PFF thinks there's a trade the Bengals need to make before the deadline
Pro Football Focus thinks there's a trade the Cincinnati Bengals should make before the deadline on November 1. Brad Spielberger, an NFL writer for PFF, thinks the Bengals should trade a sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for cornerback Sidney Jones. From PFF: Jones showed promise as a full-time starter from Week 11 through the […]
Pro Football Focus thinks there's a trade the Cincinnati Bengals should make before the deadline on November 1.
Brad Spielberger, an NFL writer for PFF, thinks the Bengals should trade a sixth-round pick to the Seattle Seahawks for cornerback Sidney Jones.
Jones showed promise as a full-time starter from Week 11 through the end of the 2021 season, with an 80.6 coverage grade that ranked 12th among cornerbacks, a 20.7% forced incompletion percentage that ranked fifth and a 0.47 receiving yards allowed per coverage snap figure that ranked fourth.
Cincinnati has a great No. 1 outside cornerback in Chidobe Awuzie but has still not done well to address the spot opposite him, with Eli Apple continuing to struggle to the tune of a 39.5 coverage grade through Week 7. Apple was torched off the line by Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Damiere Byrd, who went on to score a 75-yard touchdown in the first half of Week 7’s matchup, and he was promptly benched for second-round rookie Cam Taylor-Britt.
The rookie out of Nebraska may not be ready to take on a full-time starting role, and Jones could step in as solid depth at the least. Secondary play is a weak-link proposition, and while Cincinnati has a solid pass-rush unit, they aren’t good enough to mask a potentially glaring issue on the backend. Now with the prospect of repeating as AFC North champions directly in sight, they should make a move to shore up that area.
If Seattle will take a sixth-round pick for Jones, then I think it's a move the Bengals have to make.
Apple hasn't played well this season and it's tough to count on rookie Cam Taylor-Britt. Jones could help bridge the gap and at worst provide Cincinnati with some much-needed depth.
My only question here is whether or not the Seahawks are motivated to trade Jones. Sure, they're in a good spot with their starting cornerbacks, but it's not like they have to trade Jones. The only reason they might strongly consider trading the former Washington standout is because he's a free agent after the 2022 season. Seattle might want to get something out of Jones since they're highly unlikely to re-sign him in the offseason.
A lot of these trade proposals from national media outlets don't make sense. This is one, however, that would be wise for the Bengals to consider.
Featured image via Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
