one who could really shake things up. If Cincinnati’s front office is thinking clearly, DJ Turner’s new contract should be a priority.
The problem is that Hill shares an agent with Turner, which opens the door to a package deal similar to what the Bengals pulled off with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Hill has played well at boundary corner, but he still isn’t as established as Higgins.
There’s also the matter of where Cincinnati actually wants him. Hill was legitimately elite when the Bengals used him at his preferred position, but the team has not publicly clarified whether he’ll stay there or slide back into the slot. That uncertainty matters, especially with rookie third-round pick Tacario Davis looking like a depth and contingency addition in case Hill isn’t around long term.
The numbers from his move outside back up the idea that Hill can thrive there. After the Bengals shifted him to outside corner in Week 11, he allowed just 15 receptions on 30 targets, gave up only 22.6 yards per game, posted six pass breakups without allowing a touchdown, and finished as PFF’s 10th-rated corner. He also missed just two tackles, a 6.3% rate that ranked 11th out of 61 cornerbacks.
Even so, the Bengals’ own handling of the position leaves room for confusion. ESPN’s Ben Baby singled out Hill in a league-wide update on contract extensions, but offered no real clarity on where talks stand.
ESPN’s “starting lineup” ranking had Cincinnati 15th and listed Turner, Hill, and Josh Newton as the starting corners, even though Jalen Davis is actually the nickel starter. That kind of muddled picture only adds to the sense that Hill’s future is unsettled.
Iosivas is in a different spot, but the pressure is real there too. Cincinnati’s WR3 issue may end up being solved by Mike Gesicki, who rarely lines up as a traditional inline tight end.
If Gesicki starts taking more slot snaps, that could squeeze Iosivas’ role. The Bengals also used a fourth-round pick on Colbie Young, adding another body to the competition behind Chase and Higgins.
Iosivas still has the inside track to be the third receiver, and Burrow clearly trusts him. He has size and athleticism that jump off the page.
The question is whether that turns into more consistent separation and better production after a rough 2025 season, when he was expected to take a step forward. If it doesn’t, Cincinnati could move him for a Day 3 pick before the trade deadline.
Jenkins is the most surprising name on the list, but his path has gotten murky fast. Rookie seventh-round pick Landon Robinson appears to have a clearer route to snaps than Jenkins right now, which is not where a former second-round pick from 2024 wants to be.
Jenkins has been solid enough in spots, but not special anywhere. He isn’t a dynamic pass rusher and he isn’t a dominant run defender, either.
The defensive line picture has changed around him. Dexter Lawrence’s arrival reshaped the group, and T.J.
Slaton is now the clear No. 2 nose tackle with McKinnley Jackson behind him. B.J.
Hill and Jonathan Allen are the obvious options to rotate next to Lawrence and Slaton, which leaves Jenkins battling Robinson just to stick.
Usually, the veteran gets the nod in that kind of fight. But Jenkins’ draft status could make him appealing to another team willing to bet on the upside that comes with being a former top-50 pick.
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