The Bengals with Joe Burrow have reached the conference championship or the Super Bowl in his first two healthy seasons as a starter. He has already sustained multiple season ending injuries unfortunately, however. Expectations were sky high for the Bengals entering the 2024 campaign as the expectation was that they would build on the success they had previously seen with Burrow healthy and/or potentially finally get over the hump with him starting at quarterback. The Bengals looked very good as a team during the 2024 season but consistently struggled to win games as they couldn’t close out teams that they had beaten. Cincinnati finished the season 9-8 and missed out on the postseason. The Bengals season got off to a horrid start as they lost a game at home to the New England Patriots who finished 4-13 who just fired their coach. There is no reason the Bengals should not have won that game and the theme of them losing games they should have won persisted for the remainder of the season as well. In week 2 the Bengals were up by 2 points on the Kansas City Chiefs on the road and just needed to prevent the Chiefs from converting a 4th and 16 in order to win that game but failed to do so and the Chiefs eventually ended up winning. In week 5 vs the Baltimore Ravens at home the Bengals led the entire second half including by double digits for most of it up until the Ravens tied it nearing the end of regulation with a field goal. When the game went to overtime the Bengals had a game winning field goal aligned that kicker Evan McPherson proceeded to miss. Although the field goal was a long one with it being over 50 yards the Bengals still had a clear opportunity to win the game that they failed to seize. With again the Bengals having already led for most of the 2nd half, including by double digits for most of it. In week 10 vs the Ravens a similar story persisted where the Bengals lost a game they should have won. The Bengals led by multiple possessions in the second half on the road vs the Ravens in week 10 before squandering the game again. In week 11 vs the Los Angeles Chargers although the Bengals were down 27-6 at halftime and the Chargers this time squandered the lead the Bengals still had clear opportunities to win the game at the very end that they indeed failed to capitalize on including kicker Evan McPherson missing a go ahead 51-yard field goal with under 2 minutes left. Although a similar type of analysis can be done for several teams every season highlighting the games that they “should have” won. With the Bengals in 2024 it was an extreme case as it was an issue that affected them to a greater extent if not a far greater extent than otherwise occurs. The Bengals went 0-5 against the Patriots, Chiefs, Baltimore twice, and the Los Angeles Chargers. There is no reason whatsoever that the Bengals should not have won every last one of those 5 matchups but they failed to win any of them. However, one cannot expect a team to be perfect but even then, if the Bengals had gone 4-1, 3-2, 2-3 or at worst 1-4 in those matchups they would have at least made the postseason. The biggest concern I have going forward with the Bengals is their ability to close out these tight games at the end. The overall ceiling that they have as a team with Burrow healthy at quarterback is not what concerns me. The Ravens with Lamar Jackson in the regular season are consistently the best team in professional football. Baltimore consistently puts a beat down on playoff teams such as the Bucs, Texans, Broncos, and Bills in 2024. And in 2023 they put a similar beat down on playoff teams such as the 49ers, Dolphins, and Detroit Lions. The Cincinnati Bengals outplayed the Ravens twice this past season leading by double digits in the second half of both games but failed to close either out. The Kansas City Chiefs were the two-time defending Super Bowl Champions when they played Cincinnati and the Bengals were preventing a 4th and 16 conversion away from beating them as well this season on the road.
On the offensive side of the ball the Bengals are led by superstar quarterback Joe Burrow and their two-star wide-outs Jamarr Chase and Tee Higgins the latter of whom is a free agent entering the 2025 offseason. I have conducted a full evaluation of the teams personnel on the offensive side of the ball. I have assigned each significant player a grade that indicates how strong of players I deem them to be in totality based upon yearly statistical output and yearly subjective grades that have been given to them by Pro Football Focus.
