The Cincinnati Bengals could use some additional help in the pass-rushing and run-stopping areas and have been listed by Bleacher Report as a potential suitor for Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick from the New York Jets.

The Philadelphia Eagles traded Reddick to the Jets in March, but he has yet to play a single snap for the team due to a contract dispute. Reddick is seeking a multi-year contract that the Jets apparently don’t want to hand over, so he’s now seeking a trade. This is where the Bengals could *theoretically* come into play.

From Bleacher Report:

“If Reddick is available in any capacity, the Bengals should also be interested. “Cincinnati’s defense finally showed up in Week 6, but is still missing a top-notch complement in Trey Hendrickson.”

Technically speaking, Reddick would be an excellent addition to Cincinnati’s defense as he was an absolute force the last time we saw him on the field. During his two seasons with the Eagles, he started in all 34 regular season games and recorded 87 total tackles and 27 sacks. He was named to the Pro Bowl after both seasons in Philadelphia and was a key contributor on the defensive side of the ball as the Eagles reached the Super Bowl at the end of the 2022 season.

He’s a game-changer on defense and a guy who could make an immediate impact in Cincinnati. But he is also 30 years old and looking for long-term security. Fans who have followed Cincinnati’s front office closely over the years know that this is probably not the type of move the team will make.

The Bengals haven’t even paid their own star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson the money he demands. Hendrickson’s frustration with the Bengals increased so much during the offseason that he requested to leave the team. Obviously the request wasn’t granted, but the point is: If the Bengals don’t want to extend the 29-year-old Hendrickson, it’s more than unlikely that they’ll want to trade for Reddick and extend him. We’re not saying the Bengals are cheap, just whether the shoe fits, as they say.

So while a trade for Reddick would have the potential to drastically improve the defense, it’s nothing more than a pipe dream for fans in Cincinnati.