The Cincinnati Bengals enter Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers with a 3-3 record, but that doesn’t seem so bad when you consider that they dropped three of their first four games.
They may be at .500, but the Bengals have yet to find any consistency on either side of the ball. While it’s realistic to assume that the Joe Burrow-led offense will eventually find its groove, it’s clear that the Bengals need some help in the secondary to bolster their Super Bowl push.
One of the top defensive backs that should be available at the trade deadline? Denver Broncos three-time Second-team All-Pro safety Justin Simmons, reportedly one of several notable players that GM George Paton will listen to offers on.
The Bengals lost standout safety Jessie Bates III to the Atlanta Falcons in free agency. They’re lacking reliable defensive backs in the secondary, but Simmons would immediately bolster the group.
A fair offer for Simmons would be 2024 third-round and 2025 fifth-round draft picks. With Simmons under contract through 2024, Cincy can afford to package an early-round pick in this scenario.
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The 2-5 Broncos won’t be a playoff team this year, and it’s time for Paton to start selling off key assets for much-needed draft picks. As good as Simmons is, the Broncos need pieces that can help their rebuild. And at 30 years of age, he only has so many productive years left.
Simmons is an elite cover safety who would make the Bengals defense that much more dangerous in January. That’s the type of player Cincinnati needs to deal with the likes of Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, Trevor Lawrence and Josh Allen in the AFC.