Offensive Line Starters
LT – Orlando Brown Jr – C+ to B-
LG – Cordell Volson -C+
C – Ted Karras – B-
RG – Alex Cappa – C+ to B-
RT – Amarius Mims – C, 2024 first round pick
Key Offensive Line Reserves
T – Trent Brown – B, free agent
T/G – Cody Ford – D+, free agent
Skill Positions
WR1 – Jamarr Chase – A to A+
WR2 – Tee Higgins – A
HB1 – Chase Brown – B to B-
HB2 – Khalil Herbert – B to B-, free agent
HB3 – Zack Moss – C to C+
TE1 – Mike Gesicki – B-, free agent
TE2 – Tanner Hudson – C+ to B-, free agent
Chase is in the definitive conversation with the likes of Justin Jefferson, Nico Collins, and Tyreek Hill for being the best overall wide receiver in the game of football. Tee Higgins is in the definitive conversation for being the best number two wide receiver in the NFL and perhaps will depart the Bengals this offseason via free agency to pursue a leading wide out role elsewhere. Chase led the NFL in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns during the 2024 season with over 1700 yards and 17 touchdowns. Higgins, although he missed a handful of games, still accounted for over 900 receiving yards and finished as the 5th highest graded wide receiver in the NFL this past season. Tight end Mike Gesicki is one of the more underrated tight ends in the sport today as he has just not been able to produce substantial statistical output as a result of lacking high-level quarterback play prior to his arrival with Cincinnati. Even in this season with the Bengals he still has had to take a backseat to the likes of Chase and Higgins thus limiting his statistical production. However, Gesicki, the former second round pick in 2018 has graded in the top third among tight ends in the NFL on three separate instances in his career including finishing as that this past season according to Pro Football Focus. Gesicki has also only missed a total of 1 game in his seven-year career as well. The tight end is a free agent entering this offseason and the team should really look into retaining him along with retaining star wide out Tee Higgins. The running back room for the Bengals this past season was solid but not spectacular led by Chase Brown, Zack Moss, and then eventually Khalil Herbert. Brown, a 5th round pick in 2023 led the team in rushing accumulating nearly 1000 yards on the ground. Brown was limited to only 4.3 yards per attempt on the ground but Pro Football Focus graded him (17/58) in terms of offense grade among halfbacks. His efficiency or lack thereof in terms of running the football was mostly due to the poor Bengals offensive line play. The Bengals offensive line was amongst the weakest units in professional football this past season. As Pro Football Focus graded them as the 29th best pass blocking unit and the 29th best run blocking unit. The Bengals finished 27th in pass blocking efficiency and were 21st in terms of sacks allowed during this past season as well. Speaking of the offensive line, I can offer the following assessment of it with regards to this past season.
Offensive Line Starters
LT – Orlando Brown Jr – C+ to B-
LG – Cordell Volson -C+
C – Ted Karras – B-
RG – Alex Cappa – C+ to B-
RT – Amarius Mims – C, 2024 first round pick
Key Offensive Line Reserves
T – Trent Brown – B, free agent
T/G – Cody Ford – D+, free agent
Orlando Brown Jr was the starter at left tackle but missed several games due to injury. Brown Jr has a high ceiling as an NFL offensive lineman especially in pass protection but is very inconsistent and has a low floor to go along with. Former second round pick Cody Ford stepped in for Brown Jr at left tackle in the six games he missed but Ford himself is ineffective as a starter as he ranked as below average to well below average in every major statistical category in every season he has played in since entering the NFL. Cordell Volson started at left guard for the Bengals but is an average to a less than average NFL starter. In his three seasons starting in the NFL, he has ranked as below average to well below average in pass protection in every single season. Volson can be effective as a run blocker but is also inconsistent in that regard and even when he is performing well in the run game, he is still good but not great. In his three seasons starting he has graded as an above average but not a well above average run blocker on two occasions and graded as below average to well below average in the remaining season. Karras is a solid respectable starter but certainly not a spectacular one at center as he appeared in all 17 games this past season. Kappa has ranked as above average to well above average in terms of pass blocking efficiency in every season he has started. But has ranked as below average to well below average in terms of run blocking in 4 of the 6 seasons he has started. In the remaining two seasons he started he graded as just slightly above average in terms of run blocking, however. Right guard Alex Cappa who started every game for the Bengals this past season entering the 2024 campaign was consistently one of the better starting guards in professional football. Ranking as above average in both pass blocking efficiency and run blocking grade in almost every season he started. However, Cappa for whatever reason regressed badly this past season despite not being injured and still being young. Cappa was graded as one of the weakest starting guards in professional football this past season. 2024 first rounder Amarius Mims appeared in 15 of 17 games as a rookie and showed some promise but ultimately struggled as Pro Football Focus graded him (70/87) in terms of an offense grade among all qualified tackles this past season. The injury to an already inconsistent Orlando Brown Jr combined with the lack of a strong back up for him led to the left tackle position for the Bengals being very comprised this past season. The interior of the offensive line was also a question mark as starting left guard Cordell Volson is far too ineffective as a pass protector and is a streaky run blocker at best. Center Ted Karras, although effective but not overly effective as a pass protector, is a weak run blocker. Right guard Alex Cappa regressed badly from his past form and had the worst year of his career. Rookie right tackle Amarius Mims struggled as a rookie as well. All five positions on the offensive front for the Bengals were comprised due to youth, a bad season, inconsistency, injury, or a lack of talent. The Bengals ostensibly displeased with their offensive line play during the 2024 season fired their offensive line coach in response to it.
Overall, on the offensive side of the ball quarterback Joe Burrow and offensive minded head coach Zac Taylor were still able to generate an offensive attack that had Joe Burrow lead the NFL in passing yards, lead the league in passing touchdowns, and finish as the highest graded passer in the NFL. The Bengals also finished 6th in points scored and 9th in total yards, with Pro Football Focus grading the Bengals as the 13th best offense in the NFL. Despite the previous markings the relatively low offense grade indicates the lack of efficiency on the offensive side of the ball. The Bengals are led by one of the premier quarterbacks in professional football, a wide receiver duo that is in the definitive conversation for being the best overall duo in the sport, an underrated offensive mind in Zac Taylor, a solid running back and tight end room, but an offensive line that was amongst the weakest in the game last season.
Looking ahead to next season the Bengals are optimistic that right guard Alex Cappa can regain the form he once had prior to this season and they are also optimistic that right tackle Amarius Mims can start to blossom into the player the Bengals hoped to have when they drafted him in the first round. The Bengals currently rank 8th in the NFL in cap space heading into the 2025 offseason and they should look to retain some of their skill position free agents such as Khalil Herbert, Mike Gesicki, and especially star wide receiver Tee Higgins. With whatever remaining cap space, the team possesses they should look into bolstering the offensive line to protect already injury prone superstar quarterback Joe Burrow. If the Bengals can have their offensive line be just average next season instead of it being one of the weakest units in the NFL like it was in 2024. Then the Bengals with similar caliber skill position players and a healthy Burrow will be as formidable of an offensive attack as there is in professional football.
On the defensive side of the ball the Bengals struggled a season ago as the team ranked 25th in the NFL in yards per game allowed, 25th in points per game allowed, and Pro Football Focus graded them as the #22 defense in the NFL. I conducted a similar analysis of the team’s defensive personnel which can be found below.
