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Here We Go Again

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Have faith Bengaldom. Entering Week 3 of Phase II of the off-season, and here we are feeling like the front office got it right again. After most of the dust has settled from the 2023 NFL Draft, and everyone was screaming from the rooftops, “Why didn’t the Bengals draft a TE?” Which having not taken one at any point, is a fair question. However, assessing the current state of the team, weighing the pros and cons of the current draft class, mixed with last years crop, I believe it is clear to see the logic the front office, specifically Duke Tobin, his staff, Katie Blackburn and ownership including Mr. Brown have for the future of this franchise. They are wanting to remain young, fast, and ultimately affordable on defense so they can keep the core players (specifically on offense, but outliers like Logan Wilson apply as well) together and clicking to allow Joe Burrow to be Joe Burrow.


Hit rewind and lets go back to when this whole process started a couple years ago when the naming rights of the stadium were beginning to be discussed. Ownership recognized (and I would be willing to bet Katie Blackburn’s daughter Elizabeth, whose title is Director of Strategy & Engagement for the Bengals, was a driving force behind this recognition) that money needed to be set aside in escrow so that the cap could be manipulated to allow cash payments to be made outside of the structure of the salary cap set forth by the NFL. I am not enough of an expert to know exactly how all that works, but that is how these teams are able to remain under the cap, while still paying superstars their money. It can be difficult to do, however, because you have to have that money on hand and ready to be paid out, which for smaller market teams is difficult sometimes. Consequently, the Cincinnati Bengals recognized that about their franchise, and approached principle owner Mike Brown, and expressed how important it was to get a steady flow of cash into the pipeline of their team. The first, quickest way to start that ball rolling was selling the naming rights of the stadium…enter Paycor.


Now, Ground Hog day it, fast forward again to present day, and here we are with a young, affordable, fast defense for Lou Anarumo to be the mad scientist he is, and disappear to the lab for the next month and a half. Only to appear before training camp with a new formula that will ultimately finish somewhere around the top 15 of most defensive categories, maybe even higher. Which will ultimately be more than enough for Zac Taylor, Brian Callahan, and Joe Burrow to have a great chance of replicating an AFC North division title, potentially the number 1 seed in the playoffs, and as we all hope…a super bowl victory in the near future.


I have seen some interesting pieces out in the world currently talking about the Joe Burrow contract extension potentially being a percentage of the cap deal that continues to increase as the salary cap increases annually. Essentially what that means is hypothetically, Joe Burrow would make say anywhere from 12-15% of the cap annual. Which means after his 5th year option next year, the contract goes into affect in year 2025. By that time, the salary cap could potentially be $300 million or more. Mathematically speaking, that would put Joe Burrow’s salary at between $36,000,000-$45,000,000 annually. But, “Brian, Joe Burrow is worth way more than that!” I hear you. However, think about who Joe Burrow is as a person. Joe cares about those around him. Joe stood at the podium of winning the Heisman Trophy and spoke about food insecurity in and around his hometown. That one act, whether intended or not, generated more money in a weekend time period than the food bank organization there had raised the previous ten years combined. Joe Burrow wants to get paid as an NFL QB, and he has to accept a certain level of a contract number as a member of the NFLPA because every salary is based off of another, and that is how players prevent the owners from paying them pennies on the dollar when compared to the amount of revenue generated by the league as a whole. Remember, before a game is played, a ticket is sold, a concession stand is stocked, and a parking lot is filled, the league is cutting 32 checks in the neighborhood of $400 million dollars annually to each team as part of the revenue sharing agreement in place with the TV deals in place, and that number is conservative since the Amazon Thursday night deal and new YouTube TV NFL Sunday Ticket deals have been signed. Joe Burrow will be perfectly content being the 5th, 6th, 7th, maybe even 10th or 15th highest paid QB in the league because it will mean he keeps the guys around him that he wants and likes playing with, allowing them each to get paid their market value. That is the ultimate team player, and that is why a majority of his teammates will continue to want to play with him.


