Former top-50 draft pick still makes the most sense as Bengals trade piece, but not for the position fans originally expected
Kris Jenkins Jr. has been the prime trade candidate for Cincinnati Bengals fans since long before training camp. I think we were wrong about the position he could be traded for, though.
Kris Jenkins Jr. has been the prime trade candidate for Cincinnati Bengals fans since long before training camp. Earlier in the offseason, when the Bengals hadn’t signed a linebacker in free agency, the fan base viewed the third-year defensive tackle as the definitive piece to trade for a new starter in the middle of the defense.
The No. 49 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft who’s now, at best, fifth on the depth chart, Jenkins seemed like the ideal trade chip for a team that needed help at the position.
I think we were wrong about the position, though.
Kris Jenkins Jr. now makes more sense to trade for a swing tackle
Jenkins may be the odd man out at DT, but as Cincinnati is completely bullish on starters Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter, the 24-year-old isn’t going to be traded for a LB.
Instead, Jenkins could be used to trade for a backup offensive tackle.
That’s not the deal fans originally envisioned this year. It does address the most pressing roster need the Bengals have right now.
Cincinnati enters the final week of the preseason hoping one of Javon Foster or Jalen Rivers plays well enough to secure the role for Week 1. If neither looks the part, which Rivers didn’t last week, seeking out an external option should be in the front office’s plans during roster cuts.
We’ve seen the Bengals make trades around this time on the calendar before. The last one brought B.J. Hill to the Queen City five years ago for the cost of Billy Price. Acquiring an o-lineman for the cost of an interior defender may be in the cards now.
Landon Robinson changes the calculus
This trade scenario makes even more sense now that the Bengals have confirmation Landon Robinson can play. That was the hope after drafting him in the seventh round, long after he should have been selected in this year’s NFL Draft. Hope has turned into reality.
Robinson has shown up in both preseason games as a pass rusher, taking advantage of every opportunity he’s been given. He is an ideal developmental piece at the bottom of Cincinnati’s defensive tackle depth chart.
Both Robinson and Jenkins play the exact same position at 3-technique, and Robinson can simply impact more against the pass. He’s produced six pressures, two sacks, and a pass deflection to boot. He’s also a rookie with all four years remaining on his contract, giving the Bengals better cost control long-term.
Had Robinson not confirmed his evaluation over the past month of practices and training camp, I wouldn’t feel as comfortable still using Jenkins as the ideal trade piece. But Robinson has done exactly that, and Jenkins now sits firmly on the roster bubble.
The right trade, different position
It makes sense for Cincinnati to see what it can get for Jenkins if there’s a team out there with a backup offensive tackle the Bengals simply don’t have. Backup swing tackle is one of the most important reserve roles on the team, and a player like Jenkins holds legitimate value around the league as a young interior defender on a reasonable contract.
It’s also worth noting that Jenkins has flashed this preseason. He posted two pressures and a sack of his own in the first exhibition against the Detroit Lions. That recent tape should help Cincinnati’s case to get a quality player in return.
Jenkins still makes the most sense as a player the Bengals could trade for another player. The Dexter Lawrence trade, and the depth it created, changed the picture entirely. The position Cincinnati would be targeting just isn’t the one we assumed earlier in the offseason.
LB is living or dying through Knight and Carter. OT3 may be dependent on someone who’s currently elsewhere.
