Hendrickson, Higgins, and Chase

[Cincyfan78]

Facts. But, considering the position, talent, contract and age of Simmons that is for sure worth thinking about if it was on the table. These pundits love click bait and I am not quite dumb enough to think this is anything but. However, a trade for a piece for a piece that strengthens a position of weakness...ehhh...interesting thoughts.

Concerns I would have:

Simmons will be 28 this year. Hendrickson 30. So, you're really not shaving off a ton of years on the player. You're just adding another guy under contract for roughly the same age-frame.

Simmons career high in sacs is 8.5. He's collected more than 5.5 just twice (8.5, 7.5). Hendrickson was coming off a 14.5 sack season when coming over from NO.

I mean, if you are talking about putting this guy on the other side of Hendrickson - maybe? But his tackle totals don't really align with a strong-side DE. He looks like (Stat-wise) more of a rush end/weakside DE like Trey. I don't necessarily agree that you can just put guys where-ever on the field because they all play specific roles. If he's been more of a weakside guy - then I wouldn't just think adding him to the strong side opposite of Trey would work like some may think - and I don't think I would agree that he would be a replacement for Trey, either.

I'm not sure I really see the overall benefit where the Bengals would get equal value in return for Higgins, personally. I'm not against tagging and trading - but I'm not sure Simmons is the guy I would use that chip for. Max Crosby, on the other hand...I'd consider, but that's not even in the realm of possible.

 

[cincygrad]

Watching last night's game reminds me why I'd rather trade Trey than pay him. I don't think your D is going to be very effective with one great edge and nothing else on the line. Good quarterbacks feel edge rushers and step up and around them - The place they struggle is when pressure comes from the middle. This is definitely true of Burrow - He has a much more difficult time with elite tackles than edges. Look at Philly's dominant D - They didn't have a dominant edge rusher, but their d-line has so much talent (particularly on the interior) that it overwhelms teams. I'd love to see us use the money and draft capital from Trey to add pieces on the interior d-line. I wouldn't be against adding a veteran edge (maybe Chase Young?) but I don't think it makes sense to pay Trey and then hope what we got will be enough.