I give you all of that information to bring it all back around and say the front office did it again, and drafted a group of talented, team-first, captain-like candidate players that will buy into what Head Coach Zac Taylor is selling. Dax Hill will be much improved this year, Cam Taylor-Britt is a stud waiting to burst onto the national scene, Logan Wilson and Sam Hubbard will be paid accordingly (admittedly my fingers are crossed on this one), Tee Higgins will get his money because of the Joe Burrow affect mentioned above this year, and Ja’Marr Chase next season when he is eligible. Tight End will either continue to be an annual position they go out and find guys to play it because Joe Burrow has the ability to make anyone that can stay healthy effective and/or they will finally draft a guy they can develop long-term. The organization clearly does not place the same value at that position as the fans do, so as far as that position goes, we will need to continue to trust the front office and coaching staff, and allow them to continue to make correct decision after correct decision. And, we as fans need to continue to have the faith in them to do so, waking up for our Ground Hog Day Bill Murray performance and avoid the “Woe is me, the sky is falling” Twitter meltdowns I saw over the past few weeks. This organization is in the best state it has ever been. Young fans are excited about watching the team we all grew up loving but not winning…Win! Enjoy the ride we’re on, have faith in the current coaching staff, the front office, and ultimately Joe Burrow who is wise beyond his years and plays with a quiet swagger that is recognized by anyone paying attention. He has, and will continue to change the culture of our beloved franchise, and in the process may change the culture of the league as a whole, and effectively cause a ripple effect of kind human behavior as well. The front office did that. Joe may have been a gift from God in terms of him being available when we were drafting first overall in 2020, but the front office drafted him, they drafted the support he has around him, and they are doing their due diligence to keep him and those same support guys around him. Have faith Bengaldom.

So You’re Saying There’s A Chance

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Wild things occur in life.  In fact, a lot of times, when you’re not expecting it, the most intriguing thing(s) can happen.  Life is such for an NFL Undrafted Free Agent as well as myself, a high school teacher and assistant football coach.  The percentage chance of either of the first group making the final 53-man roster of their team or me being a contributor for a website that focuses on my favorite team…are to be honest extremely low, like probably < 2% low.  My name is Brian Burnham, and this is my introductory piece for Bengals Talk.  I hope you enjoy any content I am able to contribute, find it full of levity, insight, and passion, and we can all go on this ride together.  Now, back to the original reason for me writing this first piece.  As a high school football coach, and recruiting liaison for college coaches that come on our campus to recruit our players, I am given a certain level of insight into the minds of these college coaches that have coached players our beloved Bengals may draft or sign via the un-drafted free agency route.  I hope to provide you with some of that unique insight, and provide a percentage chance of each of our 13 current UDFA of 2023 signed post-draft making the final 53-man roster.  As I stated previously, this is a long shot for any of our prospects, however, it is not out of the realm of possibilities.  “There are nearly 500 un-drafted players currently in the NFL (486 un-drafted players made Week 1 53-man rosters), and there are 15 current members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame who also went un-drafted” (Google via NFL.com, 2023).  

A lot of us might view being an UDFA out of college as an actual better opportunity than being drafted…say in the 7th round.  UDFA’s get to select what team they sign with (provided that team is interested obviously); and, they can select teams where getting on the field may be easier due to current depth, coach familiarity could play a factor, or even simply location could be a factor.  The current list of UDFA’s from the Cincinnati Bengals post draft 2023 consists of the following players:

  • Safety Larry Brooks; Tulane
  • Wide Receiver Malachi Carter; Georgia Tech
  • Linebacker Shaka Heyward; Duke
  • Wide Receiver Mac Hippenhammer; Miami (OH)
  • Wide Receiver Shedrick Jackson; Auburn
  • Guard Jaxson Kirkland; Washington
  • Defensive Tackle Devonnsha Maxwell; Tennessee-Chattanooga
  • Linebacker Jaylen Moody; Alabama
  • Linebacker Tyler Murray; Memphis
  • Defensive Tackle Tautala Pesefea; Arizona State
  • Running Back Jacob Saylors; East Tennessee State
  • Tight End Christian Trahan; Houston
  • Running Back Calvin Tyler Jr.; Utah State

We will dive into each of these players’ profiles, their NFL potential, and their percentage making the final 53-man roster as well.  Let’s get started.

