Bengals are getting their money's worth with historic free agency acquisition
After three straight years of proactivity in the beginning hours of NFL free agency, the Cincinnati Bengals opted to wait out the storm this past March and proceeded to lose several key players from the 2022 team. The departures of Jessie Bates III, Vonn Bell, Hayden Hurst, and Samaje Perine all eventually led to corresponding […]
After three straight years of proactivity in the beginning hours of NFL free agency, the Cincinnati Bengals opted to wait out the storm this past March and proceeded to lose several key players from the 2022 team.
The departures of Jessie Bates III, Vonn Bell, Hayden Hurst, and Samaje Perine all eventually led to corresponding moves in free agency or the NFL Draft.
None of those decisions were bigger than signing larger-than-life left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to a franchise-record free agency contract. None of them have also panned out as well through the halfway mark of 2023, either.
Brown signed a four-year, $64 million contract with Cincinnati nearly three days after the legal tampering period ensued in the second full week of March. Most of that $64 million is being paid to Brown for this season alone, putting a greater emphasis on the four-time Pro Bowler proving worthy of the deal as soon as possible.
Cincinnati's new left tackle may not receive many Pro Bowl votes this year, but his addition to the Bengals' offense line has indeed been a positive one through eight games. From Week 1-6, Brown surrendered no greater than four pressures in a single contest and graded out at 69.2 from Pro Football Focus.
His worst two outings of the year have followed against the San Francisco 49ers and Buffalo Bills, allowing a combined 13 pressures against two very talented groups of edge rushers, but Brown managed to keep quarterback Joe Burrow from getting sacked in both games. They've also come after Brown re-injured his groin during Week 6's win over the Seattle Seahawks, a game in which Brown pitched a shutout in protection.
Brown has not been perfect, but perfection is not what the Bengals paid for relative to other offensive tackles. Brown's Average Annual Value of $16.023 million ranks outside the top 10 left tackle contracts, as does his total guaranteed value of $31.1 million.
The goal was simple: Find a capable left tackle. The Bengals accomplishing that has not only provided Burrow and the offense with an upgrade at the position, it allowed the entire offensive line to fill out in an ideal way.
Brown's arrival meant a position change was in store for incumbent left tackle Jonah Williams. Cincinnati essentially forced Williams to move over to right tackle, a decision that was initially met with resistance. Once Williams made peace with his reality, he's thrived at his new post.
Through eight games, Williams' blocking grades from PFF have all improved from last year. His pass blocking efficiency score of 97.0, which weighs sacks and pressures allowed responsibly, ranks 12th out of all starting right tackles. He's yet to allow more than three pressures in a game this year.
The Bengals' offensive line is still far from elite, and yet, it hasn't been this stable in nearly a decade. The signing of Brown and Williams' transition, in a contract year nonetheless, were the final moves that set it all in place.
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