The Bengals are staring down the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, and the front office has several names worth keeping in the crosshairs. At the top of that list sits Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor, the kind of addition that would change the shape of Cincinnati’s offense in a hurry.
Taylor is the obvious splash target, but he is far from the only possibility. Cincinnati’s board runs from big-name swing-for-it moves to lower-cost depth adds, with a few intriguing fits sprinkled in between.
Jonathan Taylor is the name that jumps off the page first. Chase Brown simply hasn’t provided enough, while Samaje Perine offers steadiness without much burst.
Taylor, by contrast, would give the Bengals the explosive runner they’ve been missing. He’d also land in a setup where Joe Burrow is by far the best quarterback he has ever played with, and where defenses would already be occupied by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.
Taylor had 369 touches in 2025 and is on pace for 381 this year. That workload is a lot to ask from anyone, and the source material makes the case that it would be a waste if he keeps carrying that load in a Colts uniform.
Cincinnati would also have a workable partner behind him in Perine, with Brown potentially going back to Indianapolis in a deal. It all makes too much sense - which is exactly why Duke Tobin probably won’t do it.
If the Bengals want help on defense, Zach Baun is the other premium name. The Eagles linebacker is described here as a first-team All-Pro and Super Bowl champion who could be available for what might amount to a late Day 2 or early Day 3 pick.
Philadelphia’s Howie Roseman has a reputation for making deals, and the contract wrinkle is part of the equation too: Baun would cost the Eagles $10 million against the 2027 cap in a trade. Whether Cincinnati actually wants to pay that price is a different question.
Tuli Tuipulotu is the long-shot edge rusher on the board. The Chargers pass rusher has piled up 21.5 sacks over the prior two seasons before this year’s rough stretch in Los Angeles, but this looks like the kind of move that would take a first-round pick. If Shemar Stewart were truly available, the Bengals could consider sending out their 2025 first-rounder and adding more to address the long-term spot opposite Boye Mafe rather than hoping Myles Murphy or Cashius Howell eventually solve it.
There are also cheaper paths at running back. Kenny Gainwell stands out because of his pass-catching ability, which the source frames as “Samaje Perine 5.0.”
He piled up 73 receptions for the Steelers last season and is now playing behind Bucky Irving in Tampa. If the 2-5 Buccaneers keep sliding, Gainwell could become a realistic trade chip, and he’d come at a much lower cost than Taylor while still giving Cincinnati a back who fits the offense well.
Brian Thomas Jr. is the wide receiver wildcard. With Travis Hunter possibly taking on more of a two-way role and Thomas’ usage apparently shrinking even beyond that, the Jaguars may not have much reason to hold tight to him.
He had a strong rookie year but has not followed it up since. Cincinnati could use the help at WR3, especially with Dohnte Meyers cooling off, Andrei Iosivas already on IR, and little trust in Colbie Young or Mitchell Tinsley for that role.
The LSU connection with Burrow, Chase and Thomas adds another layer, even if there’s some concern that he’d face the same No. 3 issues he’s dealt with in Jacksonville.
Ben Sinnott rounds out the list as the outside-the-box tight end option. Drafted in the second round in 2024 out of Kansas State, Sinnott drew rave prospect grades for his physical tools, including a 9.73 RAS.
He has barely been used by Washington, with just one catch so far this season, and the 1-4-1 Commanders don’t exactly look like a team headed in the right direction. Cincinnati has seen Burrow get good mileage out of one-year tight end stopgaps like Hayden Hurst and Irv Smith Jr., and Sinnott could slide into that kind of role as depth, especially with Erick All Jr. dealing with a third ACL tear.
In Other News...
Burrow And Bengals Special Teams Just Made Rare Team History
Joe Burrow keeps adding to a Bengals rsum that already looks like one of the most decorated in team history, and his latest weekly honor only reinforces how steady he has been for Cincinnati. After the Week 7 win over Baltimore, Burrow was named AFC Offensive Player of the Week for a performance that included 22 completions on 30 attempts, 292 yards and four touchdowns.
Special teams got its own share of recognition, too, with Ryan Rehkow taking AFC Special Teams Player of the Week after a strong punting day against the Ravens. Rehkow averaged 46 yards on four punts, and every one of them pinned Baltimore inside its 20-yard line, a detail that gives Cincinnati another encouraging sign as the unit continues to show up in big moments. [Read more 🡒]
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The tricky part is where Turner sits in his career and in the market around him. Cornerback prices have climbed sharply across the league, and while Turner is still tied to his rookie deal, the gap between production and recognition keeps getting harder to ignore. For the Bengals, that creates a familiar kind of roster tension, one where a young standout can look like a bargain now and a much bigger question later. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Still Have One Receiver Battle That Could Become A Problem
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Meyers had put himself in position to hold that role, but the margin has narrowed as the Bengals continue sorting out who can be trusted for meaningful snaps. Iosivas is in line to re-enter the conversation soon, while Tinsley and Young are pushing for larger roles of their own, leaving Cincinnati with a depth chart question that has not been answered by any official move or trade. For a team with playoff expectations, it is the kind of unresolved receiver battle that can linger until it suddenly matters. [Read more 🡒]