The names and the faces change, but year in and year out, the Bengals offensive line is suspect at best.
The names and the faces change, but year in and year out, the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line is suspect.
Key Players
- Orlando Brown
- Ted Karras
- Amarius Mims
- Cordell Volson
- Alex Cappa
- Trent Brown
Year In Review
The Trent Brown signing was a great move, unfortunately and somewhat predictably, he got hurt. That, however, wasn’t the only thing they did to address the position. Rookie Amarius Mims had no problem filling those big shows at right tackle. Mims had an excellent rookie campaign and showed promise to develop into a cornerstone for the Bengals. He and Orlando Brown Jr. are an excellent pair.
The problems for the Bengals came on the interiors. Alex Cappa’s effectiveness at guard has come to a screeching halt, leading to his release, and Cordell Volson’s development opposite him transitioned quickly from plateau to landslide. Ted Karras played well at center, but the guard play devastated the unit as a whole.
Potential Free Agents
- Alex Cappa
- Trent Brown
- Cody Ford
- Jaxson Kirkland
- D’Ante Smith
What to Do Next?
They need two new guards. My guess is they will sign one free agent and bring back Cody Ford. Hopefully, Ford is the backup to both guard spots, but they may be okay rolling him out there if they are not able to acquire a starting guard in the draft.
What I would do
They really need to get two new starting guards. Chicago’s Teven Jenkins, Pittsburgh’s James Daniels, and Indianapolis’s Will Fries give you the best mix of high performance and low age. Acquiring any two of them would be an absolute game-changer. More economical options could include Arizona’s Evan Brown, San Francisco’s Aaron Banks, and Baltimore’s Patrick Mekari.
Personally, I’d go with Daniels as my top priority. He would give them an athletic upgrade and a strong veteran presence next to Mims. Then I’d put Jenkins on the other side. This would allow them to focus on drafting defense early. If they can’t afford both, Evan Brown is a good option.
Bring back Ford as a versatile backup. Kirkland may have missed his developmental window. If Trent Brown is willing to come back on the cheap, I still think he’s the best swing tackle in the league, despite his injury concerns.
