Here are a few resolutions the Bengals should be making.
Happy New Year!
Every family has a different holiday tradition. Some travel, some gather at family homes, and others volunteer time. One holiday tradition, though, that seems to be universal, at least in America, is the thought of a “New Year’s Resolution.”
I’m sure you’ve heard the term, but if you haven’t, it’s a simple concept: It’s a new year, so be a new you. If you want to be able to quit some vice when could be a better time than the first moments of a new year (other than now, of course). It’s why gyms are packed to the brim in the first few weeks of a new year.
Then human nature is the reason gyms go back to normal a few weeks later.
The Brown/Blackburn Family, who put their pants on one leg at a time like anyone else, surely have New Year’s resolutions, and hopefully, they do for the Cincinnati Bengals as well.
Just in case they don’t, though, here are some realistic suggestions:
Resolution No. 1
Make the tough decisions
The Bengals are in the position they’re in this year because of another slow start, a terrible defense through most of the year, and just some straight-up bad luck. Another reason is the struggling play of several veterans, some of whom are near and dear to the fan base.
This is a business, though, and the Bengals should and could:
- Save a little over $11.6 million for a post-6/1 release of Sam Hubbard
- Save a little over $10.2 million for a post-6/1 release of Alex Cappa
- Save a little over $12.5 million for a post-6/1 release of Sheldon Rankins
Just with those three, the Bengals are looking at quite a lot in cap savings. Losing Sam Hubbard hurts, but, again, it is a business, and Hubbard struggled through multiple injuries throughout 2024 and was more of a liability than anything for much of the season.
Then, the Bengals can focus on their second resolution….
Resolution No. 2
Re-sign key players
Joe Burrow made it fairly clear he wants the Bengals front office to keep key players in Cincinnati, and there are three the Bengals need to focus on.
Listed in order from most important to least, though everyone listed is key:
- Extend Ja’Marr Chase.
Chase is the best wide receiver in the NFL in 2025 and is closing in on the rare triple crown. Keeping he and Burrow together for the vast majority of their careers will be paramount for the Bengals. Justin Jefferson signed a four-year, $140 million contract with $110 million fully guaranteed. Chase will get more, and would have been cheaper had the Bengals been serious about extending him before the 2024 season, but they didn’t get a deal done. Now they’ll have to pay for it.
- Re-sign Tee Higgins
We saw just this last Saturday why Higgins is so important to this team. When he’s on the field, teams cannot solely focus on Chase, and they have to figure out a way to cover two legit No. 1 receivers. Even if teams figure out a way to shut them both down, they would be left covering a third receiver or tight end with a linebacker, and we see how that works out all the time.
Burrow made it clear teams can’t sustain success if they let their best players walk out the door, and Higgins made it clear by hiring a new agent and flat out saying he’ll take less money and he wants to stay here. The Bengals need to make it happen.
- Re-sign Mike Hilton
The Bengals have an aversion to players over 30 years of age at certain positions, and cornerback is one of those positions. Hilton will be 31 in March, but he is one of the best, if not the best, in-the-box corner in the NFL. When the Bengals are in nickel, they’re susceptible to the run, but Hilton, who stands at 5-foot-9 and weighs 184 pounds, throws his body around like a linebacker. We’ve seen him bring down Derrick Henry one-on-one in the backfield multiple times. Keeping him in the secondary that needs a bounce-back 2025 season is key.
Resolution No. 3
Fix the interior of the offensive line
It appears as if the Bengals may have finally found a tackle duo that works in Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims, but the interior of the line has been an issue. Ted Karras has held down the center position as best he could, considering both guards have struggled. Cappa and Cordell Volson haven’t had good years. PFF credits the pair with 11 sacks, and that’s just too much coming from the middle of the line.
They could give Matt Lee some snaps at center to move Karras to guard or sign a free agent like Trey Smith, Will Fries, Tevin Jenkins, or maybe even Kevin Zeitler, who could finish his career where it began. They could also draft a guard in the first couple of rounds if one they like falls to them, but there are a lot of holes to fill in this draft.
Resolution No. 4
Beef up scouting efforts
The Bengals have been hit-and-miss in the draft over the last few years. They’ve grabbed some great players, but they’ve also taken some big-time stinkers. There are certain positions the Bengals struggle with, as well, one of them being the offensive line (see Jackson Carman in the second round). To continue to operate without making any sort of adjustment is pretty close to the definition of insanity, so it makes sense to beef up a scouting department that is famously very small compared to other franchises.
This is probably one of the easiest issues to solve. Add some money to a scouting budget, hire some good football people, and then make more informed decisions in the draft.
If the Bengals are able to find a way to keep Chase, Higgins, and Hilton, they may not have enough money to go after any big-name free agents outside of one or maybe two. They’ll have too much money wrapped up on key players, and they’ll need more of their draft picks to hit than miss.
Resolution No. 5
Continue facilities progress
The Bengals have done a good job over the last few seasons when it comes to modernizing the franchise. They have a ring of honor, an indoor practice facility (the bubble counts), a new locker room, and more, but it would be nice to see them earn at least a B- on the upcoming NFLPA report card.
Having modern facilities is key to retaining talent in the modern NFL. The Bengals have done good work, but there is work still yet to be done. 2025 is no time to be complacent.
Resolution No. 6
Coaching decisions
If the decision was left to me, I would clean house if the Bengals miss the playoffs, and they currently have a snowball’s chance in Hell to get in. Burrow, Chase, and the offense have been so good and scored so much that the fact they have an 8-8 record heading into Week 18 is absolutely insane. Mike Brown is nothing if not loyal, though, and I assume reaching a Super Bowl and two consecutive AFC Championship games has bought Taylor a ton of slack.
Ownership needs to recognize their window, though. The amount of great football that Burrow has in him is finite. Having an MVP-caliber season in 2024 is no guarantee that 2025 will be that way. The Family needs to understand they’re in a Super Bowl window most teams dream of, and maximizing the results Burrow can deliver is incredibly important. If that means paring him with a new head coach, then that’s what it means.
There is something to be said about stability, and there’s no chance Zac Taylor will lose his job in 2025, but heads need to roll after this season.
Resolution No. 7
Swing for the fences
As said before, the Bengals are in a Super Bowl window that 90 percent of the teams in the NFL would be jealous of. There are only a handful of real franchise-changing quarterbacks in the league. The Bengals are lucky enough not only to have one of them but also to get him one of the most talented weapons in the history of the league — who had a rich history with Burrow at LSU — in Ja’Marr Chase.
Now is not the time to be conservative. To use a football analogy, it’s second-and-inches for the Bengals. They have the lead, and there’s plenty of time on the clock. Why just set your sights on a first down? Go for it all, and if it doesn’t work out, go for the first down on third-and-short.
The Bengals need to go all out. Spend all the money. Don’t be conservative. Maximize their chance to win it all by doing everything under the sun.
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There are, of course, more resolutions the Bengals could make, like hiring a real general manager or funding stadium renovations themselves, or just win the Super Bowl, but those aren’t necessarily realistic.
However, if the Bengals focus on the seven resolutions above and don’t give up by the end of January, they should set themselves up for great success moving forward.
