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The Cincinnati Bengals provided the perfect never say never this offseason when they swung the trade for Dexter Lawrence.
That move was a generational one for a franchise that normally lived in a conservative shell, happy to ignore how the rest of the league modernized in many ways.
So, there’s no real no chance deal for the Bengals anymore, in theory.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggesting the Bengals are a team that should trade for Arizona Cardinals edge-rusher Josh Sweat is interesting.
“Since the Bengals are willing to attack the 2026 season aggressively, they should also take a long look at Sweat if he becomes available,” Knox wrote. “Cincinnati did sign Boye Mafe in free agency, but it also lost Hendrickson to the rival Ravens.”
Why Sweat? He’s 29 and has nice sacks production over his last few seasons. He’s locked in for three more years on his current deal, too, so if he wants out in Arizona, the team getting him would fully understand the cap implications for the next few years.
The Bengals, though, are pretty deep at edge rusher these days, at least in terms of upside guys they want to get snaps. There’s the mentioned Mafe, plus former forest-rounders Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart. They just drafted Cashius Howell, too, admitting that they might’ve selected him in the first round, even.
It’s no longer easy to laughably dismiss the Bengals in trade suggestions these days. But the arrival of Lawrence actually works against it a bit too: They think his presence will improve the guys they already have on the roster, so they're unlikely to trade for even more.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals don’t feel like threat to pull off trade idea with Cardinals
Continue reading...
That move was a generational one for a franchise that normally lived in a conservative shell, happy to ignore how the rest of the league modernized in many ways.
So, there’s no real no chance deal for the Bengals anymore, in theory.
That’s why Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox suggesting the Bengals are a team that should trade for Arizona Cardinals edge-rusher Josh Sweat is interesting.
“Since the Bengals are willing to attack the 2026 season aggressively, they should also take a long look at Sweat if he becomes available,” Knox wrote. “Cincinnati did sign Boye Mafe in free agency, but it also lost Hendrickson to the rival Ravens.”
Why Sweat? He’s 29 and has nice sacks production over his last few seasons. He’s locked in for three more years on his current deal, too, so if he wants out in Arizona, the team getting him would fully understand the cap implications for the next few years.
The Bengals, though, are pretty deep at edge rusher these days, at least in terms of upside guys they want to get snaps. There’s the mentioned Mafe, plus former forest-rounders Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart. They just drafted Cashius Howell, too, admitting that they might’ve selected him in the first round, even.
It’s no longer easy to laughably dismiss the Bengals in trade suggestions these days. But the arrival of Lawrence actually works against it a bit too: They think his presence will improve the guys they already have on the roster, so they're unlikely to trade for even more.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals don’t feel like threat to pull off trade idea with Cardinals
Continue reading...
