The Cincinnati Bengals have less than a week to make a trade before the NFL trade deadline passes, and multiple needs on their defense remain unaddressed.

Linebacker may be the least likely spot Cincinnati ends up bolstering with a trade. Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. are holding down starting jobs with strong support from the coaching staff. If the Bengals do add to that group, it would likely be for a player the coaching staff already knows. To find the right guy, they may have to look down to the Bayou.

ESPN NFL analyst Aaron Schatz says the Bengals should target New Orleans Saints linebacker Pete Werner in a trade.

A 27-year-old linebacker right in his prime. Werner would help improve the Bengals defense of the middle. He’s good on blitzes and against the run. Last season he had a 70% run-stop rate meaning that 70% of his run tackles stopped the runner short of a successful play.

Bengals’ coaching connection to Pete Werner

Werner, a former Ohio State Buckeye, has been with the Saints since 2021. He signed a three-year, $22.5 million contract extension with New Orleans in 2024.

He earned that extension after playing under linebackers coach Mike Hodges, who has held that same role with the Bengals for the last two years. Hodges oversaw Werner’s development firsthand. That history matters because it could create a relatively seamless transition for Werner as he learns a new scheme under a coach he’s familiar with.

Midseason trades are difficult for a reason. A new player has to absorb a playbook, terminology, and responsibilities on the fly. Having a position coach who already knows his strengths, weaknesses, and how he learns takes a lot of that friction out of the equation.

Werner shouldn’t cost Cincinnati much in a trade

The price tag also works in the Bengals’ favor. According to the A to Z Sports trade simulator, Werner’s value is equivalent to Cincinnati’s sixth-round pick in the 2027 NFL Draft.

That is a minimal investment for a starting LB in his prime. The Bengals wouldn’t have to part with any premium draft capital, and they wouldn’t be sacrificing future flexibility at a position where they’ve been reluctant to spend.

This is a trade Cincinnati could easily make. The bigger question is whether Werner actually solves the problem.

Does Werner fix the Bengals’ issues in the middle of the field?

The Bengals have a huge problem covering between the hashes. While Werner isn’t a total liability in coverage, it also isn’t his strong suit as a player.

Cincinnati would only take Carter or Knight off the field if it can replace one of them with someone who is adept in coverage. The run-stopping and blitzing ability Schatz highlighted is valuable, but it doesn’t directly address the area where opposing offenses are hurting this defense the most.

I think Werner is a better overall player than both Carter and Knight. What I’m not sure about is how much of an impact he could make in coverage right away, especially after being thrust into a new defense midseason when that part of the game isn’t his biggest strength.

There’s a real difference between upgrading the position and upgrading the specific weakness. Werner clearly does the first. The second is far less certain.

Either way, if the Bengals want a better and more experienced option in the middle of their defense, Werner is a good bet. He has a direct connection to the coaching staff, he’s in the prime of his career, and he wouldn’t cost very much to acquire. Whether that’s enough for Cincinnati to pull the trigger before the deadline remains to be seen.