NFL Trade Deadline 2013: Looking At Players And The Cincinnati Bengals

With the NFL's trading deadline approaching (Oct. 29, 4 p.m., ET), we wondered about the viability of Cincinnati finding a trading partner for a player; especially in regards to recent injuries. We take a look at a couple of names being tossed around the league, project the realistic expectation that Cincinnati may or may not be interested and conclude with our thoughts on how it will play out.

DE Jared Allen, Vikings: The Vikings have disputed that Allen is on the market, but we figure that any team looking to rebuild their organization, should be open to every possibility to deal an aging veteran on the final year of his contract. Cincinnati won't have much interest here with Michael Johnson, Carlos Dunlap and Wallace Gilberry effectively being the team's best defensive ends, plus Robert Geathers and Margus Hunt tabbed for next season.

Anyway, if the Bengals are entertaining the thought of paying Allen, why not focus more on re-signing Michael Johnson? Allen would essentially be a rent-a-player for the final eight games, carrying with him a portion of the $17 million cap hit, as well as a significant draft pick.

Conclusion: No chance.

WR Josh Gordon, Browns: Gordon is an intriguing player; a very effective and productive receiver who is just coming into his own but brings with him the type of baggage that the Bengals claim to be done with. Despite his talent level and the Browns need to continue rebuilding their team with draft picks, Cincinnati really doesn't have use for him. Marvin Jones is coming into his own and Andrew Hawkins is inching closer to his eventual return.

It's doubtful that the Browns even trade him, but according to some trade rumors, it would take at least a second rounder before the Browns would even listen.

Conclusion: No chance.

WR Hakeem Nicks, Giants; WR Kenny Britt, Titans; WR Jon Baldwin, 49ers; WR Greg Little, Browns: Additional names at wide receiver on the rumored trade block really don't offer much of what Cincinnati already has. At this point we're talking about the fifth, sixth, and seventh spots on the wide receiver roster, where players like Dane Sanzenbacher, Ryan Whalen, and Brandon Tate reside. Tate is the primary returner (especially now that Adam Jones is focusing more on defense), Whalen is a game-day inactive each week and Sanzenbacher is worth developing.

There are other competing teams starving for wide receivers and we don't see the Bengals negotiating with anyone for these receivers. Plus according to Ian Rapoport, it's believed that a third-round pick would be required for someone like Nicks. No thanks, and...

Conclusion: No chance.

TE Fred Davis, Redskins; TE Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars: The latest out of Washington is that the Redskins are "aggressively" shopping Davis, who is playing on a one-year deal worth $1 million after a season in which he tore his Achilles tendon. Lewis has two years remaining on his contract with a cap hit of $8.25 million and $8.2 million in 2014 and 2015 respectively; plus Lewis has been dealing with a calf strain this season.

Like Gordon and Allen, the Bengals stocked at tight end with Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert, both of whom are more talented than Davis. If either of them suffered a season-ending injury, maybe, but it would be more Bengals-like if the team utilized Orson Charles and Alex Smith before entertaining the idea of trading for Davis or Lewis.

Conclusion: No chance, in hell.

CB Nnamdi Asomugha, 49ers: The San Francisco 49ers are shopping and have shopped Asomugha, according to Jason La Canfora with CBSSports.com. Even if the 49ers are unable to trade Asomugha, who has been listed as a gameday inactive for three straight games, it's believed that they're planning to release him once cornerback Eric Wright returns from the NFI list; which doesn't make sense to trade for him at this point.

Asomugha has been on a significant decline recently, allowing five touchdowns and an opposing quarterback rating of 120.6 in his final year with the Eagles in 2012; now he's riding the bench in San Francisco.

Conclusion: Maybe a chance, if maybe equals 0.1 percent.

S Jairus Byrd, Bills: Due to health questions, the inability to work out a contract (he's currently playing on a franchise deal), and a desire to be the highest paid safety in the NFL, a trade for Byrd seems extremely unlikely. However, the Bills don't want a draft pick. They want a young player and I don't think we're talking about bottom of the roster type of talent either.

However.

This is one trade that I will leave outside the "no chance" circle with the accumulating injuries that team has suffered in the secondary. Leon Hall is out for the year with an Achilles. Dre Kirkpatrick and Brandon Ghee, youngsters looking to make an impression in the NFL, are constant durability concerns and now Taylor Mays' injury further reduces the team's depth in the secondary.

Will this happen? Not likely, but it's enough of a chance not to close the door so quickly.

Conclusion: Maybe. And by maybe, we're probably talking one percent.

Conclusion: Don't expect the Bengals to make a significant deal. It's always possible that a trade happens, but Cincinnati is far more likely to make deals heading into the regular season rather than during it. That being said, if a trade happens, it's more likely that Cincinnati acquires a player that most fans will have to Google to get a strong understanding of. And that player will most likely be worth a seventh-round pick and not much else.