If the Cincinnati Bengals are truly "all-in" in 2022, and it appears they are after beefing up their offensive line over the last week, then there's a blockbuster move they should make this offseason.

Cincinnati placed the franchise tag on safety Jessie Bates earlier this offseason. The hope is that an extension with Bates will be worked out before the July 15 deadline. But considering the two parties have been working on an extension since last summer, it seems unlikely that a deal will be reached.

Bates' cap-hit for 2022 currently stands at $12.9 million.

The Bengals could tag Bates again in 2023, which will mean an even higher cap hit if they don't extend him this offseason.

Since the extension probably isn't going to happen, then I think the Bengals should explore a major move.

Cincinnati should trade Bates, land some draft capital, and sign free agent safety Tyrann Mathieu to a three-year deal.

Bates is a key player for the Bengals. And if an extension was likely, this idea wouldn't even be on the radar. But if an extension isn't going to happen, then I think the Bengals need to explore other options. Trading Bates and getting some draft picks, while also signing one of the best defensive players in the NFL in Mathieu, would make Cincinnati better now and in the future.

Mathieu is a versatile safety that can line up anywhere on the field. He's also one of the best leaders in the NFL. He was a beloved player with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Speaking of the Chiefs, Mathieu would bring some much-needed Super Bowl-winning experience to the Bengals' defense.

And let's not forget that Mathieu has the LSU connection that Cincinnati suddenly seems to like. He would join Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, Tyler Shelvin, Thaddeus Moss, and La'el Collins as former LSU players on the Bengals' roster.

(Mathieu and Collins were teammates at LSU in 2011.)

While Mathieu would likely make a higher annual average salary than Bates, Cincinnati could structure the deal in such a way that Mathieu's cap hit is actually lower than Bates' cap hit in 2022.

Would this be a bold move?

Absolutely.

But this is the type of bold move that Super Bowl-winning teams make.

Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Cincinnati Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK