Cincinnati Bengals safety help could come from an unlikely source. PFF’s Bradley Locker sent Los Angeles Chargers star Derwin James Jr. to Cincinnati in his list of 10 fairy-tale trades ahead of the deadline, and a front office that already landed Dexter Lawrence has shown it will make a big swing.
PFF labels these fairy-tale trades, meaning they’re talking points and not reported talks. Locker calls every player on his list very unlikely to be traded. James signed a three-year, $75.6 million extension in May, according to ESPN, and Los Angeles would absorb roughly $19 million in dead cap to trade him this season. The Chargers are 0-6 and facing hard decisions, but James has stayed confident in the Chargers through the slide.
Why James fits Cincinnati’s secondary
Cincinnati added Bryan Cook this offseason, yet its safeties still rank 29th in overall PFF grade, per Locker. Cook carries a 52.4 overall grade and sat out the Week 4 game against the Jacksonville Jaguars with an ankle injury, as did Kyle Dugger. Jordan Battle has missed 19.4% of his tackles, according to PFF, even after his two interceptions against Miami.
James has a 60.9 overall PFF grade and a 50.8 coverage mark after a hamstring injury limited him to three games. Those numbers trail his 78.8 overall grade from last season, but his range is the selling point. Locker noted James can line up in the box, in the slot or at free safety. He is a five-time Pro Bowl selection and was a first-team All-Pro as a rookie in 2018.
Cincinnati is 3-2 coming out of its Week 6 bye and visits the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday. Zac Taylor has already warned about the 200-plus rushing yards his defense allowed to Miami, and Joe Burrow jammed the thumb on his non-throwing hand in that game but finished it. “Got a great game when we come back against an AFC North opponent in the Ravens,” Battle told WCPO after the win. “Got to be ready for that.”
A safety earning $25.2 million per year would be a steep addition for a team that already spent heavily on its defensive front. For fans in the Queen City, James is a dream target, and the dead cap makes the Chargers the side most likely to hang up the phone.
