The Cincinnati Bengals Offseason
2022 Dream Draft Pick: Zion Johnson
The Cincinnati Bengals biggest need in 2022 is fixing the offensive line and with the signings of La'el Collins and Alex Cappa to shore some holes in the unit, the best player to help finish the rebuild is Zion Johnson out of Boston College. Johnson is regarded as close 2nd in the title for drafts best guard prospect and his performances at the Senior Bowl and NFL combine have seen draft stock skyrocket. He's a sure-fire impact player in the interior of the defensive line and his selection would drastically improve the odds of repeat appearance in the Super Bowl.
The To-Do List
Go nuts in free agency to improve the team
The Cincinnati Bengals were on the losing end of the Super Bowl but one thing was very clear to all those watching the game, the Bengals simply didn't have the talent star power to compete with the Los Angeles Rams but luckily for them, they have almost $50,000,000 in cap space and the Bengals need to go absolutely gangbusters and sign the free agents money can by. This free agency is going to have future HOF cornerback available in Stephon Gilmore who certainly would give defense a massive upgrade in the secondary and would in my opinion separate them from the pack in the AFC North. There's also potentially going to be some very good offensive lineman available as well including 2022 pro bowler Brandon Scherff from Washington if he doesn't resign and former pro bowler Andrew Norwell could be available as well and both players would instantly improve the roster. The entire nation saw an offensive line literally collapse as Aaron Donald and company sacked Joe Burrow 7 times with 6 coming in the 2nd half and while the Bengals secondary was very good in the 2021, they fell short in the Super Bowl trying to cover Cooper Kupp which ultimately came back to bite them and you can be certain that Gilmore would make Kupp earn his money in that game and probably wouldn't have been as dominant as he was. THis roster has the quarterback and the right pieces to make a Super Bowl, they just need one or two more in those areas to truly reach that next level.
Resign Jessie Bates
The one player that Cincinnati must sign in the offseason would be safety Jessie Bates who might be one of the unheralded players of the Cincinnati roster and one of the most underrated in the league. Bates is oneo fthe best coverage safeties in pro football and even though he his don't leap off the paper, his impact at the position can be noticed with the rising production of his teammates around him by not allowing anything deep on and being a very secure tackler and on a starless defense, outside of Trey Hendrickson, this team certainly has gotten the best out of Jessie Bates. Great safeties are hard to come by in the NFL and especially ones that play with the unselfishness he does. He was the foundation for a pretty good secondary and if he were to leave in free agency he would certainly be one of the toughest players on the roster to replace. Bates has never been to pro bowl, although he certainly deserves to, which could drive down his price and getting him signed for under $10,000,000 a year would be an excellent deal and Cincinnati has the cap room to make it happen.
CUt Trae Waynes ANd draft his replacement: 3 potential replacements
Of all the signings the Bengals have made over the years Trae Waynes ranks at the bottom in terms productivity and reliability and his absence in 2021 showed just how little he has to offer to this team in the future and with free agency on the horizon and potential Super Bowl run now a possibility, the Bengals can't afford any dead weight. Trae Waynes is an average cornerback that's not worth a $15,000,00 cap in 2022 and cutting him saves this team about $10,000,000 and using their 31st pick in the draft probably can get them a cornerback that's a much better option.
The Bengals need to upgrade the secondary in 2022 if they want to get back to the big game and addressing the cornerback position should be their #1 priority heading into the draft. Unless a very good offensive line prospect is available I go defensive back all the way because this team defense is starving for a cornerback with some talent.
- Trent McDuffie: McDuffie is a riser on most draft boards but I will need to see a combine from him before commit to calling him a guaranteed top 20 pick but if he were to fall all the way to the 31st pick in the draft, the Bengals need to pull the trigger. He's a highly versatile and tough player that can succeed at pretty much any position in the secondary and with the track record of Washington defensive backs succeeding in the NFL, there's a god chance that this pick is a bullseye for them.
- Kyler Gordon: Kyler Gordon is one of fastest risers in the draft and could be very available for Cincinnati at the 31st pick. The other Washington cornerback in this draft class, Gordon brings elite size and athleticism to the outside cornerback position and probably would be a much better fit in Cincinnati if they get rid of Waynes.
- Kaiir Elam: Kaiir Elam is currently in a tailspin as a prospect as people become more disgruntled by his raw technique but this is one of the best athletes in this draft and has the size and length defensive coaches covet in cornerbacks. Putting him on the outside cornerback position would be a little risky because of his raw technique but with heavy coaching and trust, he can be a slam dunk pick for the Bengals with his lockdown corner potential.
The Bengals need to upgrade the secondary in 2022 if they want to get back to the big game and addressing the cornerback position should be their #1 priority heading into the draft. Unless a very good offensive line prospect is available I go defensive back all the way because this team defense is starving for a cornerback with some talent.