Bengals Pass on Lawrence Trade, Focus on Draft

0:00It's April 7th. You're listening to NFL News Today, AI-powered NFL coverage. Bingles fans, don't hold your breath for a trade to snag giant star Dexter Lawrence. The team needs more punch inside on the defensive line, but Cincinnati sees this as too big a risk. Lawrence is a beast, no doubt, but at 28 he's pushing for a massive extension on top of his current deal. Right now, Chris Jenkins Jr. hasn't lived up to the hype in the middle, though Jonathan Allen just joined to shore things up. B.J. Hill could bounce back after injury woes last year. Still, swapping for Lawrence means coughing up a mid to late first round picks worth of value. That price tag stings even more, with his $20 million cap hit, next season, and two years left on the contract. Bingles brass diswashed all pro-tray Hendrickson, walk without overpaying, so why start now? They sit pretty at the number 10 draft pick. Perfect spot to grab fresh talent at defensive tackle instead of mortgaging the future.

1:01Connected sources say Cincinnati won't even pick up the phone to chat price. Smart play keeps them flexible, heading into the draft, building without the gamble.