Cincinnati Bengals starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt was inactive for Thursday's Week 7 victory over the Pittsburgh Steelers despite being healthy, according to various reports. It wasn't the first benching of Taylor-Britt's uneven career. The timing is awfully intriguing, with the NFL trade deadline approximately three weeks away.
Zac Taylor and Al Golden appear content to move in a different direction defensively. Cornerback DJ Turner took advantage, recording an outstanding interception versus the Steelers on Thursday. The Bengals are building their secondary around Turner and Josh Newton, with Taylor-Britt on the outs.
Taylor-Britt is currently in the final year of his rookie contract. His affordable salary, paired with an expiring contract, makes him a trade candidate. He’s not in the Bengals’ plans. We've identified three potential destinations for Taylor-Britt at the trade deadline.
Philadelphia Eagles
After beginning the campaign 4-0, the once-superhuman Philadelphia Eagles look mortal again. The defending Super Bowl champions have shockingly lost two straight, including a 34-17 drubbing at the hands of the... New York Giants? The Giants scored five offensive touchdowns on Vic Fangio's free-falling defense in primetime.
The Eagles have allowed 25-plus points in three games. Cornerback is a major weakness, with Adoree’ Jackson struggling opposite Quinyon Mitchell. With a Pro Football Focus coverage grade of 46.2, opposing quarterbacks are consistently targeting Jackson through the air. General manager Howie Roseman must improve his defensive secondary if he wants his Eagles to repeat as Super Bowl champs. Acquiring Taylor-Britt would provide an upgrade, as he'd slot in nicely alongside Mitchell and Cooper DeJean on the back end.
Detroit Lions
The Detroit Lions were defeated 30-17 by the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 6. A once-struggling Chiefs offense figured things out versus the shorthanded Lions. Patrick Mahomes accounted for four touchdowns while rarely encountering any resistance. Kelvin Shephard's unit is a middling defense in essentially every category. With all four NFC North contenders currently sporting a record above .500, the division title is being fiercely battled for.
Injuries are beginning to mount at cornerback, and Dan Campbell's squad has yet to adjust successfully. Terrion Arnold is week-to-week with a shoulder injury. DJ Reed is on IR with a hamstring injury, and depth piece Ennis Rakestaw Jr. saw his season end before it even started, and Avonte Maddox is also week-to-week. With injuries piling up, Taylor-Britt would help settle a secondary that isn't overcoming adversity right now.
Washington Commanders
The Washington Commanders' defense continues to fall short of expectations, particularly at cornerback. Last year's Marshon Lattimore gamble looks like a misfire. The Commanders rank 23rd in pass defense, allowing 235.2 air yards per game. Even Mike Sainristil hasn't been his usual consistent self, with quarterbacks completing 71% of the passes thrown in his direction this season.
The Commanders have been more uneven than expected in 2025, but they remain in playoff contention at 3-3. General manager Adam Peters should stay aggressive in the pursuit of postseason success. A talented defender like Taylor-Britt could help stabilize Dan Quinn's underwhelming secondary.
