As we approach the NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals are setting themselves up for a third-straight year of dominance in an already tight, highly contested AFC race.
Similar to last year, the Bengals were active in free agency and have acquired a handful of starters ready to play for the loss of key players like Hayden Hurst and Jessie Bates III.
While the team still has a small number of glaring holes that can easily be addressed in the draft, their initial depth chart looks impressive enough to instill confidence.
Quarterback
- Joe Burrow – No questions here. The near consensus second-best QB in the NFL behind only Patrick Mahomes, Burrow has entered a level of superstardom that the Bengals have only ever had second-tier tastes of in their history and are going to continue to be a perennial Super Bowl contender with him under center.
Offensive Line
Bengals C Ted Karras (64) – Katie Stratman/USA TODAY Sports
- LT: Orlando Brown – Perhaps the biggest offseason addition of any team. The Bengals get a clear upgrade for Burrow’s blindside in the form of a former rival who’s arguably the best left tackle in all of football.
- LG: Cordell Volson – Volson was a fourth-round rookie last year who beat out Jackson Carmen, who had moments of flash and others that reminded people that he was a day three rookie draft pick. As he continued to progress towards the end of the season, the organization is likely going to continue to depend on his inexpensive development while paying big money to three other starters.
- C: Ted Karras – Of all the Bengals’ best free agency additions last season, Karras may have been their most important. Providing Burrow and the offense stability from before the snap, reading the defenses, and setting the alignments for the rest of the line.
- RG: Alex Cappa – Cappa came in from free agency, similarly to Karras, and was arguably the best player on the offensive line. Getting injured in Week 18, right before the playoffs, hurt the continuity of the offensive line, and the running game wasn’t as effective but he should come back into 2023 healthy and ready to resume his role.
- RT: TBD – Will they keep La’el Collins? Will Jonah Williams switch to the right side with Collins released? Do they use a draft pick on the position? Ultimately, this has no concrete answer and likely won’t until training camp.
Running Back
Bengals RB Joe Mixon (28) – Albert Cesare/The Enquirer
- Joe Mixon – Executive Katie Blackburn might not “rule out cutting Mixon down the road” but it won’t be this year. Coming off his lowest yardage output and yards per attempt since 2020, Mixon is still under contract for the Bengals through 2024 but that doesn’t mean they won’t draft some RB insurance with Samaje Perine leaving in free agency.
Tight End
Former Vikings TE Irv Smith Jr. (84) – Matt Krohn/USA TODAY Sports
- Irv Smith Jr. – One of the more underrated signings in free agency, the emergence of TJ Hockenson in Minnesota has allowed Smith Jr. to seek a restart with the Bengals. Smith Jr displayed plenty of promise as both a run blocker and a receiver but injuries have marred his time in Detroit. Expect the Bengals to revamp the depth of the position following the loss of Hayden Hurst but Smith is a low-risk, high-reward type of player.
Wide Receiver
- WR1: Ja’Marr Chase – Ranked among the best receivers in the NFL, Chase is only two years into his career but is easily one of the premiere top targets in the league and is in Cincy for the long run.
- WR2: Tee Higgins – Even with all the trade talk around Higgins, he’s going to be the Bengals’ X-receiver for at least one more season. Higgins would easily be WR1 on any other team, and his ability to highpoint the ball has added a dimension to this passing game to make it one of the game’s best.
- WR3: Tyler Boyd – With all the explosiveness of Chase and the power of Higgins, it’s easy to forget just how great of a slot receiver Boyd has been for his career with the Bengals. As the other two continue to progress, it will only lead to more opportunities for Boyd as Burrow’s check-down option.
Defensive Line
- Edge: Trey Hendrickson – 8 sacks and 35 QB pressures in Hendrickson’s second season with the Bengals continues his reign as the best pass rusher on the defense.
- 1-Tech DT: DJ Reader – It won’t show up on the stat sheet but Reader’s ability to play the run and stuff the gaps he’s responsible for is one of the better aspects of the defensive side of the ball.
- 3-Tech DT: BJ Hill – The Bengals are rich at outside pass rushers with at least four players who’ve shown the ability to get to the QB. With Hill, the Bengals have a presence from the interior who can add pressure in the passing game.
- Edge: Sam Hubbard – Second on the team in both sacks and pressures to Hendrickson, Hubbard combines to make it one of the better pass rush duos in the league. Even if Hubbard doesn’t get double-digit sacks, he’s almost always guaranteed 6+ sacks and 30+ pressures by the end of every season.
Linebackers
- ILB: Germaine Pratt – If there’s anything Pratt is better at than Wilson, its pass coverage. Allowing fewer receptions and yards but creating more turnovers at more than 12% completion less.
- MLB: Logan Wilson – Along with Pratt, Wilson is one of the team leaders in tackles and continues to be one of the better MIKE linebackers in the league. Reading opposing quarterbacks and making plays against the run and the pass.
Safties
- SS: Nick Scott – The free agent safety is expected to take on a bigger role with the loss of Von Bell as the box safety. He’ll have big shoes to fill and be as much of a factor as Bell was in coverage, run defense and even as a pass rusher. It will remain to be seen if he’s a full-time player or on a rotation.
- FS: Dax Hill – Just as Scott will look to step in for Bell, second-year safety Dax Hill will have even bigger shoes to fill for Jessie Bates. Hill saw some action last season in both spots, including nickel, and as the deep safety, and will look to make this his permanent home. He has plenty of upside following his selection last season and is going to have every opportunity to earn his stripes.
Cornerbacks
- CB1: Chidobe Awuzie – Coming off a torn ACL, Awuzie is still slated to fill in as the top cornerback on the defense. With the loss of Eli Apple, the Bengals will probably look to the draft to replenish the depth but Awuzie is still the Bengals’ top option at corner on the outside.
- CB2: Cam Taylor-Britt – Taylor-Britt filled in for Awuzie as the third corner and played well in his rookie season with 55 total tackles and six pass breakups. In his second season, he’ll step in as the full-time starter across from Awuzie to solidify the outside.
- Slot CB: Mike Hilton – One of the most stable spots in the Bengals’ defense has been Hilton in the slot. Playing lockdown coverage (allowing only 430 yards in coverage) as well as being one of the best run defenders outside the front seven. Having just turned 29 years old, Hilton continues to be one of the team’s best players.
AFC North Pre-Draft Projections
Pre-Draft Projected Starters: 2023 Baltimore Ravens – Matthew Brown
Pre-Draft Projected Starters: 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers – Matthew Brown
