The Bengals’ 2023 season was destined to collapse after quarterback Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury in Week 11.
However, as the quarterback prepares to return in 2024, the squad will have no excuse for failing to compete for the Super Bowl.
With that in mind, here are some trades, cuts, and signings Cincinnati should consider in the coming months.
TRADE: Move up the 2024 NFL Draft to add a star offensive tackle.
The Bengals now control the 18th choice in this year’s first round draft. However, that may not be enough to secure a necessary addition to their offensive line.
Offensive tackle Jonah Williams is set to leave in free agency after being shifted to the right side with the signing of left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. last offseason. He even requested a trade from the squad, but then reversed it.
That means Cincinnati needs to address the right tackle issue early in the draft. And, with some of the top offensive tackles anticipated to be selected early, the Bengals may need to trade up to assure they get one. Moving up for Notre Dame’s Joe Alt or Penn State’s Olumuyiwa Fashanu will most likely require a significant investment in draft capital.
But Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, who ranks as Pro Football Focus’ third-best offensive lineman and No. 11 overall prospect on their big board, may be
The 6-foot-6, 334-pound offensive tackle would do his best to keep Burrow from suffering any further season-ending injuries.
Cut: Safety. Last offseason, Cincinnati signed Nick Scott to a three-year, $12 million contract to replace veteran safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell, who left in free agency.
However, with the rise of Cincinnati’s 2023 third-round pick, safety Jordan Battle, Scott is suddenly expendable.
According to Spotrac, releasing Scott this offseason would save the team $2.3 million in cap space while incurring a $2 million dead cap charge.
Cincinnati may not have enough savings to let rid of their solid veteran backup. However, any additional room that the Bengals can free up will
Higgins, the No. 33 overall choice in the 2020 NFL Draft, is anticipated to receive the franchise tag if he and the Bengals cannot reach an agreement on a new contract.
However, the team should make every effort to prevent this from happening. Higgins would be the top wide receiver on certain NFL teams after making 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns in his first four seasons. And Cincinnati is fortunate to have him as its No. 2 receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase.
Higgins, Chase, and Burrow are likely the most important reasons for Cincinnati’s recent success. So, why would they choose to let any of them go?
Higgins is anticipated to be paid handsomely, with a predicted four-year contract of $74.4 million, reportedly
