For many Cincinnati Bengals fans, this offseason has been as frustrating as the season itself.
Once again, the front office is neglecting the interior offensive line, a unit that desperately needs strengthening after a woeful 2024.
According to Pro Football Focus, two of the league’s worst guards wore stripes last year.
Inferior offensive line, more like
After giving up the most sacks and pressures across the league last season, Alex Cappa was understandably cut. So far, so good.
However, Cordell Volson, who allowed the second-most pressures, was retained. Cody Ford, who filled in when Volson was benched, has re-signed. The only new guy is the Saints’ Lucas Patrick, a back-up at best.
None of these players are starters in my book. And yet they have the cap space and the motivation to do more to protect their franchise quarterback Joe Burrow – who was sacked 48 times last season.
Little time, few choices
With most of the top interior linemen now signed, free agent options are limited. Even the best two names left have their flaws, Brandon Scherff is 33 and Will Hernandez is coming off a torn ACL.
And at the league meetings in Miami this week, our worst fears were confirmed. Zac Taylor stated that the team is done with guards in free agency… for now.
Hoping even these guys will still be available after the draft is crazy. As they say, hope is not a plan.
So what lies behind Cincinnati’s apparent disregard for guards? Why does this glaring and longstanding weakness persist?
One theory is that they simply value tackles more, believing that elite play at those spots is more impactful. After all, they brought in Orlando Brown Jr. and drafted Amarius Mims in Round 1.
Another possibility is that they think Volson deserves longer to develop and Ford should be rewarded for stepping in last year. Maybe new O-line coach Scott Peters has said he can do something with them?
All the eggs in the draft basket
It seems that the Bengals are looking to the 2025 NFL Draft to address the issue. Less than a month away now, there are at least some decent offensive line options to be had.
Rather than overpay now for an aging or injured player, they appear to be focused on acquiring a rookie guard or even a tackle who can shuffle inside.
However, that is a massive gamble. Drafting for need is a bad idea at the best of times – *cough, Billy Price*. But they only have six picks this year and many other gaps to fill, largely on defense.
Sure, if they get it right, they could still cobble together a serviceable offensive line without overspending. But get it wrong and ‘Joey B’ could be running for his life… again.
It is a high-risk strategy and not one I feel comfortable with. Because if it fails, the sound you will hear at the end of April will be the Bengals scraping the bottom of the free agency barrel.
