The Bengals’ 4-2 start has them in a good spot after last Sunday’s win over the Ravens, and the next stretch will tell a lot about how aggressive this team wants to be. With a Week 8 matchup against the Titans ahead, Cincinnati has a real chance to keep pace in the AFC North race.
If the Bengals are looking beyond just a division title, the trade deadline could bring some interesting possibilities. Running back has drawn plenty of attention as a potential area of focus, but tight end is another spot worth watching - especially now that Erik All’s season has been derailed by a knee injury.
One name that could technically enter the conversation is Sam LaPorta. The Lions tight end has stirred up some noise after comments about his contract situation suggested some frustration with Detroit.
"It’s disappointing that you go out there every week and bear the risk of getting hurt," LaPorta said on Pardon My Take. “I'm going to continue to do my thing and ball out, and in three months, if I don't get to wear the Honolulu blue and play for the Lions anymore, it’s going to be all good.
I'll go get paid somewhere else. So whatever.”
That doesn’t exactly sound like a player thrilled about where things stand, though Lions head coach Dan Campbell doesn’t appear worried about those remarks.
From Cincinnati’s side, the attraction is obvious. LaPorta would give the Bengals a major boost at a position that just took a hit, but making a deal work would be far from simple.
Spotrac pegs his market value at $15 million per season over three years, and he’ll be 26 when the 2027 season begins. For comparison, the Cowboys gave Jake Ferguson a $50 million deal at the same age.
That kind of move would require more than just interest. Cincinnati would likely need to hand over significant draft capital, and then there’s the matter of paying LaPorta on top of it.
Production-wise, he’s already one of the more dangerous tight ends in the league. LaPorta is sixth among tight ends in receiving yards this season and has scored three touchdowns.
A LaPorta trade still looks unlikely. But if the Bengals want to swing big, it’s at least the sort of move that makes sense to ask about.
In Other News...
Bengals Trade Deadline Debate Just Got Much Bigger Than Running Back
The trade deadline conversation around the Bengals has started to widen beyond the obvious running back chatter, even with marquee names like Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley floating around the market. Cincinnatis interest in upgrading the backfield is understandable given Chase Browns uneven production, but the bigger question is whether a splashy move at that spot fits the way this front office usually operates.
For a team that has tended to lean draft-heavy in building its roster, the more practical fix may be elsewhere on the roster. The Bengals could use help in several spots, and the argument is growing that reinforcements on defense or up front might do more for the stretch run than chasing a high-profile runner. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Trade Buzz Is Zeroing In On A Much More Realistic RB Move
The Bengals search for backfield help has started to sound a lot more practical as the NFL trade deadline approaches, and the name drawing the most attention is a veteran runner who could give Cincinnati immediate stability. The idea is less about chasing a splashy headline and more about finding a proven piece who can slide into the rotation with Chase Brown and help balance an offense that could use another reliable option on the ground.
What makes this possibility appealing is the combination of production and price. Compared with the bigger-name backs who tend to dominate deadline chatter, this is the kind of move that fits a team looking for help without overcommitting long term, especially with an expiring deal in play. Nothing is confirmed yet, but the buzz is clearly pointing toward a more realistic type of upgrade if Cincinnati decides to act. [Read more 🡒]
Jessie Bates Just Reopened A Painful Bengals What-If
Jessie Bates departure from Cincinnati in 2023 still lingers as one of those roster decisions that never really goes away. The Bengals chose not to offer him a multi-year contract, instead using their salary cap space elsewhere, and Bates has handled the business side of it with the same calm he showed on the field. Even so, his exit left a hole at safety that Cincinnati has spent the last couple of seasons trying to patch.
Bryan Cook was brought in to help stabilize that spot, but the larger issue remains the same: the Bengals have not found a clean replacement for what Bates brought. And while the move made sense in the moment from a cap-management standpoint, it has only sharpened the sense that this was one of those franchise crossroads that can be revisited for years. [Read more 🡒]