The Cincinnati Bengals head into the 2023 season with a roster stocked with returning expertise from a workforce coming off back-to-back division titles and deep postseason runs.
Ten of the 11 offensive starters from final yr are again, with tight finish Hayden Hurst being the lone exception, though both La’el Collins or Jonah Williams — or maybe each — gained’t be again in a beginning position with the addition of left sort out Orlando Brown Jr.
On protection, there are 9 of 11 starters returning. However the process of changing safeties Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell — and their three years of management and shared experience of Lou Anarumo’s scheme — looms giant.
There aren’t many groups with 19 returning starters within the fold, however roster development is an ongoing course of irrespective of how stable the muse, and there are nonetheless some strikes the entrance workplace could make to raised place the Bengals to chase what could be a franchise-record third consecutive division title and their first Lombardi Trophy.
3 Last Strikes for the Cincinnati Bengals
End the Joe Burrow Extension
Not precisely breaking information, and hardly a danger to bump up towards the unofficial team-imposed deadline of the beginning of the common season the way in which the A.J. Inexperienced negotiations did in 2015 when the 2011 first-round decide agreed to a four-year extension simply earlier than the workforce flight left for Oakland for the season opener, however it’s unquestionably the No. 1 organizational precedence till it occurs.
The “if” issue actually isn’t in play right here with Burrow, however the “when” is necessary. With large receiver Tee Higgins and linebacker Logan Wilson additionally eligible for extensions, finalizing the Burrow deal must be finished first. The expectation is that Burrow would be the highest-paid participant in league historical past when it comes to common annual wage, however how the contract is structured will dictate how the group proceeds with Higgins and Wilson.
Defensive sort out D.J. Reader, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and large receiver Tyler Boyd are additionally getting into the ultimate yr of their contracts and are worthy of at the very least discussions about holding them in Cincinnati. The viability of holding any of them can be tethered to the place the Burrow cash lands.
Signal a Veteran Tight Finish
Signing Irv Smith Jr. to a one-year, $1.75 million contract has an opportunity to be one of many higher free company steals in franchise historical past one yr after the Hayden Hurst heist for $3.5 million. But it surely simply as seemingly might finish with the oft-injured Smith not out there for a major stretch, as was the case in 2022 when he missed 9 video games and in 2021 when he by no means performed a snap.
If Smith misses any period of time, the choices to interchange him are Drew Pattern (58 profession receptions in 4 seasons), Tanner Hudson (15 catches, 4 seasons), Devin Asiasi (4 catches, three seasons), Nick Bowers (zero), and undrafted rookie Christian Trahan.
Regardless of the dearth of expertise and manufacturing, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor has repeated all through the offseason that he’s comfy with the place the group stands.
“We’ve acquired guys within the room who I actually like and are all right here for a motive,” Taylor mentioned in April. “From high to the perceived backside, it’s a extremely good group of fellows who’ve a great alternative to come back right here and compete for roles. If we add to the combination, we add to the combination. I don’t really feel prefer it’s one thing we now have to do.”
However given Smith’s harm historical past and the truth that the workforce didn’t add to the combination within the draft, bringing in a veteran tight finish — whether or not or not it’s through a signing or commerce — must be a precedence.
The remaining free agent pool isn’t precisely flush with confirmed manufacturing, however there are a few veterans who could be cheap insurance coverage choices, together with Cameron Brate.
A nine-year veteran (all with the Buccaneers), Brate — who turned 32 final week — has been a constant and dependable receiver. He had only one drop on 38 targets final yr, and his 4.8% drop price was tied for ninth-best amongst tight ends with at the very least 35 targets.
Even going again to early in his profession, when he had 81 and 77 targets in 2016 and 2017, respectively, Brate has been reliable. Amongst tight ends with at the very least 300 targets since 2016, Brate’s drop price of 4.6% (12 in 391 possibilities) ranks fourth. In his final eight seasons, Brate has performed in 121 of a doable 130 video games.
There aren’t a whole lot of different intriguing choices with regards to at the moment out there free brokers, however there might be a couple of on the waiver wire after last cuts are introduced.
Add a 3-Tech Defensive Deal with
Buying B.J. Hill for Billy Value simply earlier than the 2021 opener is on the quick checklist of greatest trades in workforce historical past, with the Bengals re-signing Hill for 3 years and $30 million after his first season in stripes.
The workforce drafted Zach Carter within the third spherical in 2022 to be Hill’s backup regardless of the very fact he not often performed inside on the College of Florida. The place change prompted points mentally and bodily as Carter navigated his rookie season undersized to play his new position.
He bulked up this offseason, and the coaches stay bullish on his future, however a workforce with championship aspirations ought to look so as to add as a lot depth as it could actually to its inside move rush. Simply take a look at the place 3-techs have been drafted the previous couple of seasons and the way a lot they’re making in free company to see the spike in valuation league-wide.
The expectation is that Anarumo will use defensive ends Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy, this yr’s first-round decide, in some kind of third-down NASCAR bundle together with Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. However when it comes to a real backup 3-tech, there may be simply Carter and the questions that come together with him.
There are much more defensive tackles out there than tight ends, together with a pair who’re nonetheless on the precise facet of 30.
Among the many out there choices are Chris Wormley, who’s 29 and has performed his whole profession within the AFC North with the Ravens and Steelers, and Matt Ioannidis, who’s 29 and has 25.5 profession sacks and accounted for 35 pressures in 2022 as a 3-tech and edge rusher.
Or the Bengals might try to duplicate the Hill-for-Value commerce with a workforce determined for offensive line assist. The O-line has been one of many Bengals’ greatest weaknesses for years, however a whole lot of free agent {dollars} and draft capital have gone into fixing that, and there are going to be at the very least two or three guys who gained’t make the ultimate 53-man roster who might be property elsewhere.
