The Bengals are seemingly content at the guard position heading into the draft

Based on Zac Taylor’s comments, the Bengals aren’t looking to add any more guards in free agency.

The NFL annual league meetings are underway in Palm Beach, Florida, and while much of the focus is on proposed rule changes, coaches and members of front offices are able to connect with the press on the state of their teams.

Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor spoke with The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway on the state of the offensive line, and he told her something that will probably make fans boil over in frustration.

“I think right now at guard, we will get to the draft and evaluate where we’re at from there,” he said.

Both Alex Cappa and Cordell Volson struggled in 2024. Joe Burrow was able to put up MVP-worthy numbers despite constant pressure coming from the middle of the pocket, but the Bengals don’t want to continue allowing their franchise quarterback to get hit as often as he is.

They released Cappa earlier this offseason, re-signed Cody Ford, extended Jaxson Kirkland, and brought in free agent interior offensive lineman Lucas Patrick, but most would argue they haven’t done enough. There are a handful of free agent guards still available that would be upgrades, like Brandon Scherff and Will Hernandez, but it’s clear, from Taylor’s remarks, they think they have what they need, or they will have what they need after the draft.

The guards on the roster right now are Volson, Ford, Kirkland, Patrick, and Tashawn Manning. Center Ted Karras has also spent much of his career at guard if the team feels backup center Matt Lee could snap the ball to Burrow (Patrick has started large chunks of his career at center as well).

The plan seems to be to add a rookie selected in the upcoming draft to the above list and hope, through competition, two starting-caliber guards emerge. Considering the importance of this offseason, that seems like an awfully big risk.

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