Who makes up the Bengals’ core?
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the most important offseasons in franchise history ahead of them. They’re coming off a 9-8 season in which they missed the playoffs despite Joe Burrow’s MVP-caliber performance, Ja’Marr Chase’s Triple Crown and Trey Hendrickson leading the league in sacks.
Now, they’re in a position where they need to extend Chase — who, after leading all NFL receivers in every major statistical category, is poised to reset the market — along with Hendrickson while looking to re-sign Tee Higgins.
That doesn’t even include decisions on B.J. Hill, Mike Hilton, or Joseph Ossai, all of whom are pending free agents. The Bengals have the money to do whatever they want, but what they may want to do is operate within their comfort zone. Hopefully, that won’t be the case, but we’ll have to wait a few more weeks to see what their actual plan is.
For now, let’s focus on the core of this team. Who are the most important players on both sides of the ball that the front office needs to build around to create a championship contender?
Offense
Joe Burrow, 28 years old, under contract through 2029
This couldn’t be more obvious. Burrow is, by far, the most important player on the team. The offense flows through him, and he’s in the elite tier along with Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson, and Josh Allen. He finished 2024 with 4,918 passing yards, 43 touchdowns, and only nine interceptions, completing just over 70% of his passes.
He took the Bengals to the Super Bowl after the 2021 season and the AFC Championship Game the following year. His only knock is his durability—he has finished two of his five seasons on injured reserve—but when he’s healthy, there are few better passers in the league.
Ja’Marr Chase, 24 years old, under contract through 2026 (fifth-year option)
The Bengals “attempted” to extend Chase before the 2024 season, and they likely regret not getting a deal done. Now that he’s won the Triple Crown, he’s going to reset the wide receiver market—and he should. Justin Jefferson currently holds the highest annual salary at $35 million per year. It’s not inconceivable that Chase could demand $40 million annually, and the Bengals will pay it.
Burrow has made it clear—time and again—that he wants the front office to keep Higgins, Chase, and Hendrickson. If they don’t, they’ll surely prioritize keeping Burrow’s college teammate. Chase may soon become the highest-paid non-quarterback in NFL history.
Tee Higgins, 26 years old, unrestricted free agent
Few teams have two legitimate No. 1 wide receivers. The position is so expensive that most franchises can’t afford more than one, especially if they already have high-paying contracts along the offensive line and defense. The Bengals, however, have been one of the few teams to enjoy two elite receivers on the same roster.
The only reason Higgins might walk is because he plays on the same team as the best receiver in the NFL—and that team happens to have an owner who dislikes paying large guaranteed contracts. Had Burrow not been injured as a rookie, the Bengals likely wouldn’t have been in a position to draft Chase, and this entire discussion would be moot.
To be clear, this is a good problem to have. Plenty of teams lack even one true No. 1 receiver. The Bengals have two.
Will they keep both?
Orlando Brown Jr., 28 years old, under contract through 2026
Brown was the Bengals’ big free-agent acquisition before the 2023 season. After years of uncertainty at left tackle, the Bengals signed him away from the Chiefs to protect Burrow’s blind side. The 6-foot-8, 345-pound tackle was having an outstanding 2024 season before suffering a lower-leg injury in Week 8 that hampered him for the rest of the year.
The Bengals have two more seasons with Brown under contract. They need to maximize that window.
Amarius Mims, 22 years old, under contract through 2029 (future fifth-year option)
Mims was thrust into a starting role after Trent Brown went down with a season-ending injury in Week 3. Despite facing elite pass rushers in his rookie season, he allowed just four sacks and steadily improved as a run blocker, per Pro Football Focus. It’s safe to say the Bengals have their right tackle of the future.
It has been a long time since the Bengals had bookend tackles. If they can shore up the guard position, this could be one of the best offensive lines in team history. Mims still has room to improve, but at 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, he has the size and talent to be the answer Cincinnati has been seeking at right tackle since they drafted Andre Smith and his infamous man boobs.
Defense
Trey Hendrickson, 30 years old, under contract through 2025
It’s remarkable that Hendrickson racked up 17.5 sacks considering that, if you made a pie chart of the Bengals’ pass-rushing statistics, half of it would belong to him. It’s not like the Bengals’ defense was running exotic schemes to give him an advantage—he’s just been that dominant over the past two seasons. And he’s not slowing down.
He has far outplayed his contract and has made it clear he wants an extension—or a trade. Without him, the Bengals would have virtually no established pass rushers, and in a conference with Allen, Mahomes, and Jackson, they need someone who can get to the quarterback.
Logan Wilson, 28 years old, under contract through 2027
Every level of defense depends on the level in front of it. Wilson and Germaine Pratt once formed one of the best linebacker duos in the NFL, but both had down seasons in 2024, and Pratt has since requested a trade. With D.J. Reader in front of him, Wilson developed into one of the league’s top coverage linebackers. However, a defensive line that struggles to generate pressure and stop the run puts massive strain on the linebackers and secondary, and Wilson was no exception last season.
Wilson makes this list because we’ve seen what he’s capable of—and it’s far more than he showed in 2024. He will have his former position coach, Al Golden, back as the Bengals’ new defensive coordinator, which could help. It would also help if the Bengals addressed their issues at defensive tackle.
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Did I leave someone out? Should someone above be left off the list?
Sound off.
Y’know a house of cards
Never built for shock
You could blow it down
In any kind of weather.
Now you take two solid blocks
Two solid rocks
You know they’re gonna stick
Yeah they’re gonna stick together
