Like every off-season, the Cincinnati Bengals shed players like a sieve. Cincinnati has drafted so well over the last decade that they’ve been more of a feeder team, developing wide receivers and defensive backs for other clubs, while trying in vain to hold onto a rightly expensive group of stars. The latest pillage happened along their offensive line that saw maybe their two best guys, Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zettler, depart for fabulous cash and prizes.
The very notion that Mike Brown and the Bengals could put together a roster that any other team would want was ridiculous just a decade and a half ago. There’s an entire generation of kids graduating high school right now that have no clue that no team in the entire league lost more games in the 1990s than the Cincinnati Bengals.
Did the Bengals do enough to keep their 2000s roll going or like high-waisted, pleated pants, are their 90s ways making a comeback?
Free Agents Kept
Dre Kirkpatrick, Cornerback
Bradon LeFell, Wide Receiver
Eric Winston, Offensive Tackle
Free Agents Gained
Kevin Minter, Middle Linebacker, formerly of the Arizona Cardinals
Andre Smith, Offensive Tackle, formerly of the Minnesota Vikings
Free Agents Lost
Rex Burkhead, Running Back, signed with the New England Patriots
Karlos Dansby, Outside Linebacker, signed with the Arizona Cardinals
Margus Hunt, Defensive End, signed with the Indianapolis Colts
Domato Peka, Defensive Tackle, signed with the Denver Broncos
Andrew Whitworth, Offensive Tackle, signed with the Los Angeles Rams
Kevin Zeitler, Offensive Guard, signed with the Cleveland Browns
James Wright, Wide Receiver, signed with the Cleveland Browns
Rey Maualuga, Middle Linebacker, still a free agent
2017 NFL Draft
Round 1: John Ross, Wide Receiver, Washington
Round 2: Joe Mixon, Running Back, Oklahoma
Round 3: Jordan Willis, Outside Linebacker, Kansas State
Round 4: Carl Lawson, Outside Linebacker, Auburn
Round 4: Josh Malone, Wide Receiver, Tennessee
Round 4: Ryan Glasgow, Defensive Tackle, Michigan
Round 5: Jake Elliott, Kicker, Memphis
Round 5: J.J. Dielman, Center, Utah
Round 6: Jordan Evans, Linebacker, Oklahoma
Round 6: Brandon Wilson, Running Back, Houston
Round 7: Mason Schreck, Tight End, Buffalo
Proposed Offensive Starters
QB: Andy Dalton
RB: Jeremy Hill
WR: A.J. Green
WR: Brandon LaFell
WR: John Ross
TE: Tyler Eifert
LT: Cedric Ogbuehi
RT: Jake Fisher
LG: Clint Boling
RG: Andre Smith
C: Russell Bodine
Offensive Outlook
The Bengals did some solid work to mitigate the loss of Whitworth and Zeitler along the offensive line. They brought back Andre Smith at right guard and were already prepared, drafting Cedric Ogbuehi last season in the first round and starting him 12 games on the right side. Ogbuehi will slid over to Whitworth’s side while 2015 second round pick Jake Fisher will take over at right tackle. Fisher has started three games and played in plenty since the Bengals invested a high draft pick in him two years ago. There’ll be some drop off with the line play, just because Whitworth was one of the best in the entire league, but not much. This should still be a solid unit.
Injuries hit nearly every skill position on offense except quarterback last season and it showed up on the stat sheet. Not a single Bengals rusher or receiver crossed 1,000 yards, though running back Jeremy Hill scored nine touchdowns. As effective as Hill has been, Joey Mixon is a complete back and will steal plenty of carries and could take his job before season’s end. Hill is due to be a free agent next season.
It took a while, but Andy Dalton is finally getting the respect he deserves at the quarterback position. This season Dalton should have all his weapons healthy for the first time in a while, plus a new toy in Mixon. Don’t sleep on him as your fantasy football quarterback.
Proposed Defensive Starters
DE: Carlos Dunlap
DE: Michael Johnson
DT: Geno Atkins
DT: Pat Sims
OLB: Carl Lawson
OLB: Vontaze Burfict
MLB: Kevin Minter
CB: Dre Kirkpatrick
CB: Adam Jones
FS: George Iloka
SS: Shawn Williams
Defensive Outlook
There are plenty of battles coming up in training camp that may alter this depth chart at every level. I’ve slotted Pat Sims in at defensive tackle, but don’t be surprised to see 2016 fourth-round pick Andrew Billings take this job even though he never played a snap last season. At worst, the two men will rotate.
I’ve plugged in rookie Carl Lawson at Karlos Dansby’s outside linebacker spot on talent alone and his ability to create a pass rush on the outside. Nick Vigil is a real possibility here too. I’ve seen Marquise Flowers plugged in here too, but that seems like a leap to me. The kid has a total of 13 tackles in two years and been a pure special teams player. At middle linebacker, Kevin Minter is a significant upgrade over the departed Rey Maualuga.
At cornerback, William Jackson III returns from his rookie injury redshirt year and could push Adam Jones to the slot corner job by the end of camp. Dre Kirkpatrick is solid on the left side and the Bengals are set at safety with Shawn Williams and George Iloka.
Grade: B-
By preparing a year in advance and utilizing free agency, the Bengals were able to mitigate a complete disaster across the offensive line. Strong drafts continue to slide in depth and Cincinnati has become a team free agents want to play for. While Cincy lost a few defensive pieces, this should be a better, more talented overall unit than the one they fielded in 2016.
O/U wins: 8.5
Preseason Schedule
Week 1: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 2: Kansas City Chiefs
Week 3: at Washington Redskins
Week 4: at Indianapolis Colts
Regular Season Schedule
Week 1: Baltimore Ravens
Key game: Getting the Ravens right out the gate at home is a great way to start the season. The AFC South could be one of the best divisions in football this season and getting a game on the Ravens could make a difference not only in the divisional race, but in wild card positioning.
Week 2: Houston Texans
Week 3: at Green Bay Packers
Week 4: at Cleveland Browns
Week 5: Buffalo Bills
Week 6: BYE
Week 7: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Key game: Cincinnati will get an extra week to prepare for the Steelers who bring one of the best, most talented offenses in football to the table. The Bengals are one of the few teams with the talent to match them score-for-score.
Week 8: Indianapolis Colts
Week 9: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Week 10: at Tennessee Titans
Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Week 12: Cleveland Browns
Week 13: Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 14: Chicago Bears
Week 15: at Minnesota Vikings
Week 16: Detroit Lions
Week 17: at Baltimore Ravens
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