It's a magical time of the year as the final four men's and women's college basketball teams cap off March Madness, but the madness transcends the hardwood. The Cincinnati Bengals are feeling it as well.

A team with seven new coaches and even fewer new players as of now is pushing through a defining offseason for them. Cincinnati has to make up for two years of missing the playoffs with Joe Burrow in his prime, and there's a good argument that they haven't done enough despite paying Burrow's top weapons. 

So as we enter the week of the "Final Four," here are the four main questions the Bengals have yet to answer to close out the month.

Who's going to start at guard?

No question is greater on the roster right now, and I don't even think head coach Zac Taylor knows the answer. The Bengals signed Lucas Patrick as what looks to be their final pre-NFL Draft free agent addition. Taylor said at the NFL Annual Meeting Monday morning that any new faces to the position will likely come during and after the draft.

– Taylor said #Bengals are likely done with free agent guards until the draft. Then see where it goes.

– Look for more starters playing in the preseason. That’s a major takeaway of the renewed emphasis toward faster start. Looking for more cohesiveness off-field out of OTAs

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 31, 2025

Will Patrick have to win a battle against Cody Ford and/or Cordell Volson? Will an incoming rookie be handed a job? Will another veteran like Brandon Scherff or Will Hernandez enter the picture after the draft to fortify the situation? 

The only thing we know for sure is we won't know until weeks from now.

Unfinished business along the defensive line 

On the other side of the trenches, the Bengals feel incomplete along the defensive line. There are no new names on the edge, and no true pass rushers in-between them. T.J. Slaton was signed to be the answer at nose tackle, and a helpful answer he will be. But if there was a third-and-10 right now, which four players are putting their hand in the turf and attacking the quarterback? The answer is not sufficient at this moment.

The Bengals need to leave the draft with at least one competent pass rusher. Their options in free agency have essentially dried up anyways. Improving the run defense can only make this aspect of the team so much better if personnel isn't up to snuff. That can't be the case a month from now.

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Closure for Trey Hendrickson

Speaking of pass rush, the only viable source of it is unhappy. Hendrickson wants to get paid, rightfully so, and isn't expected to be with the team if that doesn't happen. There's been some national optimism regarding a deal getting done, but nothing appears to be actually imminent.

The market is set, and the draft represents a logical soft deadline for any trade to be entertained. Once that threshold is crossed, Hendrickson will know for certain Cincinnati is where he'll be staying for this year. Taking the best deal possible would be his best option. 

So long as Hendrickson is with the team for offseason work, all will be well. There just has to be a very large check that comes his way first.

Job security for Germaine Pratt and Geno Stone

New paydays are not in store for either Pratt or Stone, but just staying on the team might be a win for both of them. Pratt requested a trade back in February, but the Bengals haven't done anything to replace him as a starter so he's still on the roster. Stone is also still here despite most of last year being underwhelming for the 2024 free agent signee. Past tackling woes specifically would make replacing him an attracting route, but Taylor is still sticking by his free safety for now. 

– Taylor with lots of talk about playing from ahead and less “do or die” second halves helping the OL out more, add more run game.

– Taylor likes the direction of Geno Stone at safety, but everyone can have competition. Entire unit needs to tackle better.

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) March 31, 2025

The draft should be very telling for both players. Any early pick at either linebacker or safety would bring in competition as Taylor mentioned, but it's far from a given that the club will draft both spots early enough to make a difference. 

Pratt and Stone's fates could go in any direction, but like everything else the Bengals have questions about, the answers won't come immediately. 

Biggest losers from Bengals free agency also now have way more pressure on their shoulders than anyone could’ve expected

Good luck to them, they’ll need it.