Front Seven Defensive Starters
LDE – Sam Hubbard – C+
LDT – Sheldon Rankins – B-, only played 7/17 games in 2024
RDT – B.J Hill – B to B+
RDE – Trey Hendrickson – A to A+
WLB – Logan Wilson – B to B-, only played 11/17 games in 2024
MLB – Germaine Pratt – C+ to B-
SLB – Akeem Davis-Gaither – C+ to B-, free agent
Key Front Seven Reserves
ED – Myles Murphy – 2023 first rounder, C in both seasons thus far
DT – McKinnley Jackson – 2024 third rounder, C in limited rookie snaps
DT – Kris Jenkins Jr – 2024 second rounder, C- in limited rookie snaps
ED – Josseph Ossai – 2021 third rounder, C in every season thus far, free agent
Secondary Starters
LCB – Cam Taylor Britt – 2022 second rounder, C
SS – Vonn Bell – C+ to B-, free agent
FS – Geno Stone – C+ to B-,
RCB – Josh Newton – 2024 5th rounder, C as rookie
NB – Mike Hilton – B+, free agent
Notable Secondary Reserves
CB – D.J Ivey – C+
SS – Jordan Battle – 2023 third rounder, C+ to B-
CB – D.J Turner II – 2023 second rounder, B to B-
CB – Daxton Hill – 2022 first rounder, C+ to B-
The team has since fired defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo in response to the lackluster output on the defensive side this past season. The front seven of the team was relatively mundane this past season as they had more than 1 high draft pick who was underdeveloped along with a few injuries combined with a lack of depth. Defensive tackles Sheldon Rankins and B.J Hill are both above average starters but Rankins appeared in only 7 games while Hill also missed a couple of games as well. Along with those two players who consistently are above average on the front seven for the Bengals Trey Hendrickson and linebacker Logan Wilson also consistently produce at an above average to an elite level. Linebacker Logan Wilson also missed 6 games due to injury this past season. The remaining three starters in the Bengals front seven are all just solid to average NFL starters in edge rusher Sam Hubbard, linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither, and linebacker Germaine Pratt. The Bengals had three primary players all of whom are high draft picks who served as backup/rotational pieces in their front seven. 2023 first rounder Myles Murphy, 2024 third rounder McKinnley Jackson, and 2024 second rounder Kris Jenkins Jr. Although none of the three players have been busts per-say all have underwhelmed in their time in the NFL thus far. The Bengals, with the injuries they had to their front seven, expected the young players to step in for the team in light of them and replace the above average production that the injured starters gave them but that failed to happen. I assessed Sheldon Rankins, B.J Hill, and Logan Wilson who all missed noticeable time due to injury in the front seven to all be B caliber above average NFL players. I assessed all the players who stepped in for them in light of them getting injured to all be in the D to C range, including the aforementioned young high draft picks. The Bengals ranked 19th in rush yards per game allowed and 24th in sacks accumulated. Pro Football Focus also graded the Bengals as 17th in terms of run-defense grade and 27th in terms of pass-rush grade as well. The injuries to the front seven combined with the lack of capable backups along with nearly half their front seven being average-ish in terms of talent to begin with led to the team ranking below average to well below average in all major statistical and subjective measures that indicate how productive a front seven indeed is. I can go in detail about the secondary play of the team as well which can be found below.
