The Bengals went into the NFL trade deadline hoping to find a safety solution, and Jessie Bates kept popping up as the dream name. That door just slammed shut. The Atlanta Falcons traded Jessie Bates to the Jacksonville Jaguars, taking the former Bengals draft pick off the board.
It would have made plenty of sense for Cincinnati. Bates would have brought a homecoming angle, and with safeties Jordan Battle, Kyle Dugger and Bryan Cook all dealing with injury issues this season, he would have offered both immediate depth and a clear upgrade on the field.
Cincinnati still isn’t likely to land another player at Bates’ level before the deadline passes, but there are still a few names worth checking in on.
Budda Baker is one of the more intriguing possibilities. The Bengals liked him back in 2017 before he went in the second round to another team.
He’s 30 now, carries a $20.8 million cap hit in 2027, and with the Cardinals selling, he looks like the kind of veteran who could want a shot at a title. Baker would give Al Golden a versatile defender he could move around the field while also helping keep the other safeties fresher.
Amani Hooker is another option. The Titans safety, a former fourth-round pick in 2019, has two years left on his deal and has quietly climbed to sixth among 100 safeties in PFF grading. His all-around game would put him right into a starting role and give Cincinnati a major lift on the back end.
If the Bengals want to go cheaper, Andre Cisco is the lower-cost swing. He’s on an expiring contract and has played only 35 percent of the snaps for the Jets. That makes him more of a depth bet, but with three safeties dealing with injuries this year, he could still help stabilize the room.
In Other News...
Bengals Trade Deadline Could Reopen One Painful Question From Last Year
At 6-2 heading into the NFL trade deadline, the Bengals are in a position they have not always enjoyed in recent years: they have both the record and the assets to consider a real move. The need is easy to spot. Cincinnati has questions in the running game, and injuries have started to thin out the defensive depth, which naturally pushes the conversation toward help at running back and on defense.
The market, though, is not exactly built around easy answers. Jonathan Taylor is viewed as a long shot, even with the Bengals looking for more punch on the ground, so the focus shifts to more realistic options and familiar names. One possibility is a reunion with Jessie Bates, a storyline that would reopen a painful question from last year and give Cincinnati another chance to weigh short-term help against the cost of making a move. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Burrow Already Has Another International Bengals Game In Mind
The Bengals trip to Madrid ended with another polished performance from Joe Burrow, who kept Cincinnati rolling with 24 completions on 29 attempts for 271 yards and three touchdowns in a 34-17 win over the Falcons. The victory pushed the Bengals to 6-2 and gave the latest international showcase another reminder of how comfortable Burrow can look far from home.
Now the conversation is already moving to where the NFL might take Cincinnati next. According to NFL insider Kelsey Conway, Burrow has his eye on Tokyo if the league ever stages a game there, a sign that the Bengals quarterback is not just embracing the international stage but thinking ahead to the next one. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Head Into Steelers Week With One New Injury Concern
The Bengals are back home after their trip to Spain, and the focus now shifts quickly to an AFC North meeting with the Steelers. Cincinnati left Madrid with the usual post-trip cleanup to handle, but the bigger concern coming out of the week is the health of starting guard Dylan Fairchild, who picked up an injury along the way and added a fresh question to an offensive line that has already had to manage its share of moving parts.
Zac Taylor said the team likes where its momentum is heading as it turns to Pittsburgh, and the Bengals are also keeping an eye on several injured players who could be close to returning. That matters in a division game where every practice rep counts and depth can be tested fast, especially with the Steelers next on the schedule and Cincinnati trying to keep its preparation on track while the injury report remains a live issue. [Read more 🡒]