Safety-Larry Brooks: (Tulane University); 5’11 ½”, 200 lbs., wore #31 at Tulane.  Larry ran a 4.59 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 36”, Broad Jump was 10’3”, he had a 6.8 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 14 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.    My take: Average in-line speed and average length cause him to lose WRs in and out of their breaks.  He is not long enough to reach over WRs, and not powerful enough to overpower them.  He is very mature, and very intelligent, and those traits allowed him to contribute 217 career tackles in 47 career games at Tulane. In a room full of safety prospects post-draft these last two years, he has a slim chance at making the final 53.  Percentage chance to make Final 53-Man Roster for Bengals: < 5%.

Wide Receiver-Malachi Carter: (Georgia Tech); 6’1 ⅞”, 191 lbs., wore #7 at Georgia Tech. Malachi ran a 4.71 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 31”, Broad Jump was 10’ 00”, he had a 7.19 second 3-Cone Drill, and his Bench reps were 12 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Malachi Carter played in more games in his career than any other player for the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.  The key to his game is consistency.  He is not flashy, and he does not produce gaudy numbers (career high for TD receptions in a season was in the Covid-shortened season of 2020 when he caught three TDs).  He must find a way to contribute on special teams to have any chance at making the final 53.  Percentage chance to make Final 53-Man Roster for Bengals: < 5%.

Linebacker-Shaka Heyward: (Duke): 6’2 ⅞”, 235 lbs., wore #42 at Duke.  Shaka ran a 4.53 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 31”, Broad Jump was 9’8”, he had a 7.32 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 22 at the NFL Combine.  My take: Shaka Heyward is an instinctive football player, who when compared to some of the higher prospects at his position, compares very well.  He is durable, and was voted a captain in 2020.  Some scouts worry about his ability to cover in space, because when you turn on his film, he does not play the same speed his 40 time says he is capable of.  He demonstrates stiffness at times, and an inability to get off blocks.  Has strengths that equate to a Sam LB in a 4-3 scheme.  Lou Anarumo runs a multiple front scheme, but a lot of what he bases out of consists of 3-4 rules and tendencies.  Once again, Shaka will need to find his footing on special teams to make the final 53.  Percentage chance to make Final 53-Man Roster for Bengals: < 10%.

Wide Receiver- Mac Hippenhammer: (University of Miami-Ohio): 5’11 ¼”, 177 lbs., wore #0 at Miami (OH).  Mac ran a 4.58 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 32 ½”, Broad Jump was 9’ 6”, he had a 7.09 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were not recorded at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: A transfer from Penn State, Mac turned in two productive seasons at Miami (OH).  Quick in and out of breaks, and does a great job of extending his hands and catching the ball away from his body.  He does not, however, possess great route running ability and he lacks another gear to either go get the ball or run away from a defender.  His skills in the return game are his only chance of making the final 53 with this room of receivers.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: 5%.

Wide Receiver- Shedrick Jackson: (Auburn): 6’1 ¼”, 193 lbs., wore #11 at Auburn.  Shedrick ran a 4.31 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 38 ½”, Broad Jump was 11’ 2”, he had a 7.10 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 13 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Shedrick has lineage being the nephew of Auburn legend RB, Bo Jackson.  He also has elite inline speed.  Muscle tone is not lacking when you look at Shedrick Jackson, and working hard after the catch is a calling card for him.  He bodies smaller corners, and his game equates to playing either X or Z receiver (or both if need be providing versatility, which coaches love).  DBs worry about his vertical threat not only because of his speed, but also because he does a great job of pressing the vertical portion of the route tree, thus causing separation in and out of his breaks.  However, he does possess a limited route tree.  He has not been tested much in college in press man coverage, which he will see a lot of in the league.  He will benefit from consistent QB play (doesn’t all skill guys benefit from Joe Burrow as their QB?), but he does need to work on winning contested catches.  He does not win enough with his leaping ability.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: 10%.

