Bengals' 53-man roster projection after OTAs/minicamp
Voluntary workouts, OTAs, and minicamp are officially in the rearview mirror for the Cincinnati Bengals. The countdown to training camp begins now, and ends in five weeks time. What have offseason workouts told us about how the Week 1 roster will shake out? Let's do a quick 53-man update before the break begins.Note: Players with […]
Voluntary workouts, OTAs, and minicamp are officially in the rearview mirror for the Cincinnati Bengals. The countdown to training camp begins now, and ends in five weeks time.
What have offseason workouts told us about how the Week 1 roster will shake out? Let's do a quick 53-man update before the break begins.
Note: Players with single asterisk (*) are 2023 draft picks and players with double asterisks (**) are 2023 undrafted free agents.
Quarterback (2)
IN: Joe Burrow, Trevor Siemian
OUT: Jake Browning
The skinny: Siemian and Browning is a very real competition and preseason play will likely determine the eventual winner. Siemian deserves the benefit of the doubt until then.
Running back (3)
IN: Joe Mixon, Trayveon Williams, Chase Brown*
OUT: Chris Evans, Calvin Tyler Jr.**, Jacob Saylors**
The skinny: Three still feels like the right number here, but Williams has been the No. 2 behind Mixon thus far and that might be the dynamic heading into the season. It won't take much from Brown to get that to change, as he's already making an impression.
Wide receiver (6)
IN: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, Trenton Irwin, Charlie Jones*, Andrei Iosivas*
OUT: Stanley Morgan Jr., Trent Taylor, Kwamie Lassiter II, Shedrick Jackson**, Malachi Carter, Mac Hippenhammer
The skinny: Iosivas has looked more than just a raw receiver. He's getting the hang of the specifics quickly, and is entrenched in gunner duties. Combine the two and he might just be enough for the team to keep just six instead of seven. Morgan would undoubtedly be a practice squad lock who would eventually find the active roster during the season.
Tight end (3)
IN: Irv Smith Jr., Drew Sample, Devin Asiasi
OUT: Tanner Hudson, Nick Bowers, Christian Trahan**
The skinny: Nothing's changed here just yet. Hudson getting some work in as a backup long snapper was fun, but he's still on the outside looking in. The 90th roster spot may become a tight end who can challenge Asiasi.
Offensive line (10)
IN: Orlando Brown Jr., Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Jonah Williams, La'el Collins, Jackson Carman, Cody Ford, Max Scharping, Trey Hill
OUT: Hakeem Adeniji, D'Ante Smith, Devin Cochran, Nate Gilliam, Ben Brown, Jaxson Kirkland**
The skinny: The progress Collins has made is nothing short of outstanding, and it's looking like he'll be healthy in time to compete for the right tackle job. The thinking is the loser between him and Williams will be off the team in some capacity by September, but I'm not too sure of that just yet. A team that's been killed by having minimal o-line over the last two seasons may want to at least start the season with as many options available to them.
Defensive line (10)
IN: Trey Hendrickson, DJ Reader, B.J. Hill, Sam Hubbard, Myles Murphy*, Joesph Ossai, Cam Sample, Tarell Basham, Zach Carter, Josh Tupou
OUT: Jeff Gunter, Jay Tufele, Raymond Johnson III, Domenique Davis, Owen Carney, Devonnsha Maxwell**, Tautala Pesefea**
The skinny: All's been quiet here, as expected. The pads haven't come close to being put on yet, so we're further in the conjecture phase here than anywhere else. No changes from last time.
Linebacker (5)
IN: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Markus Bailey, Joe Bachie
OUT: Keandre Jones, Shaka Heyward**, Jaylen Moody**, Tyler Murray**
The skinny: No notes needed. The five are pretty much locked in. No drafted linebackers mean the team is confident in retaining most of the 2020 trio in Wilson, Davis-Gaither, and Bailey, or simply not worried about finding their replacements. Either reasoning works.
Cornerback (6)
IN: Chidobe Awuzie, Cam Taylor-Britt, Mike Hilton, DJ Turner II*, Jalen Davis, DJ Ivey*
OUT: Sidney Jones IV, Allan George, Marvin Tell III
The skinny: It's difficult to ignore the Ivey buzz. Pretty much the entire cornerback room took first-team reps during offseason programs, and more than once has Ivey's name come up in terms of praise. If it comes down to him or Jones for the sixth spot, taking the rookie with a four-year contract would make sense.
Safety (5)
IN: Dax Hill, Nick Scott, Jordan Battle*, Tycen Anderson, Michael Thomas
OUT: Yusuf Corker, Larry Brooks III**
The skinny: It's too early to think any of the five are liable to get cut. Moving on from both Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell in one offseason has completely changed the position for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Having as much depth as possible should matter.
Special Teams (3)
IN: Cal Adomitis (LS), Brad Robbins* (P), Evan McPherson (K)
OUT: Drue Chrisman (P)
The skinny: Robbins has looked as advertised thus far, though there are plenty of reps for Chrisman to make a stand. Check back in August.
Featured image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
