Hobson: No Indication That The Bengals Front Office Is Involved With Any Trade Talks

Earlier we posted a story from a website called the National Football Authority that the Cincinnati Bengals and Arizona Cardinals were in discussions to swap first round selections (along with another selection or two later in the draft), giving the Bengals an opportunity to draft Alabama running back Trent Richardson. The website cited a team executive, though the article didn't specify which team or if even that executive belonged to either team.

Geoff Hobson picked up the story in Hobson's Choice and writes:

On Wednesday afternoon there were no indications that the Bengals’ brass was involved in any trade talks with any teams. And while the executive told NFA the Bengals think very highly of Richardson, the club is still in the process of setting its board following the combine.

Furthermore Hobson offers history as a glimpse what this team could do in late April.

Given that the Bengals have traded up once in the first round in their history and it blew up with the ACL injury to running back Ki-Jana Carter, it’s hard to see them doing it again for a guy that plays the same position. They could draft Richardson with one of their own picks at No. 17 or No. 21, but that would go against their grain, too. They’ve only taken a running back four times in the first round: Archie Griffin in 1976, Charles Alexander in 1979, Carter in 1995 and Chris Perry in 2004.