The Cincinnati Bengals have a lot of work to do this offseason, with the majority of the focus being on the defensive side of the ball.
Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and Chase Brown are a great core on offense, and while more OL help couldn't hurt, the priority is on defense. Pass rusher is a big need, but so too is the interior of the defensive line.
That's why ESPN's Bill Barnwell proposed a trade idea that would have the Bengals exchange late-round picks with the Dallas Cowboys for recently acquired defensive tackle Kenny Clark.
Bengals trade proposal lands Kenny Clark from Cowboys for late round pick swap
"Bengals get: DT Kenny Clark, 2027 seventh-round pick. Cowboys get: 2027 sixth-round pick," Barnwell proposed.
This trade idea would have the Bengals and Cowboys swapping late Day-3 draft picks in the 2027 NFL Draft for Clark, a veteran DT the Cowboys acquired in the last year in a blockbuster deal.
While Quinnen Williams would be a much more appealing trade target for the Bengals, Clark is much more likely to be available thanks to his current contract, age, and performance situation.
Clark is an older defensive lineman, being 31 years old. With two more years on his current deal, the Bengals would be landing a veteran run-stopping DT for the next two seasons with cap hits of $21.5 million and $20M over the next two years.
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With so much money tied up in Clark, the Bengals would be able to land him for fairly cheap. The three-time Pro Bowler has spent 10 years in the NFL, with all but this past season coming with the Green Bay Packers.
He finished 2025 with three sacks, 36 tackles, and six tackles for loss for the Cowboys. While it might not have been his best season in the NFL, it was a solid year, and one worth investing in for the Bengals.
They need help at every position on defense, and the interior defensive line is a sneaky need. Being able to pair Clark with T.J. Slaton Jr. and B.J. Hill would be nice for a Cincinnati defense in need of help in the pass rush and run-stopping game.
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