Bengals Roster Breakdown: Jaxson Kirkland has more to prove as towering offensive lineman
Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.Today, we learn a little […]
Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.
Today, we learn a little bit about guard Jaxson Kirkland. The 6-7 Kirkland was one of the Bengals' top undrafted free agent signings from last year. His rookie season was spent away from the active roster, but a strong training camp for the imposing and versatile lineman can change that for this upcoming season.
Jaxson Kirkland
- Age: 25
- Year: 2nd
- Position: Guard
- College: Washington
- Previous Teams: None
- Jersey Number: 60
Kirkland signed with the Bengals as an undrafted free agent in 2023. He racked up impressive accolades during his time at Washington, earning three first-team All-Pac-12 selections after starting 49 games at four different o-line positions. His college resume was surprisingly not enough to be selected in the 2023 NFL Draft, giving the Bengals the chance to scoop him up right afterwards.
Though he made some noise in his first training camp and preseason, Kirkland was ultimately a part of final cuts and was added back to the practice squad. He spent the first 10 weeks of the season there until a wrist injury cut his rookie season short. He finished the year on the practice squad/injured list.
Contract details
Kirkland signed a one-year futures deal with the Bengals back in January that will pay him the minimum salary for the 2024 season.
His salary will cost $795,000 for the entire season if he's kept on the team for the entire regular season, which is more than his career earnings of $216,000 prior to this year.
Roster chances
For the first time in years, a sense of stability has found its way to the Bengals' offensive line. Four of the positions have confirmed starters, and the fifth will either be held by a proven veteran or a talented first-round selection. Even the depth behind the starters is in solid shape with Cody Ford and Matt Lee on track to land those roles.
Kirkland's path towards the initial 53 entails proving himself as indispensable as those two.
The main positive Kirkland has going for him is his ability to play multiple positions up front. He has the enhanced knowledge of lining up inside at guard, and the rare size and length to slide outside at tackle. Reserves along the o-line are expected to practice and fill in at different spots, so the more valid Kirkland's versatility becomes, the more valuable he looks.
Should the Bengals go heavy with 10 o-linemen, Kirkland's chances of sticking around look pretty solid. Five starters, Ford, Lee, and the loser between right tackles Trent Brown and Amarius Mims make it eight. Kirkland's main competition for one of the final two spots consists of Jackson Carman, Trey Hill, and D'Ante Smith. Aside from experience, there's not much separating Kirkland from that trio. He'll have a fighting chance, even if it's far from a slam dunk.
Chances of making the roster: 28%
Previous player breakdowns
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