The Cincinnati Bengals often spoke about wanting to add a veteran linebacker this offseason to help guide the room for a rebuilding, younger defense.
But as the offseason has progressed, that has morphed into the last major need the Bengals have yet to address.
There’s still time, of course. The Bengals could add a free agent, target a player on the waiver wire or even strike up a trade.
It’s a trade for Bleacher Report’s Gary Davenport, who projected deals for players who need new teams.
Davenport suggested the Bengals send a second-round pick and a 2028 fourth-rounder to the Miami Dolphins for Jordyn Brooks.
“Last year, Brooks led the league with 183 total tackles and was named a first-team All-Pro,” Davenport wrote. “If the Dolphins don’t plan to re-up him, the time to trade the 28-year-old is now.”
This one might actually be a little too rich for the Bengals, though. While the front office in Cincinnati has been all-in, things like the Dexter Lawrence trade happened because the veteran was sure to play a massive amount of snaps as a starter.
The Bengals have been adamant that Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter are the starters in 2026. A veteran arrival to help out would need to seemingly fit a smaller snap-count role.
Not that Bengals fans would complain if they went and got Brooks. But it has been apparent that their belief in Knight and Carter is what has prevented any sort of big move to match the all-in moves they’ve made at every other level of the defense this offseason.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ last big need won’t force trade like this Dolphins idea
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
