The Cincinnati Bengals have been one of the bigger disappointments through eight weeks. After harboring Super Bowl aspirations with Joe Burrow healthy again, the Bengals have instead started 3-5.
Burrow and the passing game have largely shined, but the rest of the roster has fallen into disrepair. Here we look at one trade scenario that could help support Burrow and the offense.
Bengals Should Boost Faltering Run Game
Trade proposal:
- Bengals acquire: RB Travis Etienne Jr.
- Jaguars acquire: 2025 fifth-round pick
Travis Etienne Jr. has seen his grip on the the Jacksonville Jaguars’ RB1 role falter after two years as their bellcow back. Etienne has a cheap fifth-year option that the Jags exercised, so he’ll be under contract in 2025 with a $6.1 million cap hit. That could make him an appealing trade target given his reduced role in Jacksonville.
The Bengals’ run game has featured both Chase Brown and Zack Moss as lead runners, but both have been noticeable declines from the Joe Mixon-led run game of the past. Cincinnati ranks 28th in rush success rate at 32.9%, its lowest mark since 2008.
Etienne has been outshined by Tank Bigsby but is still having a strong season in his own right. The Jaguars running back is averaging 4.1 yards per rush, an improvement from his 3.8 yards per carry figure in 2023.
The biggest hurdle to this is the Bengals’ historic aversion to in-season trades. As Bengals reporter Kelsey Conway notes, deadline moves have been exceedingly rare for the franchise.
The Bengals have acquired only two players via trade in the last 52 years.
So, when Joe Burrow was asked if he would like to see his team get in the mix, here’s what he said: https://t.co/YxZa9tiEnh
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) October 31, 2024
The other potential hold-up is Etienne’s own health. He’s missed the Jaguars’ last two games with a hamstring injury and is a game-time decision for Week 8. If he can’t return to the field, any trade partner would need to sign off on his health on relatively short notice.
Still, the Bengals are a good candidate to add a running back if they are willing to buck historic trends. Cincinnati has dropped back to pass at the sixth-highest rate, but even that’s misleading. When the game is within one score, the Bengals drop back at the highest rate in the NFL (65.6%).
As talented as Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins (who is also injured) are, it’s unreasonable to expect them to carry the whole franchise. The Bengals’ defense has too many holes to improve significantly from their current rank of 27th in EPA per play, so Cincy’s best chance at clawing back into contention involves a more well-rounded offense that can control multiple game situations.
Improving the run game is the quickest path toward that Band-Aid. In the long run, the Bengals will need to draft better and rebuild the defense to compensate for Higgins’ likely departure in free agency. But in the short term, a back like Etienne could make a meaningful difference to their dwindling playoff hopes.