After a heartbreaking loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game, the Bengals have an exciting off-season ahead. Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins are in line for extensions. A few key pieces on the defense will hit free agency, and they are trying to figure out a way to pay all the young talent and ensure this offensive line will keep Burrow upright.
While everyone is talking about how bad the officials were in the AFC Championship game (which they were), no one is talking about the self-inflicted wounds. Eli Apple is one of those players slated for free agency. Apple talked a big game heading into this matchup and had played very well for the Bengals. However, for the second year in a row, Apple has shown that you can’t count on him when the season is on the line. Joe Burrow has been great all year but threw an interception trying to force a ball into double coverage on a third and three just as Cincy had finally gained momentum. He also had a chance to march down the field in two minutes but instead had to punt, leading to a Kansas City field goal to secure the win. In such a tight game where the margin for error was so slight, the self-inflicted wounds burned more than the questionable officiating.
The Bengals have a plethora of decisions to make. The safety duo of Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell will hit free agency, along with Michael Thomas. It would be nice for the Bengals to get at least two of these guys back next year, but it is unlikely they will be able to do so. If Bates is gone, look for Dax Hill to be moved back to safety.
On the offensive side, the Bengals only look to have two guys hitting the market that contributed to the AFC Championship run: Hayden Hurst and backup running back Samaje Perine. These guys helped a lot throughout the year; however, they could be replaced.
With all of this said, what should the Bengals do? First things first, lock Joe Burrow up. He is your franchise guy and needs to be in Cincy for as long as the Bengals can keep him there. Re-signing either Jessie Bates or Vonn Bell is next on the list. These guys have played consistently well for the Bengals all year and seem to want to stay in Cincinnati.
After both of these guys get locked into deals, it is time to start looking to upgrade from Eli Apple. James Bradberry is the name that stands out above the rest and makes the most sense for the Bengals. Bradberry wound up being a massive addition to the Eagle’s secondary; he has helped them reach the Super Bowl. If Cincinnati can get him for the right price, he could aid the Bengal’s secondary similarly.
The Bengals could use more depth at linebacker and add an extra edge defender to the mix. After a video of Germaine Pratt surfaced of him yelling about teammate Joseph Ossai’s late-game penalty, the Bengals might need another linebacker. A few exciting names stand out when looking at upcoming free agents for the position. Leighton Vander Esch and Tremaine Edmunds are attractive candidates that could push Cincy’s linebacker unit to the next level. However, both could be very pricey. Look for the Bengals to get a couple of rookie linebackers and try to hit big, as they did with Logan Wilson in the third round a few years back.
As for edge defenders, this is more of a want than a need. The Bengal’s edge rushers had a good year, and Hubbard and Hendrickson played great down the stretch. While Joseph Ossai had a costly penalty in the end, he had a terrific game. The Bengals could go without or draft a few guys and hope they develop. If, however, they can get a guy like Jadeveon Clowney or Yannick Ngakoue, this Bengals front line could cause havoc next season.
If the Bengals cannot hit on any of the top free-agent corners, then they will have to resort to drafting one. Cam Taylor-Britt was gold in the second round for the Bengals last year. The Bengals will hold the 29th overall pick in the 2023 draft. There are many ways that they can use this pick to benefit their roster. If a guy like Cam Smith or any top corner is available here or in the second round, selecting them will pay dividends for Cincy. If any tackle prospects such as Anton Harrison out of Oklahoma, Darnell Wright out of Tennessee, or Broderick Jones from Georgia are available, then it would be hard to pass up upgrading this line once again and being able to move on from Jonah Williams. The Bengals could also look to kill two birds with one stone if they decide to go with a guy like Darnell Washington out of Georgia or Luke Musgrave out of Oregon State, either of whom can serve as an extra blocker/replacement for Hayden Hurst if they decide to let him walk in free agency.
The final decision to make will be regarding Joe Mixon. The Bengals will only be able to pay some of their featured players. With money invested in the offensive line, a Joe Burrow extension, and attempting to keep this wide receiver trio, someone will get left out. That someone is Joe Mixon, who only averaged 3.9 yards per carry in the regular season. The Bengals should move on from Mixon, whether looking for a trade or releasing him. Regardless of their option, look for the Bengals to dip into the draft pool to get a rookie running back while adding a seasoned back in free agency. If Bijan Robinson happens to fall to the Bengals at 29, it would be tough to pass up on such an upside. Multiple late-round backs, such as Roschon Johnson, Zach Evans, and Deuce Vaughn, are also intriguing.
The Bengals face intense pressure this upcoming off-season and have high hopes to be back in the hunt for a Super Bowl. Look for the Bengals to come out swinging in 2023 with the determination to return to the big game in 2024.