The Bengals Just Made the Most Uncharacteristic Move in Franchise History

One of the most conservative football teams in the NFL just made its most aggressive move in its history.

When someone uses the phrase “when pigs fly,” it’s usually because they’re describing an idea so far-fetched, it borders on the impossible.  Like the idea that the Cincinnati Bengals, a historically tentative, overly-cautious, risk-averse franchise would trade a top-ten pick for Dexter Lawrence, the New York Giants disgruntled nose tackle.

Wait…you’re saying that happened?

Holy shit, the Bengals actually did it.

You read that correctly.  The Cincinnati Bengals.  Traded the #10 pick.  For Dexter Lawrence.

No, you’re not dreaming.  One of the most conservative football teams in the NFL just made one of the most aggressive moves in recent NFL history – and I am here for it.

What a swing!  At his best, the 28-year old Lawrence is the best nose tackle in the league – and possibly the best defensive tackle, period. He’s a massive space-eater with surprising agility.  He’s an elite run defender and has serious pass rushing chops.  Since 2022, Lawrence has generated 108 pressures when aligned over the center.  The next closest player, the Buccaneers’ Vita Vea, has 32.

This is a once-in-a-lifetime move.  Actually, it’s rarer than that – this is the most uncharacteristic move the Bengals have ever made in their entire 58 year history.

Until now, the biggest trades the Bengals have been a part of have mostly been the Bengals sending their own players away.  Carson Palmer, Chad Johnson, Corey Dillon, Dan Wilkinson…the Bengals have traditionally sent their stars packing.  Since 2000, the Bengals biggest trade acquisitions have been Deltha O’Neal and Reggie Nelson.  Both were good players, but nowhere near the caliber of Sexy Dexy.

This is truly one of the most shocking moments I can ever remember as a sports fan.  Barring a trade back into the first round – which at this point, would arguably be as shocking as the Lawrence trade itself – this will be just the second time the Bengals have not had a first-round pick.

And look, there’s no getting around the fact that this is a huge price to pay, even for Lawrence.  The #10 pick will be cost-controlled for at least four (possibly five) years.  The draft can be a crapshoot, but it’s the most sure-fire way to get surplus value for a player.  The Bengals, on the other hand, are going to be paying Lawrence top dollar.

Oh yeah, that’s the other big piece: Lawrence is going to want a new contract.  He wasn’t looking to get out of New York because of the scenery – he wanted a new deal that would make him one of the highest-paid defensive tackles in the league.  That, and his contract has no remaining guarantees.

The Bengals have a big tab to pick up.

And you know what?  I can live with it.

Before the news broke, I probably would have told you the #10 pick was too much to give up for Lawrence.  Too much for a guy coming off a 0.5 sack season.  Too much for a guy who’s going to want too much guaranteed money.

But screw that.  We’re talking about Dexter freaking Lawrence.

I literally started shaking when I saw the news.  If I’m having this much of an adrenaline rush, imagine how Joe Burrow is feeling.  And Ja’Marr Chase.  And Tee Higgins.

The Bengals decision-makers talked all offseason about being “all in” on winning a Super Bowl this year, and the following months were a bit of a mixed bag.

They added a couple of nice free agents, but didn’t add anyone at linebacker.  They let their best pass rusher leave.

This one move makes up for all of it.  With Lawrence in the fold, the entire picture changes.

He makes the entire D-line better.  With Lawrence taking up the attention of multiple blockers, fellow defensive tackles BJ Hill and Jonathan Allen will be seeing a ton of one-on-ones.  Edge defenders Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, and Shemar Stewart will have the freedom to play aggressively with Lawrence commanding double-teams.

DJ Reader played this exact role for the Bengals in 2021 and 2022 when they made back-to-back AFC Championship Games and a Super Bowl.  Lawrence is better.

Even the linebacker position, by extension, should be improved.  Last year, rookie ‘backers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter looked mostly helpless, but much of that was because opposing offensive lineman had little resistance as they climbed to the second level.  It’s hard enough for a rookie linebacker to look good in the NFL – it’s downright impossible when you have to fight off offensive lineman on every play because the D-line can’t keep them at bay.  Suddenly, that’s not such a big problem anymore.

The secondary gets better too.  Cornerback DJ Turner II had a fine year despite the Bengals generating some of the worst pressure numbers in the league.  Imagine how good he’s going to look with Dex and Co. bearing down on the opponent’s quarterback, minimizing their time to throw.  Suddenly, having Dax Hill as the Bengals #2 corner seems pretty good too.

The ripple effect is – literally and figuratively – massive.

The Bengals defense has been transformed.  Heck, the entire team has.  Clearly, the Bengals brass was not content with their three-year playoff drought.  The addition of Lawrence makes the Bengals the clear favorites in the AFC North, and one of the league’s most obvious Super Bowl contenders.

I never thought I’d see the day where the Bengals traded a top-ten pick for a player with almost no strings attached.  I guess pigs can fly – and since Cincinnati has plenty of flying pig statues all over town, I guess I shouldn’t be that surprised.