Guard- Jaxson Kirkland: (Washington): 6’6 ¾ ”, 328 lbs., wore #51 at Washington.  Kirkland ran a 5.21 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 26”, Broad Jump was 8’ 3”, his hands measured 10 ½”, 33 ½” arms, he had a 7.95 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 20 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Mid-round talent coming into the draft, Jaxson Kirkland had big shoes to fill as his dad was a first-team All PAC 10 Guard at Washington from 1986-1990.  Injuries kept him out of a couple of games per season, plus the Covid year, so after declaring for the draft in 2022, Kirkland petitioned the NCAA for a 6th year to return to school.  He allowed only 9 pressures, 2 QB hits, and 0 sacks on the QB earning first-team All-Pac 12 by the coaches, third-team AP All-American, and a second-team All-American selection by USA Today.  Kirkland’s draft stock was affected by the fact that he is 25 years old, but being a reliable back-up and potential fringe starter with starts at multiple positions has value in the NFL.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: 20%.

Defensive Tackle- Devonnsha Maxwell: (Tennessee-Chattanooga): 6’1 ½”, 290 lbs., wore #90 at UT-Chattanooga.  Maxwell ran a 5.19 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 28 ½”, Broad Jump was 8’ 10”, his hands measured 9 ¾”, 33 ⅛” arms, he had a 7.83 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 30 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: The first thing you need to know about Devonnsha Maxwell is he graduated in three years with honors with a degree in psychology.  He was a three time academic All-American, and a three time first-team all SoCon selection entering 2022.  Comparing Maxwell’s numbers to Jaxson Kirkland above, his bench reps were 10 more and his 3-Cone Shuttle was .12 seconds faster.  That equates to speed and power vs. OL, which are exactly what it takes to be a great interior defensive pass rusher.  Having spoken to his position coach, Anthony Shakir, he told me, “Elite interior pass rusher and stout at the point of attack in the run game.  Wouldn’t be surprised if he made the 53.”  Following up with him I asked, “Elite in FCS or Elite when compared to everyone?”  His response, “Doesn’t matter who he’s playing.  Two sack game against Illinois last season.” Production across all levels of competition equals football player.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: 40%.

Linebacker- Jaylen Moody: (Alabama): 6’ ¾”, 225 lbs., wore #42 at Alabama.  Moody had a foot injury, consequently, he was unable to perform at the Alabama pro day.  My take: Having been a three year backup and special teams player, Jaylen Moody decided to enter the transfer portal after the 2021 season.  However, he did not remain there long and decided to return to Alabama to play out his final year of eligibility.  He managed to earn a starting job, and started 8 out of 10 games beside Henry To’oTo’o at ILB.  While both ILBs were overshadowed by the presence of physical freak and athletic phenom, Will Anderson, Jr., Moody was able to establish himself on a retooled Alabama defense while also continuing to contribute on special teams.  Moody at times can appear indecisive in pass coverage, and though he can cover players in the flat fine, he loses TEs as they work vertical upfield due to tightness in his hips.  Jaylen Moody plays with an extremely high motor, however he rarely makes plays behind the line of scrimmage.  He takes good angles and arrives with explosiveness on tackles, however his lack of power causes him to not be able to get off blocks and disappear in the run game at times.  Special teams will again be his ticket to any shot at the final 53.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: < 5%.

Linebacker- Tyler Murray: (Memphis): 6’1 ⅛”, 226 lbs., wore #5 at Memphis.  Tyler ran a 4.65 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 35 ½”, Broad Jump was 10’ 2”, he had a 7.55 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 23 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Tyler Murray is a one gap defender who transferred to Memphis from Charlotte.  He averages about 6 tackles/game, and shows good range in all directions.  He is capable in coverage, however lacks power at the point of contact when he tackles.  He has potential value as a pass rusher, but must showcase skills and ability to make the team on special teams if he has any chance of making the final 53.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: < 5%.

Defensive Tackle- Tautala Pesefea: (Arizona State): 6’3 ¼”, 314 lbs., wore #44 at Arizona State.  Tautala ran a 5.42 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 25 ½”, Broad Jump was 8’ 1”, he had a 8.23 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 16 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: An above-average DL who plays primarily on run downs, Tautala Pesefea is not going to knock you down (pun intended) with his pass rushing abilities.  However, he is an above average athlete for his size, and he can hold his own against the run.  He struggles with his pad level at times because he is on the taller side, and will lose balance when fighting through double teams (which he receives regularly).  He is a situational player being utilized primarily as a Dime package defender against the run and inside the red zone as a situational pass rusher.  Pesefea will struggle to get on an NFL final 53 man roster.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: < 5%.

