Predicting the Bengals' first regular season depth chart for 2023
Cuts and trades are already happening around the NFL, but the Cincinnati Bengals have been radio silent leading up to Tuesday afternoon's cutdown deadline at 4:00 p.m. Will the initial 53-man roster look like our prediction? Or will a surprise transaction shake it all up? Assuming our prediction is 100% correct, here's what the initial depth chart […]
Cuts and trades are already happening around the NFL, but the Cincinnati Bengals have been radio silent leading up to Tuesday afternoon's cutdown deadline at 4:00 p.m. Will the initial 53-man roster look like our prediction? Or will a surprise transaction shake it all up?
Assuming our prediction is 100% correct, here's what the initial depth chart would look like. Note: Players with a single asterisk (*) are 2023 draft picks.
| Position | Starter(s) | Reserve(s) |
|---|---|---|
Quarterback | Joe Burrow | Jake Browning |
Running back | Joe Mixon | Chris Evans (3DRB) |
Wide receiver | Ja’Marr Chase (X) | Trenton Irwin |
Tight end | Irv Smith Jr. | Drew Sample |
Offensive line | Orlando Brown (LT) | D’Ante Smith (T) |
Defensive line | Trey Hendrickson (RE) | Joseph Ossai (ED) |
Linebacker | Logan Wilson (MIKE) | Akeem Davis-Gaither |
Cornerback | Chidobe Awuzie | DJ Turner II* |
Safety | Dax Hill | Jordan Battle |
Longsnapper | Cal Adomitis | Tanner Hudson |
Punter/Holder | Brad Robbins | |
Kicker | Evan McPherson | |
Kickoff returner | Chris Evans | Charlie Jones* |
Punt returner | Charlie Jones* |
The depth chart goes hand in hand with the players who will not only play the most snaps, but who will actually dress for games in the first place. A 53-man roster with no practice squad elevations in a given week typically has to designate seven inactive players.
As of right now, the logical seven would be one running back (Chase Brown), one wide receiver (Andrei Iosivas), two offensive linemen (Cody Ford & Jackson Carman), two defensive linemen (Jay Tufele & Myles Murphy), and one cornerback (DJ Ivey).
What stands out here is that 63% of this year's rookie class is projected to be inactive. Naturally, this will change throughout the course of the season because of injuries and other variables that come with playing football.
The rookie that may catch the most attention here is Iosivas. The sixth-round pick has been more productive and consistent during training camp and preseason action compared to his fellow rookie receiver in Jones. The reason why Jones will be active and in essence, higher on the depth chart, is because Jones is the team's punt returner.
Iosivas' value right now is as a receiver, and Trenton Irwin and Jones gives them two legitimate options behind their starting trio. Unless the team were to have Irwin or special teams savant Stanley Morgan Jr. not dress, Iosivas isn't seeing the field until injuries dictate it.
Cincinnati's offense will almost always start the game in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end), but their defense is not as consistent. Sometimes they'll trot out their 5-2 grouping, which would have Tupou or Carter playing the 5-technique spot (Tupou would likely get the nod), and sometimes they'll start out in nickel with Hilton on the field.
Similar to the case at receiver, Ivey has value at cornerback right now, but not as much special teams value as Davis, who is also the backup nickel behind Mike Hilton. He's not needed just yet.
Last but not least is Murphy, who despite being this year's first-round pick is clearly the fifth edge defender in the pecking order right now. Only four get to dress in a normal week, but he might have to be the fourth if Joseph Ossai's ankle injury takes him out for the start of the season.
Bengals final 53-man roster prediction for the 2023 season
Cincinnati needs to cut 35 players to get down to an initial 53-man roster. Here’s how they will do it.
Featured image via © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK
