In the wake of C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s release, the Houston Texans turned to veteran and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers draft pick M.J. Stewart. However, with the deadline approaching, the Texans could be a fitting trade suitor for another option in Geno Stone.
Currently with the Cincinnati Bengals, Stone entered the league as a seventh-round selection by the Baltimore Ravens.
And yet, a deal landing him with the Texans would be a full-circle opportunity.
Proposed Trade Lands Bengals S Geno Stone With Texans Before Deadline
GettyGeno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals returns an interception against the Tennessee Titans.
Pro Football Focus’ Bradley Locker listed the Texans among the “possible fits” for several potential trade targets with the November 4 trade deadline approaching.
New York Jets running back Breece Hall, Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Jamal Adams, and Tennessee Titans tight end Chig Okonkwo were also on the list. Still, Stone offers the best combination of age, value, and positional need for the Texans.
This Heavy Sports trade proposal would see him land with the Texans before the deadline.
Texans get:
- Geno Stone
Bengals get:
- 2026 seventh-round pick (via SF)
The Texans are still paying the price for the trade to acquire Gardner-Johnson during the 2025 offseason. Still, Stone, 26, started all 17 games for the first time in 2024, and he has started all six for the Bengals this season.
He has significant playmaking ability, logging 7 interceptions in 2023, another 4 with 1 touchdown in 2024, and 245 total tackles in his career.
Stone also has experience at both safety spots, cornerback, nickelback, and even linebacker.
Texans general manager Nick Caserio downplayed the amount of activity he expects to take place as the trade deadline draws near. However, a trade for Stone would add a talented player who fits the timeline of the secondary’s other stars.
Texans Called ‘Possible Fit’ for Bengals S Geno Stone
GettyGeno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to make a tackle against the Detroit Lions.
Stone would be a reclamation project for the Texans in a trade. Houston’s already-stout secondary could be the kind of support system he needs around him on the field. Locker believes Stone could “regain 2023 form” with a new situation.
That could be with the Texans before the trade deadline.
“Since inking a two-year, $14 million deal to join the Bengals, Stone’s play has taken an unimaginable spiral. Among safeties to play 1,000 or more snaps over the last two seasons, Stone’s 56.6 overall PFF grade is the eighth-lowest. However, there have been some reasons for optimism this year, including his 76.2 PFF run-defense grade and 7.7% missed tackle rate,” Locker wrote on October 13.
“Assuming the Bengals will wave the white flag on their 2025 season, Stone would be a player from which to move on.
Stone was the No. 219 overall pick of the 2020 draft by the Ravens. He signed a two-year, $14 million contract with the Bengals in 2024. He later renegotiated it and is now on an expiring one-year, $4.9 million contract.
The Bengals are 2-4 and will be without starting quarterback Joe Burrow until January. However, they acquired Joe Flacco in a trade with the Cleveland Browns.
If that does not save them, bringing Stone back to the Texans could make sense.
Texans Had Geno Stone Before Breakout
GettyGeno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals during warm-ups before the game against the Los Angeles Chargers.
A trade for Stone would be a do-over for the Texans, who had the ballhawk on their roster as a rookie but let him go.
According to BaltimoreRavens.com’s Clifton Brown in 2022, Stone spent “most” of the 2020 campaign on the Ravens practice squad until “he was released late in that season and had a brief stint with the Houston Texans before he was released and re-signed by Baltimore in 2021.”
Stone’s breakout campaign came in his fourth season.
A trade to Houston could help him recapture the form he had just two seasons ago, with the talent the Texans’ former leadership once saw before he realized it on the field.
The Texans have Calen Bullock opposite Stewart. Jalen Pitre is a safety by trade but occupies the nickel spot for the Texans. Veteran Jimmie Ward remains on the Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.
The Texans will play three more games before the trade deadline and have other needs.
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This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
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