The NFL trade deadline did see the Cincinnati Bengals make a move, a rare one at that, but the outlook of this team remains largely the same now that the deadline has passed.

Trading away linebacker Logan Wilson does give the Bengals an extra NFL Draft pick to work with in 2026, and it allows a former starter to start anew, but the lack of subsequent moves to add more draft capital or help for the current team only emphasizes how little direction the decision-makers of this club have.

Now that the dust has settled, let’s see who is looking better or worse following the deadline.

Winners from Bengals’ lack of trade deadline moves

Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai

Pass-rushers were a big theme of the deadline and as the Bengals didn’t move at all in this department, it’s good news for the guys they have in the building. Murphy and Ossai would’ve been impacted the most by a new defensive end walking into the locker room. Neither one has impressed to the point of keeping on the field no matter what, and there’s way more incentive for the coaching staff to play Shemar Stewart regardless of external factors given he’s their rookie first-round pick.

Cincinnati’s quest to find answers rushing the quarterback will continue going through the devils they know, and Murphy and Ossai will keep getting playing time.

Oren Burks

The Wilson trade only makes Burks’ presence more important. He won’t be starting over Barrett Carter or Demetrius Knight Jr., but he is entrenched as the first backer off the bench now that Wilson has moved on with the Dallas Cowboys. The only other LB on the active roster is Joe Giles-Harris, though that will likely change in the next week in an effort to get a full room before the Bengals’ next game.

Burks is not only quality depth, but the true veteran leader of the position group now. His value has increased immensely to a defense desperate for growth.

Losers from Bengals’ lack of trade deadline moves

Al Golden

Well Golden, good luck with the rest of the year. Perhaps he should be considered a winner since he wasn’t fired when the bye week began, but he also got zero help from the personnel department as they only traded away a player and did not add anyone to offset the move.

Golden believes that all the answers he needs are in the building, or at least he feels he needs to say that to empower those very “answers” to play better. Like I said, good luck.

Trey Hendrickson

You really have to feel for Hendrickson. Not just because he’s dealing with a hip injury and has hardly played since Week 6, but the fact that he could’ve been traded to a real contender who may want to pay him the long-term contract he desires and is still stuck in Cincinnati. By not trading him, the Bengals retain his rights through the year and can place another franchise tag on him in February if they so desire.

True power hasn’t been in Hendrickson’s hands for a long time. Part of that’s on him for accepting a one-year extension in 2023, but it made all the sense in the world to set him free now that the season looks to be in disarray. He’ll do what he can to help, but there’s only so much one player can do to fix this calamity.

Joe Flacco

If the defense isn’t getting any help, then Flacco’s job isn’t getting any easier as a result. The 40-year old quarterback is on an absolute heater over the last few weeks and only has one win to show for it. His sudden command of the offense has been nothing short of excellent. It’s simply a shame the team isn’t capitalizing off of it.

This story was originally published in A to Z Sports Cincinnati Bengals, as 3 winners and 3 losers from Bengals’ activity, or lack thereof, at the NFL trade deadline.

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