Duke Tobin, Cincinnati Bengals
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Duke Tobin, general manager of the Cincinnati Bengals speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 1, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the NFL’s most disappointing teams over the last couple of years.
Not long ago, Joe Burrow had the franchise looking like a clear-cut Super Bowl contender. In each of the last three years, the Bengals have come short of making the playoffs.
With that being said, fans are hoping to see the team get aggressive this offseason. Building a contender around Burrow while he’s still in his prime is a must. A new report has shared that Cincinnati does have an aggressive mindset.
According to a report from Easton Butler of Packer Report, the Bengals were interested in trading for Green Bay Packers pass rusher Rashan Gary before he was dealt to the Dallas Cowboys on Monday morning.
“Bengals were also in play for Gary,” Butler reported simply.
Why This Report Is Good News for Bengals Fans
Making a trade for a $96 million player is a massive investment for an NFL team. Even though Cincinnati wasn’t able to get a deal done for Gary, the team’s interest is a great sign.
Clearly, the Bengals are feeling a sense of urgency to be aggressive and try to take big swings. Assuming that continues throughout the rest of the offseason, moves should be coming.
Of course, Cincinnati will likely have a hole to fill in its pass rush. Trey Hendrickson, one of the best pass rushers in the NFL, is a free agent. He is widely expected to leave the Bengals in free agency.
Gary would have been a potential replacement for Hendrickson had Cincinnati been able to acquire him. Hopefully, the Bengals pivot quickly and are able to either convince Hendrickson to return or land another suitable replacement.
Losing Trey Hendrickson Will Be a Tough Blow for Cincinnati
Over the years, Hendrickson has developed into being one of the best pass rushers in the NFL.
Last season, he only played in seven games. In those appearances, he recorded 16 tackles, four sacks, a forced fumble, and a defended pass.
Hendrickson recorded 17.5 sacks in each of the two previous seasons.
In order to be a contender in the AFC, Cincinnati will need to either re-sign Hendrickson or replace him. The Bengals simply can’t afford to let him walk without making a move to fill the void that he leaves.
Expect to continue hearing a lot of rumors coming out of Cincinnati. The franchise knows that Burrow’s prime years are passing him by. It seems like the Bengals are approaching this offseason with a renewed sense of urgency after pursuing a trade with the Packers for Gary and coming up short.