Bengals’ perfect Shedeur Sanders trade offer to Browns after Joe Burrow injury
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has a toe injury that will keep him out for at least three months. It is yet another unfortunate injury setback for one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Without Burrow, the Bengals will likely struggle. They have a poor defensive unit and an underwhelming offensive line, the latter of which might make life hard on whoever lines up under center until Burrow returns.
Jake Browning is the team's starting quarterback for now. Browning has had success when he has stepped up in relief of Burrow before, but he is still widely regarded as a backup. That means that a trade for another quarterback may be inevitable, and Shedeur Sanders is one name fans are curious about.
Bengals' trade proposal for Shedeur Sanders
Bengals receive: Shedeur Sanders
Browns receive: Fourth-round pick, sixth-round pick
A Sanders trade this quickly into his rookie year is unlikely especially because it seems like just a matter of time before the Cleveland Browns bench Joe Flacco. Sanders is currently the third stringer in Cleveland behind Flacco and fellow rookie Dillon Gabriel. He has the head start on being Cleveland's quarterback of the future, though.
The Browns drafted Gabriel in the third round out of Oregon, whereas they didn't take Sanders until the fifth round. And the Browns reportedly only took him because ownership insisted. Sanders' draft day fall was one of the most drastic in NFL history, though, meaning his selection was great value.
The Browns likely wouldn't trade him for anything less than a fifth-round pick, considering that is what it took to select him. He still has starter potential and a ceiling that is even higher than Gabriel's. If the team believes in Gabriel as the long-term starter, though, then there is really no need to keep Sanders around because of the drama that will always surround him. Sanders is one of the most polarizing players in all of sports largely because he is the son of Deion Sanders.
The Browns would have to feel comfortable about adding two draft picks, one of which is a fourth-rounder, in a trade for Sanders, though. He showed flashes during the preseason and training camp, but he also showed that he is a flawed player who is likely a ways away from contributing at the NFL level. Sanders needs time to develop, and that might never come in Cleveland because of the team's depth at quarterback.
Would Shedeur Sanders be a good fit with the Bengals?
Because Sanders is a developmental project, he probably isn't the best fit for the Bengals. Not to mention, they have a lot of confidence in what Browning can do in relief of Burrow. Even so, projections had Sanders as a potential top-two NFL Draft pick just months ago, so trading fourth- and six-rounders for him could pay off in a big way.
Sanders has a knack for making big plays, and that would translate well to a Bengals' offense that features receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Furthermore, Burrow has an extensive history of injuries, so having a long-term backup quarterback option who can compete at a high level when Burrow goes down makes a lot of sense.
Sanders became well-accustomed to thriving despite poor offensive line play during his time at Colorado, so he'd fit right in with the Bengals. Sanders can scramble and extend plays while allowing Chase and Higgins ample time to get open. Considering the Bengals passed on Sanders four times on draft night, it is highly unlikely that they'd trade so much draft capital for him. It certainly would be fun to see Sanders attempt to save the Bengals' season, though.
PATRIOTS SHOCK THE NFL WITH AUDACIOUS MICAH PARSONS TRADE PROPOSAL
Even if nothing major changes between now and the Patriots‘ Week 1 kickoff against the Raiders on September 7, this will go down as a monumental offseason in New England, where a spending spree in excess of $300 million has remade the roster and, New England hopes, its reputation after back-to-back 4-13 seasons.
But while signing stars like Stefon Diggs and Milton Williams has been big, that Patriots have not made a complete game-changing move, the kind that could vault them into not just being a playoff contender in the AFC this season, but one that could make them a sneaky darkhorse Super Bowl pick.
There’s probably only one player out there who may be available and may fit that bill. And that would be Cowboys star Micah Parsons.
Micah Parsons Is Not Happy
To be sure, Parsons is a longshot to be traded by Dallas, as he has become a fixture on the defense in his four seasons with the Cowboys. But Parsons has lodged a trade request amid a contract standoff with the Cowboys.
While that’s nothing new for Cowboys owner Jerry Jones–Dallas typically does its business in the 11th hour–reports indicate that Parsons has been personally hurt by the Cowboys’ approach and sincerely wants a trade.
The Patriots would be the ideal landing spot. They could afford to pay him. There is talk that New England would be willing to add Trey Hendrickson via trade with the Bengals, but Parsons–at age 25–would be the ultimate score.
Patriots-Cowboys Trade
With that in mind, the Heavy NFL trade desk has a proposal.
Patriots: Micah Parsons
Cowboys: 3 first-round picks
Losing three first-rounders would sting, but here’s how we see it:
“New England is rebuilding from scratch with a new head coach in 2025 (Mike Vrabel) and a second-year QB who was a top-3 pick (Drake Maye). The Patriots had a solid draft, likely picking up two long-term starters on the offensive line. New England also took a big swing in free agency with Stefon Diggs.
“The team still has nearly $60 million in cap space and can absorb Parsons easily moving forward. Three first-round picks is a little more than the Bears are giving up, but the Patriots play in a much weaker division and profile as the most likely team to just five-plus wins in 2025. Adding Parsons would likely increase that win total projection and the odds of hitting it, thus driving down the value of New England’s first-round selections moving forward as the franchise rebuilds back into a perennial contender.”
Patriots Are Open for Business
Of course, the hearts of Patriots fans were sent aflutter on Monday when GM Eliot Wolf mentioned that he would be willing to part with picks if it meant adding stars to help in the short term.
Wolf did not hesitate in saying that he would be willing to part with a first-rounder.
“Yeah, absolutely. We’re talking to all 31 other teams and trying to do what’s best for us,” Wolf told reporters. “If something presents itself, I think those things are often a lot more complicated than the fans and some others like to make you believe, but if there’s something we think can help us, we’ll definitely be open to it.”
Parsons is disgruntled. The Patriots are open to a trade. Three first-rounders is a hefty price but, there is logic there.