Secondary Starters
LCB – Cam Taylor Britt – 2022 second rounder, C
SS – Vonn Bell – C+ to B-, free agent
FS – Geno Stone – C+ to B-,
RCB – Josh Newton – 2024 5th rounder, C as rookie
NB – Mike Hilton – B+, free agent
Notable Secondary Reserves
CB – D.J Ivey – C+
SS – Jordan Battle – 2023 third rounder, C+ to B-
CB – D.J Turner II – 2023 second rounder, B to B-
CB – Daxton Hill – 2022 first rounder, C+ to B-
The secondary for the Bengals was also pretty mediocre akin to the front seven for the team. Outside of nickel cornerback Mike Hilton I graded every player in their backend to be in the average range. With nickel cornerback being perhaps the least important position on the back end of a defense and even then, I assessed Hilton to be above average to well above average but not elite. In addition to that Hilton is also a free agent entering this offseason as well. Every other starter in the back end of their defense I graded to be in the C to B- range in terms of how good they are as NFL players. Heading into next season just like with their front seven the Bengals have more than a few players as rotational/reserve players in their secondary that are young high draft picks. Akin to the front seven these players have not been busts, but they have not lived up to their billing as the high draft picks that they were selected as. The Bengals also do not seem to be able to trust these players to start for the team either. 2023 third round pick Jordan Battle had a fantastic rookie season where he graded (8/63) among safeties in terms of a defense grade according to Pro Football Focus. Battle regressed badly however in his sophomore campaign where he finished (89/104) in that same category. 2022 first round pick Daxton Hill has also shown some promise but has struggled with consistency. In his first two seasons in 2022 and 2023 Hill finished being graded as below average to well below average in terms of an overall defense grade. While in 2024 Hill finished (45/128) in terms of a defense grade albeit in limited snaps. A similar story persists for cornerback D.J Turner who was a 2023 second round pick who really struggled as a rookie but had a strong 2024 season. As a rookie Turner finished (74/80) in terms of a defense grade but finished (49/128) in that same category in his 2nd season which was 2024. The Bengals secondary finished 21st in pass yards per game allowed and Pro Football Focus graded them 20th in terms of coverage grade.
As stated previously the Bengals on the defensive side of the ball were one of the weaker teams in the NFL due to injuries and young players not being developed as of yet.
As stated previously it was a defensive struggle for the Bengals this past season as the team consistently hemorrhaged points as they gave up 30+ points on a consistent basis to playoff teams. Including 37 to the Eagles, 38 to the Commanders, 34 to the Chargers, 44 to the Steelers, 41 to the Ravens, and 35 to the Ravens a second time. Heading into the offseason the Bengals rank 8th in the NFL in cap space and are picking in the middle of the first round. The Bengals along with bolstering their offensive line should look into bolstering both the front seven and/or the back end of their defense this offseason. The Bengals have several young players who were high draft picks in very recent memory who have shown some promise who are now entering their primes. If some of those players can really come into their own and fulfill their potential, if new defensive coordinator Al Golden can be a noticeable upgrade over former DC Lou Anarumo, and if the Bengals can add some strong personnel this offseason. The defense can take a big step forward heading into 2025 but those are all big ifs and it remains to be seen how things will shake up for Cincinatti on the defensive side of the ball.
The special team’s unit of the Bengals was their strong suit a season ago as Pro Football Focus graded them as the best overall special team’s unit in professional football over the course of the 2024 regular season. But the special teams of the squad and how strong it was, was not enough to overcome the weak offensive line play and the weak defense.
Heading into 2025 the Bengals have several young players on the aforementioned weak offensive line and defense who were high draft picks recently who will be forced to step up for Cincinnati. The team also has a few key free agents in particular wide receiver Tee Higgins and Tight End Mike Gesicki. The team has also hired a new offensive line coach and a new defensive coordinator to bolster the aforementioned weak aspects of the team. With the Bengals having the eight most cap space heading into the offseason it will be interesting to see how Cincinnati plays its cards. With Burrow healthy the Bengals have reached a conference championship, a Super Bowl, and have a missed postseason appearance. That is akin to how the Patriots looked with Tom Brady in the first New England Dynasty as the team consistently made the Super Bowl/Conference Championship although missing the playoffs one year in between in the 2002 season. Burrow is the closest thing I have seen to Brady since he retired in that he is a tall unathletic pocket passer with an average-ish arm but who produces at an elite level and is known for being clutch. If Cincinnati closed out games at just an average rate this past season instead of the well below average rate in which they did. The Bengals easily would have won 11+ games and made the postseason. They very well could have been in play for a Super Bowl appearance given how strong they looked against fellow AFC rivals Kansas City and Baltimore in three matchups where the Bengals had them beat every time but failed to close it out every time. The Bengals still have one of the 4-5 truly elite quarterbacks in the NFL today in Joe Burrow. They have consistently looked like a Super Bowl caliber team with him healthy, even this past season when they missed the playoffs.
