AFC North trade targets for the Tennessee Titans

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts is sacked by Carlos Dunlap #96 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - SEPTEMBER 09: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts is sacked by Carlos Dunlap #96 of the Cincinnati Bengals at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 9, 2018 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
(Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are another strange team to project a trade with.

With a new coaching staff for the first time in 84 years (citation needed) we have no idea who this group will like and who is going to disappear. What we do know is that they are facing a tough division and that they are going to have a very hard time coming up with more than a handful of wins in 2019.

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There is a lot of talent on that roster, but they are going to compete with the Houston Texans for title of worst offensive line in the NFL. So, it is probably more likely that if a trade gets done between these two teams, the Titans will actually be sending someone up north like Corey Levin, Dennis Kelly or Jack Conklin.

But, the point of this exercise is to figure out a trade target with each team, not figuring out which trade is most likely.

I am very tempted to write down A.J. Green here. There have been rumblings that he is potentially on the block or at the very least that the Bengals are/will listen to offers for the star receiver.

Before the 2019 NFL Draft I would have said to call them up and offer whatever they want because A.J. Green is a star. However, I don’t think the Titans will do that now.

After heavily investing in the wide receiver position, Tennessee is going to have to pick between a top-5 pick, a 2nd round pick from this year, a 3rd round pick from 2017, and one of  the most proven slot receivers in the NFL.

He would be a huge impact player on this team, but would probably cost a future top-60 pick and the Titans won’t do that deal for a one year, bridge player that they can’t pay in 2020.

Instead I am going to go with Carlos Dunlap.

Dunlap has had 6 or more sacks in a 8 of his 9 seasons in the NFL and he has had 7+ sacks in each of his last 6 seasons.

Despite the misconception, the Tennessee Titans are not a pure 3-4 defense, they are a 4-2-5 base defense that uses a lot of nickel and four down linemen to get the job done. Harold Landry is going to be a great player for the Titans and Cameron Wake is a great designated pass rusher.

However, if you ask me who I feel comfortable starting at EDGE opposite Landry for 30+ snaps per game, the only player I can say is Sharif Finch and we haven’t seen him do that before. That plus his college injuries make me nervous at that position.

Why not bring in another veteran with a proven track record of success and the ability to play 30+ snaps per game who you can move on from at any time with limited dead cap space.