Running Back- Jacob Saylors: (East Tennessee State): 5’10 ⅛”, 199 lbs., wore #8 at ETSU.  Jacob ran a 4.66 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 32”, Broad Jump was 9’ 4”, he had a 7.65 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 13 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Saylors had over 3,000 yards rushing for his career at ETSU.  Having one D1 offer out of HS, Jacob Saylor flew under the radar coming into college.  Injuries kept him in and out of the lineup.  Speaking to a coach who was there for a couple seasons with Jacob Saylor he said, “Great team guy, wanted to play special teams even when getting All-American honors.  He can reach full speed in two or three strides.  He’s a hard runner, good core strength.  He’s not going to juke anybody out of the gym, but he ain’t scared either.Durability has been a big issue.  He’s not the kind of guy you want to give the ball to for 30 carries a game.  He’s more impactful when he gets 10-15 touches at most.  Also a solid route runner.”  3,000+ career rushing yards speaks for itself.  Marry that with a deep desire to play on special teams, and the Bengals might have found something in their RB room.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: 10%.

Tight End- Christian Trahan: (Houston): 6’ 2”, 256 lbs., wore #85 at Houston.  Christian ran a 5.31 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 24 ½”, Broad Jump was 8′ 8”, he had a 7.82 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 11 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Christian is not going to wow you with any part of his game.  He is not tall, he is not fast, he is not explosive, and he does not cut in and out of his breaks with any sort of flash or pizzazz.  However, he is versatile and he is very productive, finishing second in receptions on Houston’s team in 2022 with 37.  Having the ability to run routes and catch passes as a TE, and then be able to line up in the slot and be an H-back without any changes to personnel, makes Christian a valuable tool for a coach like Zac Taylor and OC Brian Callahan.  Think of Christian Trahan as a poor man’s Drew Sample.  If (big if) he can avoid the Drew Sample injury bug, then there might be a small role for a guy like Chtristian in a room that is still lacking the most depth on the roster.  Trahan’s biggest weakness right now is his lack of upper body strength.  It causes him to not be reliable as a blocker from the inline TE position.  However, his versatility and ability to line up in that H-back position and carry out play-action fakes or be a lead blocker as a puller make him more valuable than, say, just a TE with his same measurables.  He gets a slight bump in percentage chance simply for being a TE in a depth-deficient room.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: 5%.

Running Back- Calvin Tyler Jr.: (Utah State): 5’ 7 ½”, 204 lbs., wore #4 at Utah State.  Calvin ran a 4.56 40 yard dash, Vertical leap was 34”, Broad Jump was 9’, he had a 7.23 second 3-Cone drill, and his Bench reps were 14 at his pro day according to draftscout.com.  My take: Calvin Tyler, Jr. is a spark plug of a human being.  He is patient to and through the gap, waiting for OL to clean up the hole or making a jump cut if a defender flashes where he wants to run.  His extra burst allows him to be a threat as a receiver, and provides enough in space to be on the second level in above average time.  His game must improve in pass protection for him to have any chance to stay on an NFL roster.  He has prototypical scat back size, however he must show an ability to pick up blitzing LBs.  His age hurts him, as he will be 25 during his rookie year, playing a position that is devalued a lot as it is.  To me, he is a cross between Maurice Jones-Drew and Darren Sproles who might find a role if injuries cause there to be depth concerns somewhere, maybe even with the Bengals.  Percentage chance of making Final 53-Man Roster for the Bengals: < 5%.

You’re Not Mad at Zac Taylor’s Playcalling

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You’re not mad at Zac Taylor’s playcalling. At least, you probably shouldn’t be. What a preposterous thing to say, right? An offense of Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon, among others, is averaging just 21.6 points per game. They rank 22nd in the league in yards per game. They have 12 drives that were three-and-outs through their first five games. The offense has not been good in 2022, at least not consistently. And as the fanbase reacts to another close loss to a divisional opponent in Week 5, the cries for Coach to relinquish his playcalling duties grow even louder. But you’re wrong.

