Former NFL executive loves the Bengals' future prospects
I don't blame you if you take all of the Bengals' future bets after listening to former NFL executive Marc Ross talk about the future of the team. Ross was recently interviewed by Cincinnati Bengals team reporter Marissa Contipelli, who generally asked him about his thoughts on the past season and the Bengals' future outlook. […]
I don't blame you if you take all of the Bengals' future bets after listening to former NFL executive Marc Ross talk about the future of the team.
Ross was recently interviewed by Cincinnati Bengals team reporter Marissa Contipelli, who generally asked him about his thoughts on the past season and the Bengals' future outlook.
The former Vice President of Player Evaluation was very optimistic about both the 2021 season and the future, as expected. Even non-Bengals fans should understand the potential this team has and how excited Bengals fans should be right now. Despite the loss to the Rams in the Super Bowl.
"I loved Ja'Marr Chase, as we talked about in camp," Ross replied when asked about Chase's rookie season. "But then he even exceeded expectations for what I thought [he 'd do]… He probably had the best rookie season, ever. I just think you'll see him get better.
"But with Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd, just that crew that they have, and the continuity with Burrow [and] another year and the confidence they have after this year's Super Bowl run – I think that'll make them even better.
"I think you'll see an even Bengals and an even better Joe Burrow this year."
Another year together with the same coaching staff in the same system is bound to lead to good things. Chase finished 2021 with 1,455 receiving yards, Higgins 1,095, and Boyd 828. All three caught at least five touchdowns. Burrow threw 34 touchdowns in 16 games. Joe Mixon ran for over 1,200 yards and scored 13 rushing touchdowns.
Consistency is what defines greatness in the NFL, so it will be interesting (and fun) to see if the Bengals can top what they did on offense last year. And even on defense, too.
The Bengals have all four guys under wraps for at least the next two seasons, but one pretty important player currently without a deal is tight end C.J. Uzomah. He really blossomed with Burrow at quarterback last year and is likely to get nice pay raise because of his success.
It's a good thing the Bengals have plenty of money to spend, right? That's the key with Burrow's quick success: his contract. It's a rookie deal, therefore, it's cheap. It allows the team to re-sign as many guys or bring in as many guys as they want. No one is saying go on a spending spree – it's merely the fact that Cincinnati has over $42 million in effective cap space.
There's also the draft. Imagine if the Bengals knock this draft out of the park. It will only further the young core that helped get them to the Super Bowl. And it will help keep things affordable, too.
"You would think so," Ross said after being asked about Cincinnati's future prospects. "And the reason why is because they're kinda built differently where, ok, the Rams won this year and we know that was a super-team they threw together. Not a lot of young talent. Tampa Bay, last year, was, 'Hey, Tom Brady goes in there and transforms it'. Where I look at the Bengals and [I think] they have the best young core of talent in the league.
"That core should carry them for a long time. And, you got Joe Burrow – you've got a whole bunch of talent. Now let's grow and get better. Can't take anything for granted in the NFL that you'll be back, but at least it's set up and it looks like you have the foundation."
I can only imagine how long the waiting line for season tickets is these days.
You can watch Contipelli's interview below:
Featured image via-Kareem Elgazzar / USA TODAY NETWORK
