The Cincinnati Bengals need to strike a trade for a quarterback if they’re serious about making a push this year.
An embattled front office and coaching staff owe the locker room and fans that much, at least.
This point simply couldn’t be sharper coming out of the debacle that was the 37-24 loss to the Detroit Lions. Jake Browning was a dud again, throwing a trio of touchdowns and interceptions.
But the quarterback play just isn’t good enough. The Bengals went nearly 20 drives without a touchdown since Joe Burrow’s injury. They can not go on a week-to-week basis needing a miracle tip-toe catch and deep route wizardry from Ja’Marr Chase touchdowns with three-and-a-half quarters of garbage in between.
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This isn’t meant to be a hit piece on Browning. He’s still leagues better than backup Brett Rypien and practice squad members Sean Clifford and Mike White. But it’s not working. In 2023, a lack of film and some luck must’ve played a role in his strong showing as a starter. Whatever the reason, it’s not a repeatable thing.
Trading for someone like a Russell Wilson, Kirk Cousins or Jameis Winston will cost a (middling) asset, sure. And they’ll throw interceptions. But those guys throw picks while putting up numbers, oftentimes keeping their teams competitive.
Take the history of those guys, put it in an offense with Chase and Tee Higgins and see what happens, right? Because we’ve seen the 2025 Browning experience already and Sunday, it was falling behind 28-3 going into the fourth quarter with what didn’t look like professional ball before the flukey garbage time stat padding.
Historically, the Bengals like to take a fluke like Sunday’s fourth quarter and draw it out longer, thinking it could be something to build upon. But after falling down 104-16 over two losses and three quarters on Sunday, that’s more than enough evidence to pull a panic move at quarterback via trade.
Otherwise, what are they really doing in Cincinnati right now?
RELATED: Bengals not calling about QB trades despite Jake Browning’s struggles
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals can’t afford to wait any longer on a QB trade
