Bengals. Mandatory credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Coming off yet another disappointing season, Cincinnati Bengals faces a crucial off-season ahead. Entering Zac Taylor’s third season as head coach, the Bengals need to show real improvement if Taylor is to keep his job. His first two years were not pretty, although there were some good points.
Despite having a 6-25-1 record in the past two years, the franchise found its franchise quarterback in last year’s draft at Joe Burrow. Burrow, who suffered a break in the ACL against the Washington Football Team in late November, had many positive moments that showed why exactly he was chosen in the draft in 2020. Rookie rival Tee Higgins had a great debut season as well, piling up 67 receptions for 908 yards and six touchdowns. William Jackson showed that he deserves a good pay this off-season, defending 15 passes along with an interception.
The Bengals ended the season by winning two of their last three, including a win on Thursday night against division rival Pittsburgh Steelers. With the impetus to end the season, armed with a good amount of space on the cover and a quarterback of the franchise already guaranteed for the coming years, Bengals is in good shape. If Bengalis decide to use part of that playing space, some players may change their approach to the draft if they decide to sign in Cincinnati. First, we need to find out what positions Bengals need to take.
Current team needs for Bengals
Watching Joe Burrow being hit again and again … it was painful to watch. The offensive line should have priority # 1. Burrow, who should be back for the opening of the season in 2021, can be a special defender when he has time. You can argue that all positions on the offensive line can be improved, although Jonah Williams seems solid enough in his 10 games to be considered the favorite next season.
If Williams can stay healthy (he has lost 32 games in two seasons in the NFL), that would be a great boost to his offensive line. Trey Hopkins was not terrible at his time at the center and could end up winning the job again. Bobby Hart and Michael Jordan could provide some solid depth for Bengals, but they obviously need to be updated.
Getting more weapons for Joe Burrow should also be a priority for the Cincinnati Bengals. Bengals wide receiver AJ Green appears to be leaving to play for a new team for the first time in his NFL career. Green has had his injury problems in recent seasons and seems to have passed his heyday at this point in his career.
Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins are a great one-two combination, but in addition to these two, Bengals are missing from the wide receiver’s room. Former first-round pick John Ross is scheduled to be a free agent and will not return to the team after having an uncomfortable relationship since being drafted in 2017. Mike Thomas and Alex Erickson are also free agents, however none of them provide enough to consider them in preliminary plans. Auden Tate will be back with the team to compete for a spot in the squad.
Moving on to the defensive side, the Bengals seem to be in a market for an edge rusher. Lead bag artist Carl Lawson is set to be a free agent and looks set to land elsewhere. Sam Hubbard, formerly chosen from the third round of 2018, showed flashes, but only had two bags in 13 games this season. Cincinnati hopes that Hubbard can return to his old form, where he had 14.5 bags in his first two years.
Being in a division with Baker Mayfield and Lamar Jackson, the Bengals can also update the opposite of William Jackson in the cornerback. The Bengals like what they see of young Darius Phillips, while also getting the great free agent to sign Trae Waynes back after he was unable to play this year due to a broken chest muscle.
Now, let’s take a look at the three free agents who can change the plans of the NFL’s 2021 Draft to Cincinnati Bengals.