Athletic article on our five biggest needs.
Posted: Mon Mar 08, 2021 9:06 am
Resetting the Bengals’ five biggest needs entering free agency
By Paul Dehner Jr.
CINCINNATI — You may have heard the Bengals stunk in the trenches last year. You also may have heard they are interested in fixing that fact with their available cap space this year.
This is all true, but more needs exist than just those basics. For those just tuning in, here is a primer ranking the Bengals’ top needs as they enter free agency and the outlook on each spot.
1. Offensive line: Let’s list all the reasons the Bengals need to start with the offensive line. Maybe a ranking within the ranking is in order to spice life up.
• A million hits on the quarterback
• New offensive line coach
• Joe Burrow’s shredded left knee
• 3.6 yards per carry by running backs
• Joe Burrow’s healthy right knee
• The Bengals haven’t truly invested money in the offensive line in five years
• Let’s just throw in the rest of Joe Burrow’s healthy body parts, including his brain
If a starting-caliber right tackle or guard is available, the Bengals will be investigating. That might mean the addition comes in the second and third wave, but any starting player at those two positions would be an upgrade over what was previously rolled out.
Current depth chart: LT Jonah Williams, LG Xavier Su’a Filo, C Trey Hopkins, RG Michael Jordan, RT Bobby Hart. Backups: OT Hakeem Adeniji, OT Fred Johnson, interior OL Billy Price
2. Defensive line: The Bengals finished dead last in the NFL in sacks, and their lone consistent pass rusher is a free agent, Carl Lawson. Geno Atkins is still on the roster, but there’s a good chance the team lets him go and pockets the nearly $10 million in salary-cap space. That means the Bengals need a starting three-technique and two edge rushers. Not easy to find those in general, much less in one offseason. But that’s the task ahead for the Bengals. A draft pick will be playing a role in there somewhere, but getting something out of free agency will be a key as well.
Current depth chart: Sam Hubbard, D.J. Reader, Geno Atkins, Khalid Kareem, Josh Tupou, Renell Wren
3. Cornerback: The top corner on last year’s team, William Jackson III, hits free agency. Jackson could re-sign here, but it feels like he’ll be gone. A man-heavy team is going to love his cover ability and drop a big number on him. I don’t think the Bengals will match that number. Elsewhere, one of the Bengals’ top additions last year, Trae Waynes, is still yet to play for the Bengals because of injury. He’ll be counted on this year, but outside of Darius Philips in the mix somewhere, little else is known about where the cornerback group will land next season. The Bengals need a starter and slot corner. Then filling out the depth players will involve the third wave of free agency and draft picks.
Current depth chart: Trae Waynes, Darius Phillips
4. Wide receiver: Two core members of the team, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, are locked in for multiple years. Boyd stands as one of the top slot receivers in the game, and Higgins is an emerging No. 1 after a fantastic rookie year. Adding another quality weapon could make the passing attack scary. Auden Tate remains as a nice depth option, but the rest of the spots are wide open. It feels likely that the Bengals take advantage of the likelihood that a quality player, particularly somebody who can stretch the field, remains in the shadows considering the incredible depth of talent available at the position in free agency and the draft.
Current depth chart: Boyd, Higgins, Tate, Stanley Morgan
5. Safety: The top two at the position are set and form of the better combos in the NFL, with Jessie Bates arguably the best at the position. No depth exists behind those two, though. Brandon Wilson and Shawn Williams are free agents. Williams certainly won’t be back, and perhaps Wilson will with his kickoff return ability among the best in the league. Still, should one of the starters go down, the Bengals need a decent replacement and also a player who can add snaps in the three-safety look. The club already brought in Ricardo Allen, cut by the Falcons, for a visit, and he fits ideally into the mold you would expect to back up Bates.
Current depth chart: Bates, Vonn Bell
By Paul Dehner Jr.
CINCINNATI — You may have heard the Bengals stunk in the trenches last year. You also may have heard they are interested in fixing that fact with their available cap space this year.
This is all true, but more needs exist than just those basics. For those just tuning in, here is a primer ranking the Bengals’ top needs as they enter free agency and the outlook on each spot.
1. Offensive line: Let’s list all the reasons the Bengals need to start with the offensive line. Maybe a ranking within the ranking is in order to spice life up.
• A million hits on the quarterback
• New offensive line coach
• Joe Burrow’s shredded left knee
• 3.6 yards per carry by running backs
• Joe Burrow’s healthy right knee
• The Bengals haven’t truly invested money in the offensive line in five years
• Let’s just throw in the rest of Joe Burrow’s healthy body parts, including his brain
If a starting-caliber right tackle or guard is available, the Bengals will be investigating. That might mean the addition comes in the second and third wave, but any starting player at those two positions would be an upgrade over what was previously rolled out.
Current depth chart: LT Jonah Williams, LG Xavier Su’a Filo, C Trey Hopkins, RG Michael Jordan, RT Bobby Hart. Backups: OT Hakeem Adeniji, OT Fred Johnson, interior OL Billy Price
2. Defensive line: The Bengals finished dead last in the NFL in sacks, and their lone consistent pass rusher is a free agent, Carl Lawson. Geno Atkins is still on the roster, but there’s a good chance the team lets him go and pockets the nearly $10 million in salary-cap space. That means the Bengals need a starting three-technique and two edge rushers. Not easy to find those in general, much less in one offseason. But that’s the task ahead for the Bengals. A draft pick will be playing a role in there somewhere, but getting something out of free agency will be a key as well.
Current depth chart: Sam Hubbard, D.J. Reader, Geno Atkins, Khalid Kareem, Josh Tupou, Renell Wren
3. Cornerback: The top corner on last year’s team, William Jackson III, hits free agency. Jackson could re-sign here, but it feels like he’ll be gone. A man-heavy team is going to love his cover ability and drop a big number on him. I don’t think the Bengals will match that number. Elsewhere, one of the Bengals’ top additions last year, Trae Waynes, is still yet to play for the Bengals because of injury. He’ll be counted on this year, but outside of Darius Philips in the mix somewhere, little else is known about where the cornerback group will land next season. The Bengals need a starter and slot corner. Then filling out the depth players will involve the third wave of free agency and draft picks.
Current depth chart: Trae Waynes, Darius Phillips
4. Wide receiver: Two core members of the team, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins, are locked in for multiple years. Boyd stands as one of the top slot receivers in the game, and Higgins is an emerging No. 1 after a fantastic rookie year. Adding another quality weapon could make the passing attack scary. Auden Tate remains as a nice depth option, but the rest of the spots are wide open. It feels likely that the Bengals take advantage of the likelihood that a quality player, particularly somebody who can stretch the field, remains in the shadows considering the incredible depth of talent available at the position in free agency and the draft.
Current depth chart: Boyd, Higgins, Tate, Stanley Morgan
5. Safety: The top two at the position are set and form of the better combos in the NFL, with Jessie Bates arguably the best at the position. No depth exists behind those two, though. Brandon Wilson and Shawn Williams are free agents. Williams certainly won’t be back, and perhaps Wilson will with his kickoff return ability among the best in the league. Still, should one of the starters go down, the Bengals need a decent replacement and also a player who can add snaps in the three-safety look. The club already brought in Ricardo Allen, cut by the Falcons, for a visit, and he fits ideally into the mold you would expect to back up Bates.
Current depth chart: Bates, Vonn Bell