The Cincinnati Bengals defense was opportunistic against the Cleveland Browns, holding Cleveland to 16 points and forcing multiple key takeaways. That said, the Bengals still lack a lot of star power on defense, which is why Kristopher Knox says Cincinnati should make a move for Carolina Panthers edge rusher D.J. Wonnum.
"In Week 1, the Carolina Panthers looked a lot like the noncompetitive team they were early in 2024," Knox writes. "There's still time to turn around the season, of course, but they are already looking to see what the team has in some younger players... The Panthers could also simply want to get something of value for him before he hits the 2026 free-agent market. The 27-year-old logged 37 tackles and four sacks in eight games last season and should justify a reasonable return. The fifth-round pick and late-round swap the Browns got for Za'Darius Smith at last year's deadline should serve as a starting point for Carolina."
The Bengals got good production from Shemar Stewart in Week 1, as he had three pressures, per PFF. Having a good three-man edge rotation would certainly take some pressure off the secondary, which we've seen the Green Bay Packers have success with over the first two weeks of the season.
If the Bengals do want to make this move, though, they should do it now before Carolina continues to struggle and it becomes clear they are selling at the trade deadline.
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