3 cornerback trades the Bengals should explore after DJ Turner II's injury scare exposes deeper problem
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3 cornerback trades the Bengals should explore after DJ Turner II's injury scare exposes deeper problem
Miami Dolphins cornerback Julius Brents (8) breaks up a pass in the end zone to Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'marr Chase (1) in the first quarter of the NFL Week 5 game between the Miami Dolphins and the Cincinnati Bengals at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Florida, on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2026. Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
John Sheeran·AtoZ Sports
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5 min read
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The Cincinnati Bengals avoided disaster with DJ Turner II's heel injury on Sunday. The chaos surrounding him at cornerback is another story, and three likely sellers could offer a fix before the Nov. 10 trade deadline.
The Cincinnati Bengals dodged a bullet regarding one of their best defensive players. Bengals coach Zac Taylor told reporters Monday afternoon that cornerback DJ Turner II is day-to-day with a heel injury. Turner leftSunday's win over the Tennessee Titansand did not return.
Turner has a good chance of playing overseas against the Atlanta Falcons in Madrid on Sunday. Even with him on the field, Cincinnati still has major issues at cornerback.
DJ Ivey, who began the year as a backup, is still starting opposite Turner. Dax Hill was initially benched in the slot for backup Josh Newton over the weekend, then took over for Ivey later in the game. The sheer amount of chaos at one of the most important positions on the field is not sustainable. That's why the Bengals should be interested in trading for a starting cornerback before the deadline.
Here are three deals Cincinnati could make to bring in a starting-caliber player at the position. All trades were calculated with theA to Z Sports NFL Trade Simulator.
Woolen might be the best overall cornerback on the trade market this year. He helped the Seattle Seahawks win the Super Bowl last season and signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Eagles over the offseason.
The 27-year-old is built a lot like Bengals rookie cornerback Tacario Davis at 6-foot-4, 210 pounds, and he uses that size well in run defense. Woolen has 25 tackles, including 10 defensive stops, with only two missed tackles.
There have been ups and downs for Woolen in coverage. He's given up a handful of touchdowns in coverage and has been penalized seven times. Still, he's had more quality games than not, which means he would normally require a borderline premium pick. Philadelphia is clearly in the midst of a lost season, though, so it may accept less than fair value.
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Riq Woolen quick facts
Woolen is in the middle of his fifth NFL season.
Selected in the fifth-round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Seattle Seahawks.
72 regular season games played in his career, including 61 starts.
12 career interceptions, including six from his rookie year alone.
Target 2: New Orleans Saints CB Martin Emerson
Bengals receive:CB Martin Emerson Saints receive:Bengals 2027 sixth-round pick
Cincinnati remembers Emerson well from his time as a starter for the Cleveland Browns. He signed a near-minimum deal with the Saints this offseason and had a two-interception performance against the New York Giants just a couple of weeks ago.
Emerson has been among the best pure cover cornerbacks in the NFL, allowing a passer rating of just 40.5 in coverage. His weakness has largely revolved around tackling and run defense. He has a missed tackle rate of 19% on 52 run defense snaps.
New Orleans isn't doing well at 2-5, and the Saints may be inclined to take on draft capital for a player on a one-year deal.
Brents is another big-bodied cornerback on a team near the bottom of the league. The Dolphins are in the middle of an ethical tank job, and Brents is in the final year of his rookie contract.
Compared to Woolen and Emerson, Brents is clearly the inferior option. However, his best game of the season came against Cincy. He posted a 90.4 coverage grade in theWeek 5 meeting, allowing three receptions for 15 yards on six targets with a pass breakup according to Pro Football Focus.
The Bengals historically value players who recently played well against them. The front office may value that tape enough to give up a draft pick for Brents. It won't take much to pry him away from Miami, and the Dolphins could use all the draft capital they can get.
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Why a defensive back is the likeliest target
The Bengals should be looking for helpanywhere in their back seven. Cornerback is simply the position dealing with the most chaos, and it's the one Cincinnati values most compared to safety and linebacker.
Woolen, Emerson, and Brents fit the bill as likely targets. All three play for teams that could be sellers at the deadline, and all three are on expiring contracts, so none should be too expensive to acquire. Woolen may be the exception because of his greater pedigree, but the Eagles' situation could make them more willing to move him below market value.
The trade deadline is Nov. 10. With the Bengals set to travel to Madrid, Spain, this week, I would expect Cincinnati to make any move early next week if it makes one at all. Bringing in a new defensive back makes all the sense in the world.
