The Cincinnati Bengals will be on the hunt for quite a few roster upgrades this offseason, especially once some of the coaching vacancies after firings get filled.
While the bulk of the attention projects to go to the defensive side of the ball, providing Joe Burrow with some boosts on the offensive side remains an option.
ESPN’s Ben Solak just went with a unique prediction, saying that the Bengals will trade for Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts:
Tight end Kyle Pitts is due $10.8 million on the final year of his deal in 2025. Can the Falcons get more for him in a trade than they would in a compensatory pick after he leaves in free agency? I think they could, as he has a rosier future on an offense that actually fits his skill set. My prediction: Pitts will get dealt to the Bengals for a Day 3 pick.
Pitts, the fourth overall pick in 2021, enters the 2025 season in the final year of his rookie deal as a guy who could have one foot out the door. He’s never fully embraced the draft hype or slotting, totaling just 2,651 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns over four seasons.
Maybe that changes if the Bengals make a move and it’s likely they will be on the hunt for yet another starting tight end if and when Mike Gesicki cashes in elsewhere via free agency.
Since the team should be in win-now mode, coughing up a draft asset to go get a 24-year-old former top-five pick, as opposed to resetting at the position with a rookie or otherwise, could be a good idea.