Cincinnati Bengals (Last Year: 10-7)
2022 NFL Season Preview:
Veteran Additions:
TE Hayden Hurst, OT La’el Collins, G Alex Cappa, C Ted Karras.
Early Draft Picks:
CB/S Daxton Hill, CB Cam Taylor-Britt, DT Zachary Carter, OT Cordell Volson, S Tycen Anderson. Bengals Rookie Forecast
Offseason Losses:
WR Auden Tate, TE C.J. Uzomah, OT Riley Reiff, G Quinton Spain.
2022 Cincinnati Bengals Offense:
Joe Burrow just experienced a magical second season in the NFL in which he led his team to the Super Bowl. He even had the lead in the second half of that game, but a late drive by the Rams and horrible blocking by his offensive line ruined a potential victory. Many analytics aficionados expect the Bengals to regress because they were able to navigate through an easy schedule in 2021. These people will almost certainly be proven wrong.
While the Bengals’ schedule was easy last year, they demolished many of their opponents in the second half of the season, and they also beat the Chiefs twice. Furthermore, any talk of regression completely disregards what Cincinnati was able to accomplish this spring. The Bengals made masterful moves in free agency, addressing the one glaring weakness on their team: the offensive line.
Cincinnati signed three blockers in free agency. The best of the bunch is right tackle La’el Collins, who can make a claim to be one of the top players at his position in the NFL. He’ll be a colossal upgrade over what Cincinnati had there last year, as will guard Alex Cappa and center Ted Karras. The new trio will join left tackle Jonah Williams and left guard Jackson Carman to form the new front, which should be a top-10 blocking unit in the NFL. Williams is coming off an excellent year, while Carman has major potential as a second-round pick last year.
Burrow having more time in the pocket is a major reason why the Bengals won’t regress in 2022. Another is that Burrow will be further removed from the knee injury he suffered as a rookie, which caused him to have a slow start to his 2021 campaign. It’s easy to forget that Burrow struggled in a loss to the Bears in Week 2 where he threw interceptions on three consecutive passes. This would not have occurred late in the year when Burrow evolved into one of the better quarterbacks in the NFL.
A third reason is that Burrow will have even more chemistry with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Chase took the league by storm last year, catching 81 passes for 1,455 yards and 13 touchdowns. He did this despite being a rookie. Chase will be even better with more experience, and the same can be said of Higgins, who is entering his third year. Meanwhile, Tyler Boyd will continue to perform well in the slot, while Hayden Hurst figures to do a fine job of replacing the departed C.J. Uzomah.
Burrow won’t be the only one benefitting from a vastly improved offensive line. Joe Mixon, one of the more talented running backs in the NFL, will finally be able to run behind a stellar offensive line for the first time in his career. There’s a real chance he could end up leading the league in rushing.
2022 Cincinnati Bengals Defense:
Given that the Bengals focused on retooling their offensive line in free agency, they were able to spend most of their draft capital on the defensive side of the ball. In fact, four of their first five selections were used on defensive players.
The first two defensive players chosen were defensive backs: Daxton Hill and Cam Taylor-Britt. Hill is a very versatile defender who can play anywhere in the secondary. The Bengals can line him up outside or in the slot, but given what they have in their secondary, Hill is expected to start at safety. If he lives up to his potential, he and Jesse Bates could one day form one of the better safety tandems in the NFL.
As for Taylor-Britt, the Bengals would love it if he upgraded Eli Apple. Cincinnati has one stellar cornerback in Chidboe Awuzie, but Apple is a liability across from him. It won’t take much for Taylor-Britt to surpass him. Meanwhile, Mike Hilton did a fine job in the slot last year, so he’ll be able to reprise his role as the team’s nickel corner.
