The Bengals will lean into offensive-line upgrades as the trade deadline nears, mixing acquisitions of proven blockers with selective asset moves. Hendrickson isn’t viewed as a trade candidate due to his contract, while Amarius Mims and Dylan Fairchild continue to develop in a unit that has struggled in 2025. Cincinnati has shown it benefits from outside OL help, citing past adds like Orlando Brown Jr., Ted Karras, and Alex Cappa as proof the fastest path to improvement is through proven veterans rather than internal development alone.

With a broader rebuild on the horizon, the plan could tilt toward signing depth rather than wholescale selling, but the overarching goal remains protecting Burrow and stabilizing the line. If blowouts persist, expect a delicate balance of buying and selling to accelerate a post-season reset and set up a sharper offseason strategy focused on a stronger front five.

Lions visit Cincinnati on a 4:15 ET slate with Detroit riding a three-game win streak. Hutchinson is a pure game-wrecker who could tilt the edge against Amarius Mims, while Cincinnati eyes a bounce-back after road losses to Vikings and Broncos. The Lions’ backfield duo, Montgomery and Gibbs, supply a dangerous ground-and-pass threat, with Amon-Ra St. Brown as the trusted target and Jared Goff’s efficient distribution fueling daily fantasy upside. Expect big sacks for Hutchinson, steady floor from Readers in the middle, and a tactical battle that could swing on big plays in the run game.

Denver must snap its skid on Monday Night Football against Cincinnati. Luke Wattenberg needs a clean rebound at center, diagnosing stunts and protecting Bo Nix to jumpstart a zone-heavy run game. RJ Harvey should be featured more as a receiving option out of the backfield to balance the attack and spare the rookie in the ground game. Jonathon Cooper and Nik Bonitto have to bring sustained edge pressure, exploiting Bengals tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims. A cleaner line, smarter backfield usage, and tighter rush discipline could flip the game in Denver’s favor.

Payton’s plans hinge on Wattenberg’s growth, Harvey’s versatility as a pass catcher, and Cooper/Bonitto delivering pressure on Jake Browning. If Denver can translate interior protection into a dependable short-passing rhythm and turn quick pressures into sacks, they’ll carve out a pivotal win and steady their season trajectory.

Bengals eye Kadyn Proctor at No. 12 in a speculative 2026 mock, citing Orlando Brown Jr.'s age and contract window. Proctor’s size (6’7, 360) and athleticism would provide a long-term left-tackle plan and could backstop Amarius Mims at right tackle if needed.

Historical caution colors the analysis: Cincinnati let Andrew Whitworth walk instead of committing, then watched a hall-of-fame-like left tackle flourish elsewhere. Brown’s early 2025 struggles — eight pressures in three games — sharpen questions about paying big for a 30-year-old tackle, shaping a fragile balance between development and cap strategy.

The piece frames the pick as a development-and-cap move to keep the offense competitive as the roster turns over, especially if Hendrickson’s future with the team shifts the edge-rush dynamic.