The Cincinnati Bengals will undoubtedly be looking for defensive upgrades this offseason, both in free agency and the draft.

More interesting might be whether the Bengals turn their eyes toward the NFL trade block, too.

There, a few names could be available, with New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu recently being suggested as a fit for the Bengals by Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox:

The Bengals should be very interested in Mathieu if he becomes available before or after the draft. Cincinnati lacked difference-makers in its secondary this past season, and new defensive coordinator Al Golden could use a playmaker like Mathieu.

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If the Bengals have any interest at all here, it would require the Saints tabbing Mathieu as a post-June 1 move for cap-relief purposes. Then, he’d have a base salary of roughly $6 million with a new team.

Whether the Bengals would actually be interested seems unlikely, though, given that Mathieu is now 32 years old and just posted a 60.5 PFF grade last year.

Granted, one could argue the Bengals need to upgrade from Geno Stone’s struggles last year. But new coordinator Al Golden arriving throws an unpredictable element into the equation.

One thing almost guaranteed? The defensive overhaul will start in the trenches.