The Cincinnati secondary will receive help from a pass rush that was in the top half of pressure rate last year. There’s a chance it could improve in 2022, given that the team spent a third-round choice on Zachary Carter. The Florida product won’t be very good in run support, but he has upside as someone who can generate pressure on opposing quarterbacks. D.J. Reader will more than make up for Carter’s deficiencies against the rush; he’s a massive run stuffer. The well-rounded B.J. Hill will start next to Reader.
The strength of the Bengals’ defensive line will continue to be on the edge. Trey Hendrickson is one of the top edge rushers in the NFL; he has recorded 27.5 sacks in the past two years. He’ll be bookended by Sam Hubbard, who received a $40 million extension recently. Hubbard logged 7.5 sacks in 2022.
Conversely, the weakness of Cincinnati’s stop unit figures to be at linebacker, but there are players with upside at the position. Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt are entering their third and fourth seasons, respectively, and both are former third-round picks. Neither was very good last year, but neither was a liability either.
2022 Cincinnati Bengals Schedule and Intangibles:
Cincinnati has developed a strong home-field advantage recently, going 40-26-1 over the past eight seasons, excluding 2019, which was a lost year.
The Bengals endured kicking woes in 2020, ultimately finishing with Austin Seibert, who was 6-of-8. This is why they used a mid-round pick on Evan McPherson. The rookie was spectacular, going 28-of-33, including 9-of-11 from beyond 50.
Punter Kevin Huber ranked 20th in net yardage in 2018, but improved to 10th the following season. He got better again in 2020, ranking seventh. He regressed to the middle of the pack last year.
Cincinnati didn’t score a touchdown on special teams, but didn’t allow a touchdown either.
The Bengals, as mentioned earlier, had a very easy schedule last year. They have plenty of soft opponents once again; they get to battle the Falcons, Jets, Panthers and Saints. They have tough foes on the slate as well; they have to take on the Chiefs, Bills, Buccaneers and Patriots.
2022 Cincinnati Bengals Rookies:
Go here for the Bengals Rookie Forecast, a page with predictions like which rookie will bust and which rookie will become a solid starter.
2022 Cincinnati Bengals Positional Rankings (1-5 stars):
Quarterbacks |
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Offensive Line |
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Secondary |
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Special Teams |
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Coaching |
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2022 Cincinnati Bengals Analysis: If the Bengals hadn’t made all the upgrades to the offensive line this offseason, there could have been a legitimate argument that they would regress. However, they figure to be much better than they were last year for numerous reasons, so Cincinnati has a very real chance of reaching the Super Bowl once again.
Projection: 13-4 (1st in AFC North)
2021 Projection: 7-10. 2021 Actual Result: 10-7.
2020 Projection: 4-12. 2020 Actual Result: 4-11-1.
2019 Projection: 4-12. 2019 Actual Result: 2-14.
2018 Projection: 6-10. 2018 Actual Result: 6-10.
2017 Projection: 6-10. 2017 Actual Result: 7-9.
2016 Projection: 10-6. 2016 Actual Result: 6-9-1.
NFL Draft Team Grade: A Grade
Goals Entering the 2022 NFL Draft: Prior to free agency, it was thought that the Bengals would use many of their picks to fix the offensive line. Cincinnati has already done that with some great signings in the open market, so the team must now focus on strengthening the defense at all levels.
2022 NFL Draft Accomplishments: The Bengals were hoping that George Karlaftis or Devonte Wyatt would fall to them at No. 31. Both prospects were snatched off the board right before Cincinnati picked, which had to be disappointing to them. This forced the Bengals to address their lackluster secondary with Daxton Hill, a solid choice who can play anywhere in the defensive backfield.
The Bengals were not done addressing their secondary, picking Cam Taylor-Britt and Tycen Anderson. I was a fan of both choices, and I felt the same way about Zachary Carter in the third round. Among all of Cincinnati’s picks, the Carter selection provided the most value, though almost all the choices were graded B+ or better.
