Expectations are usually high for teams on the losing side of the Super Bowl. The Bengals were last year's Cinderella story, but fell short after yet another 4th quarter game-winning drive from Matthew Stafford.
Nonetheless, the Bengals should be the favorites to repeat as AFC North Champions, though the other three teams want to challenge them for that title after making moves to counter them.
The key offensive players are still intact, but now have an upgraded O-line to better protect Joe Burrow, as that weakness was exploited by opposing defenses—he got sacked 51 times last season. Enter La'el Collins, Alex Cappa, and Ted Karras.
With the departure of CJ Uzomah comes in Hayden Hurst, who is looking to revive his career after losing the starting TE position twice, first to Mark Andrews and second to Kyle Pitts. Though Uzomah was a fan favorite in Cincy, he was the most inferior pass catcher, and Hurst has a higher ceiling than Uzomah.
Flipping Billy Price to the Giants for BJ Hill paid off big time, and Hill got rewarded with a three-year extension. Him and DJ Reader make up two of the more underrated defensive tackles in the NFL.
Germaine Pratt started to see more playing time with injuries to Logan Wilson and Akeem Davis-Gaither, though all three players, when healthy, have them in a logjam for the position in which the Bengals don't usually field more than two at the same time, though Wilson and Pratt are likely going to see most of the playing time.
Though many fans want rookie Cam Taylor-Britt to start opposite to Chidobe Awuzie, Eli Apple is likely going to hold down the CB2 spot. Despite his shortcomings, Apple had the lowest passer rating allowed in man coverage (22.6, per PFF). The problem is that the Bengals primarily play zone. But he's still a solid CB2 who just got rewarded with a two-year extension.
Vonn Bell returns this season, but the situation with Jessie Bates III is less clear. After signing the franchise tag, he is holding out of training camp as he wants a new deal done. Unfortunately, he chose his contract year to have his worst season in the NFL, intercepting one pass and giving up the most completions of his career by 30%. While there is the possibility he could come back, him holding out is only going to hurt him. For the meantime, as Bates holds out, Dax Hill is likely starting opposite Bell.
It's going to be an interesting season for the Bengals, but their fans have a lot to look forward to.
Draft Picks
Round | Pick | Position | Player | College |
1 | 31 | S | Dax Hill | Michigan |
2 | 60 | CB | Cam Taylor-Britt | Nebraska |
3 | 95 | DT | Zachary Carter | Florida |
4 | 136 | OT | Cordell Volson | North Dakota State |
5 | 166 | S | Tycen Anderson | Toledo |
7 | 252 | DE | Jeffrey Gunter | Coastal Carolina |
Key Losses
TE CJ Uzomah: Signed with Jets
DT Larry Ogunjobi: Signed with Steelers
OT Riley Reiff: Signed with Bears
C Trey Hopkins: Unsigned free agent
CB Trae Waynes: Retired
OG Quinton Spain: Unsigned free agent
WR Auden Tate: Signed with Falcons
CB Darius Phillips: Signed with Raiders
FS Ricardo Allen: Retired
Key Additions & Extensions
OT La'el Collins: 3-year deal, $21 million
OG Alex Cappa: 4-year deal, $35 million
DT BJ Hill: 3-year extension, $30 million
C/OG Ted Karras: 3-year deal, $18 million
TE Hayden Hurst: 1-year deal, $3.5 million
CB Eli Apple: 1-year extension, $4 million
P Kevin Huber: 1-year extension, $1.85 million
DT Josh Tupou: 2-year extension, $3 million
LS Clark Harris: 1-year extension, $1.272 million
WR Trenton Irwin: 1-year extension, $825k
WR Stanley Morgan Jr.: 2-year extension, $2.295 million
Biggest Questions
Will Jessie Bates III get signed before the season?
Will the revamped offensive line deliver as advertised?
Who wins the starting tight end spot?
Will this season's offense be more explosive than last season's offense?
Was last season a fluke?
Schedule
Week 1: Sunday, 9/11, vs. Pittsburgh Steelers, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 2: Sunday, 9/18, at Dallas Cowboys, 4:25 PM on CBS
Week 3: Sunday, 9/25, at New York Jets, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 4: Thursday, 9/29, vs. Miami Dolphins, 8:15 PM on PRIME
Week 5: Sunday 10/9, at Baltimore Ravens, 8:20 PM on NBC
Week 6: Sunday, 10/16, at New Orleans Saints, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 7: Sunday, 10/23, vs. Atlanta Falcons, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 8: Monday, 10/31, at Cleveland Browns, 8:15 PM on ESPN
Week 9: Sunday, 11/6, vs. Carolina Panthers, 1:00 PM on FOX
Week 10: BYE WEEK
Week 11: Sunday, 11/20, at Pittsburgh Steelers, 8:20 PM on NBC
Week 12: Sunday, 11/27, at Tennessee Titans, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 13: Sunday, 12/4, vs. Kansas City Chiefs, 4:25 PM on CBS
Week 14: Sunday, 12/11, vs. Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 15: Sunday, 12/18, at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 4:25 PM on CBS
Week 16: Saturday, 12/24, at New England Patriots, 1:00 PM on CBS
Week 17: Monday, 1/2, vs. Buffalo Bills, 8:30 PM on ESPN
Week 18: 1/7 or 1/8, vs. Baltimore Ravens, Time and network TBD
Projected Starters
1 RB 3 WR 1 TE Offense
Position | # | Player |
QB | 9 | Joe Burrow |
RB | 28 | Joe Mixon |
WR | 1 | Ja'Marr Chase |
WR | 85 | Tee Higgins |
WR | 83 | Tyler Boyd |
TE | 88 | Hayden Hurst |
LT | 73 | Jonah Williams |
LG | 79 | Jackson Carman |
C | 64 | Ted Karras |
RG | 66 | Alex Cappa |
RT | 71 | La'el Collins |
Nickel Defense
Position | # | Player |
DE | 94 | Sam Hubbard |
DT | 98 | DJ Reader |
DT | 92 | BJ Hill |
DE | 91 | Trey Hendrickson |
LB | 55 | Logan Wilson |
LB | 57 | Germaine Pratt |
CB | 22 | Chidobe Awuzie |
NB | 21 | Mike Hilton |
SS | 24 | Vonn Bell |
FS | 23 | Dax Hill |
CB | 20 | Eli Apple |
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