The season is coming. The DNA of Sports editorial team offers you an update on the strengths and weaknesses of the 32 franchises. Today we head to Ohio and the Cincinnati Bengals. You can find all the presentations by clicking on this link.
With quarterback Joe Burrow back, there is hope in Ohio. The roster offers several talented individuals. The collective, especially defensively, must improve.
The Bengals' roster doesn't appear to have weakened. But has it gotten stronger?
Last season: 9 wins – 8 losses, no playoffs
Off-season moves
Notable Arrivals: Trent Brown (OT), Mike Gesicki (TE), Zack Moss (RB), Sheldon Rankins (DT), Geno Stone (S), Von Bell (S)
Re-signings: Tee Higgins (WR) with franchise tag, Drew Sample (TE), Ted Karras (OC), Evan McPherson (K), Trenton Irwin (WR), Jake Browning (QB), Joe Bachie (ST)
Draft: Amarius Mims (OT), Kris Jenkins (DT), Jermaine Burton (WR), McKinnley Jackson (DT), Erick All (TE), Josh Newton (CB), Tanner McLachlan (TE), Cedric Johnson (DE), Daijhan Anthony (S)
Notable departures: Joe Mixon (RB), DJ Reader (DT), Tyler Boyd (WR), Jonah Williams (OT), Chidobe Awuzie (CB)
The Bengals lost four key players from recent years: Joe Mixon, Tyler Boyd and Jonah Williams on offense, DJ Reader on defense. They were replaced position by position by Zack Moss, Mike Gesicki, Trent Brown and Sheldon Rankins.
Above all, they are keeping receiver Tee Higgins. The draft served to bring rotation and future projects.
Cincinnati Bengals All-Star Team
Quarterback: Joe Burrow Runner: Zack Moss Receivers: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Tight-ends: Drew Sample, Mike Gesicki Offensive Line: Orlando Brown, Cordell Volson, Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, Trent Brown Kicker: Evan McPherson
Defensive Line: Trey Hendrickson, Sheldon Rankins, BJ Hill, Sam Hubbard Linebackers: Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt Cornerbacks: Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner, Mike Hilton Safeties: Geno Stone, Jordan Battle Punter: Brad Robbins
Cincinnati Bengals Highlights
Joe Burrow is a very good thrower: arguably one of the best in the NFL. Coming back from injury (wrist), he has a constellation of options to choose from. Ja'Marr Chase is a top five at his position while Tee Higgins could compete for a number one spot in half of the 32 NFL franchises.
Tyler Boyd may have left for Tennessee, but young Andrei Iosivas has shown some promise. Rookie Jermaine Burton is a very smart player on the field (not always off it) while Trent Irwin is the prototype of a reliable player when used sparingly.
Above all, the tight end position gives Joe Cool two quality options: Drew Sample and Mike Gesicki. With coach Zac Taylor giving more responsibility in 2024 to his offensive coordinator, the Bengals will use this position more in the passing domain.
While the offense should perform well, the defense as a whole must rebound and raise its level in 2024.
Cincinnati Bengals Weaknesses
Trey Hendrickson (DE) and Logan Wilson (LB) are among the best at their positions. However, Cincinnati's defense has disappointed in 2023: second to last NFL defense in yards allowed in 2023!
The loss of DJ Reader leaves a big void at center defensive line! With him, the Bengals were giving up 4.7 yards per carry (30th NFL), so without him… Cincinnati is hoping Sheldon Rankins can continue his good season in Houston. The 2024 draft brought in some fresh blood at the position with Kris Jenkins (2nd round) and McKinnley Jackson (3rd round).
Coverage-wise, Jordan Battle was among the least bad of a secondary in big trouble in 2023: 32nd and last defense in yards per pass! Because they are very young, hope is in order but Cam Taylor-Britt (24 years old), Daxton Hill (24 years old in a week) and DJ Turner (23 years old) must raise their levels of play.
In 2023, the Bengals quarterback was brought down 50 times! Orlando Brown conceded a lot of pressure and only Ted Karras and Alex Cappa held their ranks. The signing of Trent Brown to replace Jonah Williams can help, but he has only played two full seasons since 2018! The very young Amarius Mims (22 years old in three months) is a physical monster but his game needs to be refined.
Unable to properly protect its quarterback, the offensive line also had a lot of difficulty being effective in the ground game! In addition, Joe Burrow will not be able to rely on runner Joe Mixon in 2024, who left for Houston (1,034 yards and 9 TDs in 2023). While he has shown some qualities, new runner Zack Moss is nonetheless an average player: 2,000+ yards and 14 touchdowns in four seasons.
For his second season as a pro, Canadian Chase Brown needs to gain some depth. Very little used and then injured in the first part of the season, he showed promise for the future in the last six games of 2023.
X Factor: Mike Gesicki (TE)
When you see the contribution of tight ends in winning teams, this receiving specialist can obviously change the game in Cincinnati. Travis Kelce (Chiefs) and George Kittle (49ers) faced each other in the last Super Bowl. Sam LaPorta (Lions), Dalton Kincaid (Bills), Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely (Ravens) were all major players in 2023 for franchises reaching the playoffs.
After a mediocre season with the Patriots, the former Miami Dolphins (2,632 yards and 19 touchdowns in 5 seasons) comes to revive his career. After the first training camps, Joe Burrow declares his love for Mike Gesicki in a press conference.
“He's an athletic player and he has a great catch radius. Mike Gesicki is truly a great addition to our team.”
The Bengals' offense, which has been heavily reliant on a three-receiver scheme since the appointment of Zac Taylor, should evolve with more personnel 12 (2 WR, 2TE, 1 RB)Alongside the very good blocker Drew Sample, he will mainly be responsible for advancing the chains from inside the field.
Player to watch: Geno Stone (S)
Chosen in the 7th round of the 2020 draft with only the 219th pick, Geno Stone finally made his mark in Baltimore in 2023: 101 tackles and 7 interceptions! Before that, he was an essential element on special teams but who played very little on defense.
Now aged 25, he is entering his prime with a two-year contract. With the experienced Von Bell (9th NFL season) and Mike Hilton (8th season), Geno Stone offers an intermediate age profile and a complete game to defend passes and runs.
Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Schedule
Patriots, @Chiefs, Commanders, @Panthers, Ravens, @Giants, @Browns, Eagles, Raiders, @Ravens, @Chargers, BYE, Steelers, @Cowboys, @Titans, Browns, Broncos, @Steelers.
The AFC North division is very tough with the Ravens contending for the title and the Browns having a formidable defense. With a new quarterback, the 2024 season of the Steelers is difficult to predict but as always, facing them will not be easy.
Chiefs, Eagles and Cowboys are also on the program: that's already at least 9 difficult matches out of 17!
The audio preview
In summary
The AFC Conference is the toughest of the two and the AFC North Division is arguably the most competitive of the four! Joe Burrow is good and has the weapons at his disposal to make a difference. But he will have to be more than good because the roster has some weak spots, both on offense and defense.
