PFF proposes a trade for Bengals to land Colts’ Mo Alie-Cox

The room needs help.

Among the Cincinnati Bengals’ offensive struggles through the first six games of the season, there is one position group that has been a glaring weakness — tight end.

Irv Smith Jr., Drew Sample, and the rest of the tight end room have been virtual non-factors this season, leading some to believe help from outside the building could be the solution. The Bengals are historically not a team that trades in season, but they have changed their ways in recent years.

PFF’s Brad Spielberger thinks there is one tight end that could be available who would fit the Bengals well. Spielberger pegs Indianapolis Colts tight end Mo Alie-Cox as a prime trade target for Cincinnati.

Cox has two years and a reasonable $8,886,666 left on his current contract and has posted a 66.8 grade on PFF this season.

“Alie-Cox is now third on the Colts’ depth chart in snap share in 2023, with 2021 third-rounder Kylen Granson leading the way and 2022 sixth-rounder Andrew Ogletree showing serious chops as a blocker with a few nice grabs sprinkled in. Indianapolis also used its fifth-round pick in this past year’s draft on Miami (OH) tight end Will Mallory and has 2022 third-rounder Jelani Woods continuing to work his way back from a hamstring injury,” Spielberger said.

Spielberger has the Bengals sending a fourth-round pick to Indianapolis in the deal that would net them Alie-Cox and a seventh-rounder.

“The Bengals have the league’s lowest-graded tight end room (45.1 overall) and could use another dimension in their offense, with Alie-Cox providing solid blocking off tackle and a solid tertiary option down in the red zone with his huge frame,” said Spielberger.

Should the Bengals pull the trigger or look for other options ahead of the trade deadline? Let us know in the comment section!