The lull of the offseason is on the other side of the next five weeks for the Cincinnati Bengals. Rookie minicamp will soon be followed by OTAs and mandatory minicamp, and then six weeks of summer leads into training camp.

So close and yet so far away. Plenty of time for the club to resolve any questions about the roster.

Speaking of questions, you all had some of those following the 2025 NFL Draft. Let's try to answer them as the offseason reaches the halfway mark. 

"Are they more likely to add a free agent at guard, defensive tackle, or safety?" – @bengallmanbros

"Is safety the weakest position group on the team, and if so are there any players in free agency worth adding to the room?" – @cory_harkleroad

To begin answering the first question, it should be stated that just because the team passed on certain positions in the draft does not mean that passing was the plan, or everyone in the building is particularly excited about it. I think help was expected to come at defensive tackle and safety, and it just never arrived. If I were to guess, a free agent safety is more likely since they were way more aggressive in college free agency at defensive tackle, but both are probably in the mix. 

If Geno Stone and Jordan Battle are your projected starters, that feels like a pretty weak group on paper. I think guard has the best argument against it, but there's at least more depth there. Tycen Anderson, Daijahn Anthony, and and a handful of UDFAs of the past and present are all that stand in the way of someone like Justin Simmons walking through the door. Simmons or Julian Blackmon would make plenty of sense to add as free agents, I'm just not expecting the team to add those names on general principle. Maybe another lesser-known name gets added for depth purposes.

"Who do you think starts at guard and why?" – @RandyHollings13

Fairchild is the safest bet at left guard. A top-100 pick who was lauded by offensive line coach Scott Peters is going to get every chance to earn that spot, and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher confirmed that after the pick was made. It's why there will be a "competition" headlined by Fairchild getting the most looks just so he can start justifying that selection as soon as possible. It'll also help that he gets as much on-field development as possible to work through the struggles he'll inevitably have in the beginning.

Right guard is likely a three-way battle between Cody Ford, Lucas Patrick, and Cordell Volson, all three being unknowns at the position for Cincinnati. It feels like a win-or-get cut situation for Volson considering he's got the highest price tag attached to his name, but he can't be ruled out until the guy who started over him last year and the lone free agent addition from this year officially look better than him. 

My guess right now is Patrick wins out because I think he's the best athlete and pass protector on tape when he's not playing center.    

"How do you see the [defensive line] rotation shaking out?" – @Jom112

"Who do you think has the potential to add more interior pass rush this year, McKinnley Jackson or Kris Jenkins?" – @Mythoclast99

"What impact do you think the [T.J.] Slayton addition makes in freeing up linebackers and allowing Jenkins and Jackson to get more 1-on-1 matchups in roles more tailored to their skill set?" – @thewanderer2020 

The rotations seems simple. B.J. Hill starts and Kris Jenkins Jr. backs him up at 3-technique defensive tackle. T.J. Slaton starts and McKinnley Jackson backs him up at 1-technique nose tackle. Maybe a UDFA like Howard Cross III or Eric Gregory sneaks in as the fifth to this group, but Jenkins and Jackson will fill in for Hill and Slaton, respectively, throughout games. 

Interestingly enough, Jackson seemed to flash more as a penetrating pass-rusher late last season while that aspect has never been a strength of Jenkins' game in college. I don't think either bring a lot of potential against the pass, but Jackson getting past centers in pass protection more often would be welcoming to see.

Slaton is going to be a big (literally) help occupying blockers in front of the linebackers I have little doubt about that, but again, none of their defensive tackles are necessarily reliable pass-rushers even in one-on-one situations. This is why Walter Nolen was as high on their board as he was. That aspect of the defense is still missing, and it will remain missing unless something unlikely happens. 

"[Barrett] Carter going to be mainly a [special teams] player year 1, or do you think he can get decent playing time?" – @Jom112

Special teams first and foremost. I think the top three backers are Logan Wilson, Demetrius Knight Jr., and Oren Burks. Maybe Carter absolutely balls out in the preseason and ascends over Burks on the depth chart, but either way, three linebackers on the field is an uncommon personnel package nowadays and it would shock me if they had two rookies flank Wilson in those groupings to start. The way defensive coordinator Al Golden described Carter indicated he's more of an inside backer anyways so he's on track to being Wilson's backup rather than on-field partner.

"What’s the Bengals' rhyme, reason, or process on how they target and sign undrafted free agents?" – MrEd315

Interesting to think about. It starts with identifying the positions that weren't addressed earlier in the offseason. You have to make it appealing for UDFAs to want to sign with you, and targeting positions that have minimal depth is great for that as it presents the promise of opportunity. That's why three wide receivers and three defensive tackles agreed to terms per reports. The rest of the process is about the same as to how the club targets draft picks. Do they fit the team? Is their character good? Upside? All of it applies. 

"Does the team have a yoga instructor and/or has their been any change to the training staff to try and fix the unreal number of soft tissue injuries that happen on an annual basis?" – @WillLewis_1976

NFLPA Report Cards may not be an end-all metric, but the Bengals did get bumped up from a B+ in 2024 to an A- this year in the "Training Staff" category while the "Training Room" column remains a B+ from last year. As far as the actual staff itself, I know Diamond Simmons was added last year as an assistant to head strength and conditioning coach Joey Boese. Does he qualify as a yoga instructor? Your guess is as good as mine. 

"Do you think Chase Brown will dominate the touches again or Perine/Brooks will make things a bit more balanced this year?" – @Jom112

The omission of Zack Moss here despite the team's reworking of his contract did not go unnoticed. I think Moss makes this a four-back group until it isn't, but Brooks definitely has a chance to ascend closer to Brown than him. The Bengals want to avoid Brown carrying the ball almost 19 times a game like he did during his final eight starts last year, but he'll still lead the clubhouse in terms of workload. It'll just be managed more due to the depth that now exists behind him. Maybe 12-14 carries a game instead? Unless they realize he's still the only useful ballcarrier in the room. 

"Will Joe Burrow and JaMarr Chase repeat their MVP and OPOY worthy type seasons respectively again this upcoming season, should that level of performance be the expectation?" – @JonnyBengal

Man, throughout all the offseason ups and downs (maybe more downs, but so be it) it is easy to forget just how good the Bengals' two best players were last year. So good that it wouldn't be surprising if 2024 ends up being the best statistical years of their careers. One of them one the triple crown for goodness sakes. Their abilities certainly aren't going anywhere, but expecting both of them to replicate what the did last year is simply unfair, no matter how great they truly are. 

That said, the hope should be they don't have to make 2025 just as special in order for the team to be successful. A more balanced offensive attack now that the running game has some identity behind it with Brown and a defense that maybe doesn't give up 30+ points against quality teams would be welcomed additions.

These are Burrow and Chase's golden years. They'll be elite and in the conversation for those awards regardless if the wins follow. I just think their numbers will naturally drop in all statistical likelihood.

A lot of new coaches and quite a few new starters. Typically a lot of change takes time to gel. Are we set up to win this year? – @Maddogmorgan33

If that question had a price tag on it, its worth would be hundreds of millions of dollars. The Bengals operated through this offseason with the belief that building around their unique offensive identity and entrusting the other side of the ball to a coach known for development will get them over the hump once and for all.

Personally, I don't think they changed enough. Not when most of the guards set to compete are about the same without a known quality answer. Not when the pass rush improving is dependent on players who didn't do much last year and a new first-round pick who struggled in that area in college. Not when the process of putting together the roster feels the same.

Anything can happen when the games begin and Burrow is quarterbacking your team. I'll leave it at that.