The Cincinnati Bengals have a stellar offseason following an improved but disappointing first season at the reigns for their new coach. The Bengals were at the top of the headlines by trading up for the first overall pick in this year’s NFL draft. In return they gave away WR Tee Higgins and CB Cam Taylor-Britt. They used the pick to select a combination of most freaky player in the draft with most likely to help immediately in South Carolina wideout Nyck Harbor. Rated #1 on CFB’s freaks list, the former 5 star recruit will often draw 1 on 1 matches playing alongside Ja’marr Chase. The man put up 30 reps of 225 lb on the bench and ran a 4.3 40 yard dash. His 6’5 stature and 260 lb frame are no joke either. With their own pick in the first round, the Bengals selected SS from Oklahoma Jackson Lataimua. He ran the fastest 40 among all safeties and will be replacing Daxton Hill alongside Xavier McKinney this season. The second round brought in Oklahoma QB Jackson Arnold, who the team had at the top of their draft board right under Harbor and Lataimua. The former Denton-Guyer 5 star QB was the Bengals #1 QB in this draft and were stoked to land him in the 2nd round. Additionally, the team drafts two depth safeties in SS Shyheim Brown and FS Isaac Larsen.
They also made key additions through Free agency this year. The first move they made was cutting Orland Brown Jr. and his massive 16M cap hit. This gives 2nd year man Zach Rice the greenlight to start at left tackle. They make a splash with 23 y/o star dev MLB Khordae Sydnor to pair with last year’s fourth overall pick Dasan McCullough. They snag WR Matthew Golden and WR Silas Bolden to bolster the receiving corps. They add a young DT, in Kristian Williams on a 2M annual contract. They add FB Cody Schrader to the roster who stands as the fastest fullback currently in the NFL.
Bengals Projected Week 1 Starters
- QB Jackson Arnold (R)
- HB Quinshon Judkins
- FB Cody Schrader
- WR Ja’marr Chase
- WR Nyck Harbor (R)
- SLWR Silas Bolden
- TE Corey Dyches
- LT Zach Rice
- LG Jon Runyan
- C Carson Hinzman
- RG Tristan Leigh
- RT Elijah Pritchett
THE DEFENSE
- LE Myles Murphy
- DT Kristian Williams
- RE Gabriel Brownlow-Dindy
- LOLB Ethan Downs
- ILB Dasan McCullough
- ILB Khordae Sydnor
- ROLB Cedric Gray
- CB D.J. Turner
- CB Gentry Williams
- NICKEL Billy Bowman
- FS Xavier McKinney
- SS Jackson Lataimua (R)
SPECIALISTS
- K Matthew Wright
- P Brad Robbins
- KR/PR Silas Bolden
Jackson Arnold will get the nod in week 1 after everything staff has evaluated in camp. Superstar HB Quinshon Judkins looks to build on his 1,500 yard rookie rushing campaign. New addition FB Cody Schrader will be an immense help. WR Ja’Marr Chase seeks more targets with Tee Higgins expulsion and a better QB room. Nyck Harbor has arrived just in time to help give this offense some juice. Silas Bolden starts in the slot with the ability to stretch the field each play. TE Corey Dyches returns to start after an impressive rookie campaign cut short by injuries. LT Zach Rice will earn his first season starting while Pritchett enters year 2 as a starter. DE Myles Murphy had a breakout year last year and will seek to build upon that across from another breakout star last year OLB Ethan Downs who will be coming off the edge. Brownlow-Dindy seeks to improve from his rookie 7.5 sack campaign and will be joined on interior pass rush down by addition DT Kristian Williams. Dasan McCullough and Khordae Sydnor now will roam the middle in an exciting tandem for years to come. CB D.J. Turner gets the nod as CB1 and is more than up to that task. Breakout first round rookie DB Gentry Williams has an increased role as a starter and played exceptional as the nickel last year. Former SS Billy Bowman will be moved to the slot in this revamped scheme. Xavier McKinney was moved from the slot to his FS position and will likely play in the box. Safety Jackson Lataimua will be the hybrid chess piece of the defense. The Bengals hope to reinvigorate the franchise and city after a lost last season due to several injuries. #WHODEY
