Yet another Bengals defender wants out of Cincinnati as the trade deadline approaches now DT McKinnley Jackson making his request. A 2024 third-round pick, the former Texas A&M standout hasn’t had many opportunities since they drafted him. So far this year, he has spent most of his time as a healthy scratch. Now he wants a fresh starter elsewhere.
Jackson is just the latest Bengals defender to request a trade this year, starting with Trey Hendrickson. The 2024 first-team All-Pro even skipped training camp and threatened to skip games. He eventually signed an extension, however, and reported, but has underwhelmed after missing the offseason.
Not long before Jackson made his trade request, long-time Bengals ILB Logan Wilson did the same. A former ironman, Wilson saw his playing time significantly reduced, Cincinnati moving rookies ahead of him. Believing he can still start in the NFL, he, too, wants a fresh start.
While he did not request a trade, the Bengals also parted with DT Mike Pennel. The team agreed to a noninjury settlement with him, releasing him. He then quickly signed with the Chiefs. So why are they all fleeing the ship?
Well, the Bengals are not great this year, especially on defense. But more importantly, they changed coaching staffs, moving on from long-time DC Lou Anarumo. The Steelers, in fact, will be seeing Anarumo this week coaching the Colts’ defense. Now the Bengals have Al Golden, and most of the defenders who have requested a trade have seen their roles reduced.
So far, however, the Bengals have not been obliging with any of these trade requests, as is their standard. Trade requests are not uncommon there, especially for a front office that plays hardball in contract negotiations. Tee Higgins requested a trade, then signed a long-term extension. Before him, there was Jessie Bates, who eventually left in free agency.
With the trade deadline approaching on Tuesday, will the Bengals try to move any of these malcontents? In the case of KcKinnley Jackson, they aren’t even really using him, logging six snaps so far this year. A a rookie last year, he spent the first month of the season on the Reserve/Injured List. When he returned, he only saw a rotational role, logging 248 snaps.
The Steelers invested a third-round pick in Jackson just last year, however, so they likely won’t be in a rush to give up on him. Unless a team who graded him highly last year makes a strong push to get him, he’ll likely have to content himself with whatever the coaching staff is willing to offer him for…well, the next two and a half years.
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