Cincinnati Bengals
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The Bengals could be interested in a Pro Bowl playmaker
The Cincinnati Bengals have had a busy offseason, as they have prioritized improving their defense. The team has already signed three different defensive free agents to multi-year contracts, and most recently added a cornerback, who will likely be used on special teams duties, andsafety Kyle Dugger, who has 78 games of starting experience.
However, the team has mostly stayed away from adding talent on offense. There is a reason for that, as Cincinnati finished with the seventh-best offense in points per game last season, despite missing quarterback Joe Burrow for nine games. So far, the team has re-signed quarterback Joe Flacco, who was a trade acquisition last season, while they also added journeyman quarterback Josh Johnson.
Now, a trade idea has the Bengals adding a talented playmaker to their already explosive offense.
Cincinnati Bengals Could Trade for Explosive Tight End
The Athletic’s Josh Kendall recently reportedthat the Atlanta Falcons are not ruling out trading Pro Bowl tight end Kyle Pitts. Pitts, who had his most receiving yards in 2025 since his rookie season and set a career-high with five receiving touchdowns, will play the 2026 season on the franchise tag as the Falcons did not allow him to reach free agency.
That report led to Sports Illustrated’s Zach Pressnell saying Pitts could be an intriguing target for the Bengals. Pressnell wrote:
“The Bengals need a tight end. They lost Noah Fant this offseason and haven’t done much to replace him. While Cincinnati has a loaded offense with two of the highest-paid wide receivers in the league, as well as one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in the league, they still have a need at tight end.
It’s unclear what Pitts’ trade value would be at this point. If the Bengals can keep their top two draft picks, they might be willing to make a deal for Pitts. This would add a 25-year-old tight end with very high upside. Pitts was a generational prospect when he came into the league, but he’s never reached that potential. Pairing Pitts with Joe Burrow could help the former first rounder reach a higher level.”
Impact of Possible Trade
Despite what has been a somewhat underwhelming career, he is only 25 years old and could still be an ascending player. Last season, he began showing off what had originally led scouts to describe him as a generational prospect. In the final six games of the 2025 season, Pitts averaged 78.2 yards per game, which put him on pace for 1,328 receiving yards over a full season.
Regarding whether the Bengals could pull off that trade, Pressnell wrote:
“This isn’t the most likely deal for the Bengals, but it’s still one they should explore. The Falcons will likely want draft picks this season, while Cincinnati needs to focus on their defense in this year’s draft.
Would a mid-round pick get it done? The Falcons are seemingly in a bit of a weird spot. Is it worth keeping Pitts this season or get a pick that could upgrade their roster for 2026 and beyond? If Pitts hits the block, the Bengals should be interested in trading for him.”