Bengals don’t need Davante Adams — but upgrading TE might make sense
When thinking about how the Cincinnati Bengals might be able to upgrade the roster this season before the NFL trade deadline, tight end is a position that comes to mind.
Recently though, a trade idea from FanBuzz’s Matt Lombardo caught fire in the NFL section of Twitter because it listed the Bengals as a possible trade destination for Las Vegas Raiders wideout Davante Adams.
It’s an appetizing idea considering just how good Adams is — if Ja’Marr Chase is top two or three, Adams is probably above him. The flailing Raiders might want to trade Adams and pairing him with Chase would be nigh-unstoppable, but the resources the Bengals would have to give up for a wideout going on 31 years old on a $140 million contract wouldn’t be ideal.
But tight end? That’s a viable upgrade path to watch. Irv Smith Jr. has now missed two of his first four games with the Bengals. He played just eight games in Minnesota last year. Drew Sample remains a blocker at best. With Smith out, the Bengals have called up Tanner Hudson from the practice squad and he’s flashed, but he’s also almost 30.
So tight end is one of those positions to watch for the Bengals at the trade deadline soon enough. The who will evolve in the coming weeks, but other trade speculation articles are sure to bring up Atlanta’s Kyle Pitts, at a minimum.
For now, the Bengals aren’t going to make an Adams-level splash. The front office usually doesn’t make significant moves besides free agency lately, opting to trust draft picks. There’s no indication the Bengals won’t keep trying to get a Tee Higgins extension done, either.
But tight end? Put it on the short list of things to watch at a trade deadline soon enough, especially given how having an impact player there could help along the playing-through-injury Joe Burrow.
