Biggest losers from Bengals free agency also now have way more pressure on their shoulders than anyone could've expected
Are the Cincinnati Bengals a better team after free agency? It's a simple question without a simple answer:The offense is set to build off last year's production with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki full locked in with new contracts, but the guard spot remains a critical weakness and only saw Lucas Patrick fill the […]
Are the Cincinnati Bengals a better team after free agency? It's a simple question without a simple answer:
The offense is set to build off last year's production with Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Mike Gesicki full locked in with new contracts, but the guard spot remains a critical weakness and only saw Lucas Patrick fill the void that Alex Cappa's release created. The return of Samaje Perine does add solid depth at running back for what it's worth.
Things are much murkier defensively as T.J. Slaton and Oren Burks are the lone new additions to the box, but one of the NFL's worst pass rushing units didn't receive any outside help. B.J. Hill and Joseph Ossai on new deals will have to do for now.
When identifying winners and losers from Bengals free agency, the beneficiaries aren't as clear as those with more work on their respective plate. In fact, the losers may not even be on the player roster at all.
Bengals DC Al Golden, OL coach Scott Peters are in tough spots after free agency
At the onset of the offseason, Cincinnati determined that its coaching was the larger issue rather than its talent level. It's why seven firings were made with five of them on defense, more than the total number of new player additions thus far.
That says everything about what's expected of new defensive coordinator Al Golden. In replacing Lou Anarumo, Golden is now left with many of the players Anarumo failed to utilize over the last two years and received a nose tackle and quasi-starting linebacker in terms of veteran help.
Will Golden's new scheme, coaching, and approach help players who'd underperformed or hardly played at all make positive impacts? It's fair to say that's been the goal since he was hired in January. The margin for error has just slimmed dramatically since then as alternative options from free agency have all been evaporated.
Trey Hendrickson's ongoing contract saga also does not help Golden here. While Chase and Higgins are secured, the best player on Golden's side of the ball is threatening to hold out from offseason work if he's not paid what he's worth. Golden shouldn't have to worry about such a glaring distraction as he begins this massive restoration project, but that's just where things stand as of now.
New offensive line coach Scott Peters isn't exactly in the same boat, but his boat is still worse than expected. The Bengals have their starting tackles and center set. That was a given when Peters entered the picture. No one can say for certain which players are starting between them, and not because there aren't enough options. The options just aren't very good.
Instead of being aggressive to attack arguably their biggest weakness, the Bengals watched as most of the guard market disappeared while only have Cordell Volson and Cody Ford in the fold. Patrick will come in to compete with them, but two names from that group would have to start right now. That's simply not good enough and is asking a ton from Peters to work his technique magic.
Like Golden, Peters will undoubtedly get a lineman to mold in his image from the 2025 NFL Draft next month. Cincinnati has recently developed an unfortunate habit of drafting for need early, which will lead to a few picks in the trenches. Perhaps another veteran can also be added in time, but having to wait until after workouts and such begin is a disadvantage from the coaches' perspective.
Whether or not Golden and Peters signed up for this is irrelevant. They deserved more help with the millions of salary cap dollars Cincinnati has left to spend. Any success they achieve this year will be in spite of questionable process from an offseason that was all-too important.
Unexpected returns, lack of interior attention, and other surprises from Bengals free agency
It was an interesting free agency period in Cincinnati.
