Here’s a look at where things stand, if there season were to start today.
The NFL Draft is behind us, and the Bengals welcomed several new players into the fold over draft weekend.
Here’s a look at the roster and projected depth chart post-draft. An asterisk denotes a starter (for now), and anyone under the — is on the bubble or at risk of being cut/added to the practice squad.
Bengals QB depth chart:
- Joe Burrow*
- Jake Browning
- Logan Woodside
- Payton Thorne (UDFA, Auburn)
Notes:
None
RB:
- Chase Brown*
- Zack Moss
- Samaje Perine
- Tahj Brooks (Round 6, pick 193 overall, Texas Tech)
- Kendall Milton
- Gary Brightwell
Notes:
Brown is going to be the offense’s primary running back, and I expect Perine to return as a third-down/passing-down back while Moss will give breathers here and there. This is a deep running back class, and the Bengals got great value with Tahj Brooks in the sixth round.
WR:
- Ja’Marr Chase*
- Tee Higgins*
- Andrei Iosivas*
- Charlie Jones
- Jermaine Burton
- Kendrick Pryor
- Cole Burgess
- Mitchell Tinsley
- Isaiah Williams
- Jordan Moore (UDFA, Duke)
- Rashod Owens (UDFA, Oklahoma State)
- Jamoi Mayes (UDFA, Cincinnati)
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Notes:
The Bengals have the best wide receiver duo, Chase and Higgins, in the NFL locked up for the foreseeable future. Behind them, though, it’s a little bit of a guessing game. Iosivas has a leg up on everyone as he’s had the most on-field success, but he hasn’t quite solidified himself as the team’s WR3. Jones has had injury issues, and Burton has had off-field issues. The Bengals passed on the position during the draft but did add three prospects who went undrafted.
TE:
- Mike Gesicki*
- Drew Sample*
- Tanner Hudson
- Tanner McLachlan
- Kole Taylor (UDFA, WVU)
- Cam Grandy
- (INJURED) Erick All Jr.
Notes:
Gesicki is technically TE1, but he functions more like WR3. He’s not on the team because he can block. He’s on the team because he’s the best receiving tight end Burrow has worked with so far, and when Higgins or Chase is out, he’s the second most reliable receiver on the field. Sample is more of a blocker than a pass catcher (though a Sample TD is a sight to behold), and Hudson has had success as well.
McLachlan is an unknown, as is Grandy. All is, unfortunately, likely to miss the entire season due to complications from a knee injury that cost him most of the ‘24 season. The Bengals also passed on tight ends entirely in the draft, focusing on defense and the offensive line, but added Kole Taylor as an UDFA.
OL:
- Orlando Brown Jr.*
- Cordell Volson*
- Ted Karras*
- Cody Ford*
- Amarius Mims*
- Lucas Patrick
- Jaxson Kirkland
- Matt Lee
- Devin Cochran
- Dylan Fair (Round 3, 81st overall, UGA)
- Jalen Rivers (Round 5, 153rd overall, Miami)
- Andrew Coker
- Andrew Stueber
- Tashawn Manning
Notes:
The Bengals re-signed Ford and brought in Patrick this offseason, but they have hardly done “enough.” Joe Burrow, despite the MVP-caliber season in 2024, is constantly being harassed in the pocket and is often running for his life. Most of the trouble came from the guard position last year. As of now, the guard position would be some sort of combination of Volson, Ford, and Patrick.
It was clearly a priority for Cincinnati, who brought in two OL in the draft and two UDFA prospects in Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin and BYU’s Caleb Etienne.
DL:
- Trey Hendrickson* (hopefully)
- BJ Hill*
- TJ Slaton*
- Joseph Ossai*
- Shemar Stewart (Round 1, 17th overall, EDGE, Texas A&M)
- Myles Murphy
- Kris Jenkins
- McKinnley Jackson
- Cedric Johnson
- Cam Sample
- Isaiah Thomas
- Raymond Johnson III
Notes:
The Bengals’ defense was a massive letdown in 2024 and resulted in a top-tier offense missing the playoffs, a 9-8 record, and Lou Anarumo’s firing. The Bengals signed NT Slaton, who excels as a run defender, as well as brought back Ossai, who finished the 2024 season with five sacks over the last seven games. Don’t forget about second-year tackles Jenkins and Jackson, who will hopefully take the next step, as well as former first-round pick Murphy, who needs to establish himself.
The Bengals could use an interior pass rusher, something they haven’t had consistently since Geno Atkins’ departure. They also need more help at edge, especially if the Bengals do trade Hendrickson or if he decides he doesn’t want to play under his current contract if the two sides can’t come to some sort of agreement.
The Bengals addressed the d-line in the first round and also added two undrafted defensive tackles, Howard Cross (Notre Dame) and Eric Gregory (Arkansas).
LB:
- Logan Wilson*
- Germaine Pratt* (requested trade)
- Oren Burks
- Maema Njongmeta
- Shaka Heyward
- Demetrius Knight (Round 2, 49th overall, South Carolina)
- Dylan Barrett Carter (Round 4, 119th overall, Clemson)
- Joe Giles-Harris
- Craig Young
Notes:
The only thing for certain at linebacker is Wilson will start. Pratt has requested a trade, and things don’t really seem like the two sides are going to be able to mend fences. They signed Burks, but Burks may be more of a replacement for ADG, who left in free agency, than Pratt. The Bengals did address the position during the draft, with two linebackers selected.
CB:
- Cam Taylor-Britt*
- DJ Turner*
- Dax Hill*
- Jalen Davis
- Josh Newton
- DJ Ivey
- Marco Wilson
- Micah Abraham
- Nate Brooks
- Lance Robinson
- Bralyn Lux (UDFA, CB, Texas Tech)
Notes:
The secondary struggled in 2024. CTB took a step back, and Turner and Hill both suffered season-ending injuries. The Bengals have officially lost Mike Hilton, but Hill could possibly step into that role, though the current plan is for the latter to stay on the boundary.
Davis has been Hilton’s long-time slot backup, and Newton, Ivey, and Wilson have shown promise. The plan is for Newton to move into the slot for next season.
The Bengals’ focus was elsewhere during the draft, but they did add one UDFA cornerback in Texas Tech’s Bralyn Lux.
S:
- Geno Stone*
- Jordan Battle*
- Tycen Anderson
- Daijahn Anthony
- Jaylen Key
- PJ Jules
- Shaquan Loyal (UDFA, S, Rutgers)
Notes:
The safety position has been a mess since the team allowed Jessie Bates III to leave for Atlanta in free agency. They drafted Hill to be his heir before the 2021 season, but Hill’s move to cornerback gives you a pretty clear picture of how that has worked out. They went from Nick Scott to Geno Stone, but so far, they’ve gotten mixed results.
The Bengals also did not take a safety in the draft, but did add Rutgers’ Shaquan Loyal as an undrafted free agent.
ST:
- P: Ryan Rehkow*
- K: Evan McPherson*
- LS: Cal Adomitis*
- LS: William Wagner (UDFA, Michigan)
Notes:
None
That’s where things stand. Do you think the Bengals need to make more moves before the preseason gets under way? Let us know in the comments!
And Who DEY!
