If you got to add one former Bengal to the 2025 roster, who would it be?
There’s not much going on during summer break, so let’s fire up the time machine.
If you could pluck any former member of the Cincinnati Bengals — in their prime — and drop them onto the 2025 roster to maximize this team’s chances of winning the Super Bowl, who would it be?
There’s no shortage of good answers. Here are just a few to get the gears turning:
Anthony Muñoz, OT
The greatest Bengal of all time and arguably the best blind-side protector in NFL history. Plug him in at left tackle, kick Orlando Brown Jr. or Amarius Mims inside to guard, and suddenly Joe Burrow has the best offensive line of his career. You can’t have too many pass protectors.
Willie Anderson, OT
The best right tackle of the ‘90s and early 2000s, and a guy who should already be in Canton. Imagine Big Willie anchoring the right side of this line. Mims is promising, but Anderson is proven.
Jessie Bates, S
Wouldn’t it be nice to have Bates back in stripes? No question marks, no hope that Geno Stone works out—just a smart, physical, playmaking safety ready to stabilize the secondary.
Ken Riley, CB
The Rattler. Hall of Famer. Leader. Ballhawk. With the Bengals’ current questions at corner, Riley could instantly elevate the defense and terrify AFC North quarterbacks.
Geno Atkins, DT
Aaron Donald before Aaron Donald. A game-wrecker from the interior who could unlock this entire defensive front. He’d improve the run D, the pass rush—and by extension—the secondary.
Carlos Dunlap, DE
If the team can’t get Hendrickson or Shemar Stewart fully locked in (they will), a Dunlap reunion would be fun to imagine. Let’s just hope he and Zac Taylor are cool now.
Reggie Williams, LB
The Bengals have Logan Wilson, a couple of new additions, and a pair of rookies at linebacker. Reggie would add instant IQ, toughness, and leadership to the heart of the defense.
Corey Dillon, RB
A Hall of Fame talent who carried entire offenses by himself. Drop him into this lineup with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins? Good luck, NFL.
Chad Johnson or A.J. Green, WR
Imagine Chase, Higgins, and either Chad or Green. Pick your poison. Defensive coordinators would cry. And frankly, with that trio on the field, you could suit my old butt at running back and still average three yards per carry..
Paul Brown, Owner/GM
If I’m allowed to break the rules, give me the football genius himself. One of the most innovative minds in NFL history, getting to work directly with Burrow? Let’s not even pretend that wouldn’t be incredible.
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There are so many names we didn’t get to—Isaac Curtis, David Fulcher, Takeo Spikes, Tim Krumrie, Dan Ross—and they all deserve love.
But you only get one.
So who’s your pick?
Sound off.
If I could save time in a bottle
The first thing that I’d like to do
Is save every day
‘Til eternity passes away
Just to spend them with you