The Progress

While the offense has fallen short of expectations so far, that does not mean there have not been meaningful changes and progress from last year. For a team that converted just 26.0% of their short yardage situations last year (0-3 yards to go), they have seen a substantial improvement in that area, now converting at a 34.5% clip which is good for 2nd in the league. 

Additionally, we have seen Ja’Marr taking more snaps from the slot this year. Chase saw 26 targets from the slot across 17 regular season games in 2021. That number is already up to 17 slot targets through five games this year, according to SIS. We have also seen Ja’Marr motion into the backfield and receive both targets and carries from that alignment. These efforts to get Chase moved around the formation and get space are not always successful plays, but the process is there.

Even in-season, we have seen Zac Taylor’s playcalling evolve. In Week 2, 72% of the snaps from under center were run plays, including an astounding 15/17 in the second half. In Week 5, Joe Burrow only took 7 snaps from under center, with four runs (including a sneak) and three pass attempts. The predictability of going under center on every first down and running wide zone has dissipated and given way to more shotgun handoffs. 

Beyond just the shift to more shotgun snaps, even for running plays, we have seen Zac Taylor attempt more gadget plays to ignite the offense. In Week 4, Tyler Boyd’s 23-yard completion to Ja’Marr Chase converted a key third down on a drive that ultimately ended in three points and gave Cincinnati the lead. In Week 5, the ‘Philly Special’ had an unspectacular result, but it DID display some outside the box thinking from Taylor. 

Week 5 also showed a change in playcalling to quick passes to get the ball into the hands of your playmakers and let them run after the catch. After totaling eight screen passes in Weeks 1-4, Coach Taylor dialed up six screens in Week 5 alone. And again, while the results were not explosive, they showed a willingness to try new ways to get the ball out and stay ahead of the chains.

The Player Execution

While Zac Taylor hasn’t been perfect by any means, the player execution has left a lot to be desired as well. Let’s start with the running game. To kick off the season, Joe Mixon was one of seven running backs in NFL history to have at least 80 carries and average fewer than 2.7 YPC in his team’s first 4 games. While the volume was there, the efficiency clearly was not. Mixon has struggled getting consistent yardage, ranking fourth-worst in the league in Rushing Yards Over Expectation. Not only has he not gained the yardage blocked for him, he rarely makes defenders miss to get the extra yards. Mixon ranks dead last in PFF’s Elusive Rating among running backs with at least 50 carries, meaning he rarely forces any missed tackles. While playcalling can certainly impact a running back, Mixon hasn’t done much to help himself.

Joe Burrow also has started a bit slow out of the gates. In addition to the five turnovers in Week 1, Joe has at times held the ball far too long, resulting in sacks. At other times he has rushed to his checkdown and missed open receivers. And in Week 5, he had three passes batted down at the line of scrimmage. Burrow should only become more comfortable as the season progresses and the offensive line continues to gel, but thus far we have seen some uncharacteristic mistakes from Joe that have contributed to the offensive woes.

Here’s Your Problem

A Head Coach bears the brunt of the responsibility when the team underachieves, and usually doesn’t receive enough praise when the team overachieves. That comes with the territory. But the outcry over Taylor’s playcalling after Week 5 are simply overblown. You are upset with the results, but blaming the process. If you separate the two, you can see how the process is improving. Improving season over season, week to week. The results are inconsistent and until the offense clicks more often than not, it will remain a pain point for fans. Does Zac Taylor lack situational awareness at times? Certainly. But situational awareness is also separate from playcalling. If we trust the process is moving in the right direction and believe in the players to clean up their execution, we should expect the results to follow shortly thereafter.

Is Tyler Linderbaum the Pick to Make at 31?

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For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Protect the Franchise

One hundred and two. 1-0-2. That’s how many sacks Joe Burrow has taken in just 30 career games in Cincinnati. After the horrendous knee injury in 2020, and the obvious impact a poor offensive line had on the entire offense in 2021, upgrading that position group is a no brainer. Thankfully, the Bengals addressed a few of those questions via free agency, signing Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’el Collins. All three of those players represent significant improvements over the incumbents, and immediately make the 2022 version of the offensive line much more serviceable. Is it enough, however?

First, you have to define ‘enough.’ Will the line be better as currently constructed? Of course. Both Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon should benefit greatly from those improvements with Burrow showing just how lethal he can be when given a clean pocket.

