This Colts-Bengals trade for Carlos Dunlap could actually work
The Colts could make a mini splash and trade for Carlos Dunlap.
The news of Kemoko Turay’s delayed return has changed a lot of things for the Indianapolis Colts. Fans originally thought he’d be back after the bye week, but now it’s believed he’ll miss the next two games as the team eases him back into practice.
Though it’s clear Indy won’t be competing for a title in 2020, it’d still be nice if general manager Chris Ballard made a move or two at the deadline to keep the team competitive now and perhaps prepare for next season (and beyond).
Well, look no further for a potential deal for Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap, who’s enduring turmoil at the moment after arguing with his defensive line coach on the sidelines during the Week 7 loss to the Browns and then promptly posting a tweet stating that his Cincinnati home was up for sale.
Carlos Dunlap is trying everything to get out of Cincinnati: pic.twitter.com/k2M85dEytY
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 25, 2020
That tweet was deleted, but you get the picture. The good news here is that Dunlap was demoted along the defensive line in favor of Amani Bledsoe and Carl Lawson in addition to displaying outward frustration with the Bengals, which means his price tag in any potential deal should be low.
His current contract has him signed through 2021, which is another advantage for Indy, who is looking for stability among the pass rush corps after this season. Dunlap’s $7.8 million figure for 2020 isn’t much and his $10.25 million salary for next season really isn’t prohibitive either, especially when you consider the Colts’ plentiful cap space.
With Kemoko Turay now ruled out at least two more games, #Colts absolutely should inquire about a pass rusher via trade. Carlos Dunlap or Ryan Kerrigan for a late-round pick makes a lot of sense.
— Locked On Colts Podcast (@LockedOnColts) October 26, 2020
So why not ship a fifth-round pick to the Bengals in exchange for the former Pro Bowler. We know his one sack and 18 tackles through seven games is weak, but putting him alongside Justin Houston, DeForest Buckner, and eventually Turay could do wonders for him. This is a guy who just registered 46 sacks from 2015-2019. You mean to tell us Matt Eberflus can’t unlock that potential again?
If the Bengals don’t want a draft pick, perhaps a guy like Jack Doyle could entice them. He’s signed through the 2022 season at a decent number ($12 million) and Cincy really needs a capable receiving tight end to help out rookie QB Joe Burrow. Perhaps a change of scenery for Doyle and Dunlap could help these guys regain their footing.
These are two potential scenarios that aren’t out of the question, so we wouldn’t be surprised if Ballard is considering them with the deadline a week away.
