Latest On Potential Bengals Trade Deadline Moves

According to Jason La Canfora, the sense other general managers are getting from the Bengals is that the historically conservative franchise is more open to trading away players at the deadline this year. 

“I think they are more open to it, yeah,” one general manager told La Canfora. “I’m just not sure how realistic they’re going to be about the value of these players. We’ll see. I know they’re getting calls and there a bunch of players who want out of there ASAP.”

Both DE Carlos Dunlap and DT Geno Atkins have made it clear they would like to be traded and Cincinnati seems more than willing to move Dunlap. Both former star veterans have seen their roles on defense reduced this season and have not been happy about it. 

La Canfora notes there’s also a strong perception around the league that WR A.J. Green and CB William Jackson would prefer to be dealt. However, Green’s salary and injury history would make any trade involving him difficult. 

Former Bengals first-round WR John Ross is also available but won’t command much in any trade. 

La Canfora mentions one of the other holdups to any potential deal will be how the Bengals value these players, as it appears the general consensus around the league is that Dunlap and Atkins are closer to salary dumps than viable starting players. 

Meanwhile, Ian Rapoport reports that the Bengals have had active trade talks involving Dunlap and he could be inactive today with a potential trade looming. According to Rapoport, both sides would welcome a change.

As for Atkins and Green, Rapoport says neither is likely to be traded.

Atkins, 32, is a former fourth-round pick of the Bengals back in 2010. He was entering the final year of his six-year, $56.423 million contract when he signed a new, four-year, $65.3 million extension.

Atkins is set to make base salaries of $11.7 million and $12.95 million over the next two seasons. 

In 2020, Atkins has appeared in two games for the Bengals but has not recorded a statistic. He’s played just 30 percent of the snaps. 

Dunlap, 31, is a former second-round pick of the Bengals back in 2010. He was in the final year of his five-year, $39.37 million contract when he agreed to a three-year, $45 million contract extension with the Bengals in 2018. 

Dunlap has two years remaining on his contract and set to make a base salary of $7,800,000 this season and another $10,250,000 in 2021.

In 2020, Dunlap has appeared in six games for the Bengals and recorded 18 tackles, one sack and two pass defenses. 

We’ll have more on the Bengals as the news is available.