This would be a big upgrade at right guard.
Somehow, despite the Cincinnati Bengals having another subpar offensive line, Joe Burrow played like the best QB in the NFL last year.
The biggest issue was the interior of the offensive line, where guards like Cordell Volson and Alex Cappa were subpar at protecting their QB.
Now, just imagine what Burrow could do with a quality right guard playing next to the rising Amarius Mims.
Enter Indianapolis Colts standout Will Fries.
Will Fries
- Height: 6-foot-6
- Weight: 305 pounds
- Age: 26 (turns 27 on April 4)
- Years Pro: 5th season
- College: Penn State
- Hometown: Cranford, New Jersey
Background
Fries started nine of 13 games his redshirt freshman year at Penn State, and he was moved around a lot, starting games at left guard, left tackle, and right tackle.
According to NFL.com’s Draft profile, he demonstrated strong hands and good technique, plus the ability to sustain blocks after locking in. He has the height to play tackle, but his limited athleticism, average recovery time, and plodding pass slides mean he’s better suited to play guard.
Fries would end up being drafted in the seventh round of the 2021 Draft by the Indianapolis Colts. He barely played his rookie year and then was finally inserted into the starting lineup in Week 10 of the 2022 season.
The guard would start all 17 games in 2023 and showed that he had improved to the point where he could be considered a quality run blocker and solid pass blocker.
Fries was really showing promise in 2024 until he suffered a tibia injury that ended his season in Week 5. He was on pace to be one of the very best guards in the league with a run-blocking Pro Football Focus grade of 84.9 (fifth best of all guards) and an overall grade of 84.9 (fourth best of all guards). He had only allowed two sacks and committed one penalty.
What He Can Bring
The right guard is young, rising, and has the kind of toughness and attitude the Cincinnati Bengals lack on the interior of the offensive line. He would ensure Burrow stays upright while also providing a much-needed boost to the ground game. While the offense was explosive through the air, the Bengals finished 30th in rushing yards per game and 20th in yards per carry.
Fries would be an instant upgrade at the position, and there is no overstating how huge it would be to have consistent play there.
Outlook
There’s a reasonable chance the Bengals target a guy like Fries, who they won’t have to break the bank for but would be able to provide the kind of lift that Ted Karras and Alex Cappa did when they were first signed.
