Bengals urged not to make an RB trade despite Chase Brown's struggles originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Bengals are 4-2 heading into the team's Week 8 matchup against the Tennessee Titans, as they are coming off a blowout win over the Baltimore Ravens.
In the win, running back Chase Brown once again had an underwhelming day. With his struggles and the potential of RBs Jonathan Taylor and Saquon Barkley available for trade, a blockbuster RB trade would seem possible.
However, ESPN's Dan Graziano is urging the Bengals not to make a trade for an RB, and instead give Brown more time as the lead back this season, looking for upgrades elsewhere on the roster.
Bengals urged not to add to RB room despite Chase Brown's struggles
"If I were the Bengals, I'd be looking harder at potentially available linebackers or defensive backs ahead of the trade deadline than running backs," Graziano writes.
The Bengals are likely trade deadline buyers this season, but adding someone like Taylor or Barkley wouldn't make much sense.
While the appeal of adding either player is there, the price tag on both, financially and trade compensation-wise, should make a trade a lot less appealing to the Bengals than to some other teams.
MORE: NFL insiders reveal four landing spots for Colts’ Jonathan Taylor
Besides, even though Brown is struggling this year, he started slow last season, and turned things around down the stretch, finishing with 1,019 rushing yards and six touchdowns last season for Cincinnati.
Graziano believes "it would be very unlike Cincinnati to surrender draft capital for them." As good as Taylor and Barkley would be on this Bengals offense, it just doesn't make sense to swing such a trade.
Instead, Graziano believes the Bengals should look to upgrade their linebacker and defensive back room. And if they want to upgrade the offense, eyeing an offensive lineman or a tight end would make a lot more sense.
More NFL news:
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- Dolphins edge rusher Chop Robinson rumored to be in-demand trade target
- Browns not expected to trade Jerry Jeudy despite plenty of speculation
- 49ers could ‘make a run’ at a trade for Colts’ DeForest Buckner
- NFL insider reveals Browns might not be done with Deshaun Watson after 2026