But let’s not overlook that additional work could be needed to shore up the line long term. At left tackle, Jonah Williams has a team option for 2023 and would need a new deal if the Bengals hope to keep him locked into protecting Burrow’s blind side. Left guard remains a major question mark, with Quinton Spain unsigned and Jackson Carman set to compete for the starting role. Karras is slated to start at center, where he played predominantly in 2019 and 2020 before sliding over to LG last season. Cappa and Collins anchor the right side for the next few seasons, with both signed to multi-year deals.

With LG being the only obvious question mark entering 2022, the Bengals could choose to give their second round pick from last season an entire year to earn a long term role in that spot. Drafting for depth then becomes the other glaring need at that time, with current backups Isaiah Prince, Hakeem Adeneniji, D’Ante Smith, and Lamont Gaillard all being unproven as dependable options. While drafting for ‘depth’ at pick 31 isn’t necessarily ideal, there are some intriguing options that could immediately push for a starter role. What Bengals fans should avoid though is assuming offensive line is no longer a need simply because of the moves made this offseason.

The Possible Options

One popular pick amongst fans is the center from Iowa, Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum is the consensus top center in the draft, and his play at Iowa was elite. Additionally, his testing numbers from his pro day were absurd.

Linderbaum profiles as a ‘can’t miss’ prospect with a very high floor and Pro Bowl ceiling. Selecting him at 31 would slide Karras to LG and guarantee that the offensive line would be improved at 4/5 positions (Jonah Williams notwithstanding). So then why is Linderbaum starting to fall into the 2nd round of some mock drafts? For one, the center position is not a premier position in football. Generally speaking, the tackle position is the most important, and guards are likely of greater value than centers. Secondly, Linderbaum lacks versatility. The beauty of players like Ted Karras is their ability to move around the offensive line as needs emerge or other situations dictate. Linderbaum is a center now, and likely solely a center going forward. 

If the Bengals still want to address the offensive line and Linderbaum is not an option, Kenyon Green is a possibility. Green provides versatility, having played at multiple positions along the offensive line at Texas A&M, as well as stellar performance. While Green is usually off the board by pick 31, if he were to slide just a bit, the Bengals would have to strongly consider selecting the former Aggie.

If you missed the previous installments of the series, check out the arguments to be made for the Bengals drafting a defensive back or defensive lineman at pick 31. You can follow Taylor on Twitter, @_taylorcornell.

The Bengals Need Pass Rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft

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For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Pressure is On

Cincinnati struck gold along the defensive line last season, with newcomers making an impact week in and week out. Free agent addition Trey Hendrickson led the team in nearly every pressure metric, including 14 sacks. Larry Ogunjobi was third on the team with seven sacks, and tied for the team lead with 12 tackles for loss. Preseason addition B.J. Hill notched 5.5 sacks, and added a key interception against the Kansas Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Sam Hubbard and D.J. Reader rounded out the Bengals defensive line that for the most part showed to be a strength of the team, especially when it came to stopping the run. However, the defensive front was not the most consistent unit on a weekly basis.

Cincinnati ranked 14th in pressure rate, and were fortunate to win five of their six games last season when sacking the opposing quarterback one or fewer times. That .833 winning percentage was tops in the league, and only four other teams had a winning percentage over .500 in those scenarios. While Joseph Ossai is slated to return in 2022 coming off knee surgery which ended his rookie season before it began, expecting him to be a star in Year 1 is dangerous (even if his 2021 preseason was superb). Ogunjobi is currently not in the fold for 2022, so defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will be looking to add playmakers to the line in the draft.

Potential Options

Edge appears to be a rather deep position group in the 2022 NFL Draft, so the Bengals may elect to wait until the middle rounds to add another pass rusher. However, pass rushers like Arnold Ebikete (Penn State) and Boye Mafe (Minnesota) could be good value at pick 31, especially since neither will likely be on the board in the second round at pick 62. If Cincinnati prefers to focus on beefing up the interior of the line, Travis Jones (Connecticut) could be in play. The real value would be in rounds two and onward, unless one of the top pass-rushers free fall into Cincinnati’s lap.

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