Identifying Cincinnati Bengals players who fit Daniel Jeremiah’s blueprint for a championship foundation
The Cincinnati Bengals envision their roster capable of winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Let’s see if they satisfy Daniel Jeremiah’s blueprint for a “championship foundation.”
The Cincinnati Bengals envision their roster capable of winning the first Super Bowl in franchise history. Joe Burrow certainly thinks so, but what is actually required to make that determination?
NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah laid out his blueprint for a “championship foundation.” It includes 12 players total, with seven on offense, and five on defense.
No matter how much the game changes, a high-level quarterback, quality trench players, and difference-makers in space win games. It can take on many forms, but this is a good master plan to follow.
Do the Bengals check all the boxes? Let’s run through them all and see for ourselves.
Quarterback: Joe Burrow
Need I say more?
Check this box with black sharpie. The Bengals have one of the best QBs in the game. You can argue physical preferences, but there is no valid top-five list of passers in the NFL without Joe Burrow in there somewhere.
3 Offensive Playmakers: WR Ja’Marr Chase, WR Tee Higgins, RB Chase Brown
Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are the fuel for what make this offense go. They’re the best wide receiver duo in the league when you combine talent and experience together. Such a tandem with Burrow throwing them the ball is a headache to defend against.
The third playmaker is more up for debate, though Brown has the best case right now. He’s amassed 2,806 scrimmage yards and 22 total touchdowns since 2024. He’s unexpectedly become a workhorse back in this offense, and the results have been more than acceptable.
3 Quality Offensive Linemen: RT Amarius Mims, C Ted Karras, RG Dalton Risner
I would argue the Bengals’ best offensive lineman became Amarius Mims late last season. He’s had All-Pro potential since being drafted two years ago. He’s not quite there yet, but the progress he made in the back-half of 2025 indicates he’s on that path.
Ted Karras is Cincinnati’s most consistent lineman and he needs to uphold that standard for at least one more season before passing the baton to Connor Lew. Dalton Risner remains criminally underrated, though LG Dylan Fairchild could easily climb into this trio. That there’s even a positive debate here is different for all the right reasons.
2 Pass Rushers: DT Dexter Lawrence, EDGE Boye Mafe
It can’t be understated how massive the Dexter Lawrence trade could be for the Bengals. At his best, Lawrence is one of the most imposing interior pass rushers on the planet. He faces more double teams than any player in the league, and still manages to break through at a quality rate.
Lawrence’s presence will help all of his teammates get after the QB. Boye Mafe has had issues converting his pressures to sacks, but he has the best pass rush plan and repertoire of moves compared to his peers along the edge. Cincinnati is paying him to have an impact worthy of this distinction, but Myles Murphy, Cashius Howell, and others will be pushing him hard for it.
3 Defensive Playmakers: S Bryan Cook, CB DJ Turner II, CB Dax Hill
Defensive playmaker is a wide-ranging term, but it’s the toughest to pin down for the Bengals. DJ Turner and Dax Hill have emerged as possible cornerstones and the club will look to reward both of them with extensions this offseason. Cook was the key back-seven addition and will bring competence to the safety position.
It still feels like this group is missing an X-factor. Demetrius Knight Jr. or Barrett Carter becoming that at linebacker would be a welcomed surprise. Jordan Battle also quietly had four interceptions and two forced fumbles last year.
Do the Bengals have enough?
It looks pretty close. Defensive playmaking and the pass rush are going to make-or-break this team’s season. So many resources were spent to make the latter a strength. Cook and the continued development of Turner, Hill, Knight, and Carter are the most likely answers for playmaking behind the front.
Cincinnati is not going anywhere without a competent defense even with its offense playing at its usual standard. These players have the weight of championship aspirations on them.