Going into the season, most NFL fans felt that the Cincinnati Bengals would be championship contenders, and who could blame them?

After all, the Bengals are two years removed from a trip to the Super Bowl, and last season, they made it all the way to the AFC Championship Game before losing to the Kansas City Chiefs.

But through two weeks in 2023, Cincinnati looks like anything but the sort.

The Bengals have lost their first two games, scoring a grand total of 27 points. They currently rank last in the league in offense, and trade rumors are already swirling around wide receiver Tee Higgins.

On the bright side, Cincinnati also started out 0-2 last year, so the club has been here before. Plus, Cincy has plenty of time to address any holes on its roster between now and the Oct. 31 NFL trade deadline.

One such need the Bengals have is at tight end.

So, could Cincinnati make a play for Zach Ertz?

Ertz is currently playing for the Arizona Cardinals, a club that certainly seems to be headed nowhere fast. It’s hard to imagine the Cardinals, who are already 0-2 and were last seen blowing a 21-point lead to the New York Giants in Week 2, will be in legitimate contenders at any point this season.

For that reason, trading Ertz would make plenty of sense for Arizona.

The Bengals could step in and offer the Cardinals a 2024 third-round draft pick in exchange for Ertz. That way, Cincinnati fills its hole at tight end, and Arizona will get out from under Ertz’s contract (he will not become a free agent until 2025).

Through two games, Zach Ertz has logged 12 catches for 77 yards. While the 32-year-old may no longer be the star he was during his prime Philadelphia Eagles days, he remains a legitimate threat in the passing game and could certainly help a surprisingly stagnant Bengals offense.