I actually only disliked one of the Bengals’ selections, which was the fourth-rounder used on Cordell Volson. Otherwise, the Bengals did a great job of bolstering their defense. Pairing what it did with the offensive line in free agency, Cincinnati has put together an amazing offseason, giving it a tremendous chance of winning the Super Bowl this year.
NFL Draft Individual Grades:
31. Daxton Hill, CB/S, Michigan – A- Grade
The Bengals really wanted George Karlaftis, but they’ll settle for Daxton Hill to fill a big need. The Bengals have a weak group of cornerbacks, and Hill can be used everywhere. He easily could’ve been drafted 10 picks earlier than this, so the value is certainly there.
60. Cam Taylor-Britt, CB, Nebraska – B+ Grade
The range is exact for Cam Taylor-Britt. I mocked him 60th, but to the Buccaneers. He makes sense for the Bengals as well. Cincinnati brought in so many cornerbacks for top-30 visits because the position was such a weakness. Taylor-Britt, the last of the remaining second-round cornerbacks, should provide an upgrade.
95. Zachary Carter, DT, Florida – A- Grade
The Bengals were hoping for Devonte Wyatt in the first round, but they’ll take another interior pass rusher at this selection. Zachary Carter can get pushed around in the running game, but he has an explosive ability to get to the quarterback, which Cincinnati will need when they combat all the talented quarterbacks in the AFC. I like this value.
136. Cordell Volson, OT, North Dakota State – D Grade
This pick neither fills a need nor provides any value. I didn’t have Cordell Volson in my mock draft in any update, though I considered him in the seventh round. The Bengals signed so many offensive linemen, so it didn’t seem like they needed another one.
166. Tycen Anderson, S, Toledo – A- Grade
It’s no surprise that Tycen Anderson is the pick here for the Bengals, given that they were dead set on upgrading their secondary entering the 2022 NFL Draft. I had Tycen Anderson in the fourth round of my re-draft, so he could have been chosen earlier than this.
252. Jeffery Gunter, DE, Coastal Carolina – B+ Grade
This is a decent value pick for the Bengals, who wanted to address their pass rush in the 2022 NFL Draft. I had Jeffery Gunter slotted in the fifth or sixth rounds of my mock draft on a consistent basis.
Follow @walterfootball for updates.
Season Summary:
The Bengals were a huge question mark heading into 2021 because Joe Burrow’s health was an unknown. There were some early hiccups, including losses to the Bears and Jets, but Cincinnati caught fire at the right time and earned a trip to the Super Bowl.
Offseason Moves:
Team Needs:
- Two Guards: Make it one guard if Quinton Spain is re-signed. The Bengals need to bolster their interior blocking to take Joe Burrow to the next level. Signed Alex Cappa and Ted Karras
- Linebacker: The Bengals have endured linebacker issues since the Vontaze Burfict days. Perhaps they’ll finally fix the middle of their defense.
- Cornerback: Chidobe Awuzie was one of the top cornerbacks in the NFL last year, but Cincinnati lacked talent otherwise at outside cornerback.
- Safety: Jessie Bates is the Bengals’ top free agent, so the team will have to figure out how to keep him. Franchised Jessie Bates
- Offensive Tackle: Aside from Bates, Riley Reiff is the Bengals’ most important free agent, so a new right tackle will have to be acquired if he’s not retained. Signed La’el Collins
- Defensive Tackle: Cincinnati also has some interior defensive linemen it must retain like Larry Ogunjobi and B.J. Hill.
- Tight End: C.J. Uzomah is an impending free agent, so he’ll need to be re-signed or replaced. Signed Hayden Hurst
- Punter: Kevin Huber’s contract will expire in March. Re-signed Kevin Huber
Follow me @walterfootball for updates.
2022 NFL Free Agent Signings:
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La’el Collins, OT, Cowboys. Age: 29. 
Signed with Bengals (3 years)
La’el Collins is one of the top right tackles in the NFL. It’s unclear why the Cowboys cut him.
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Alex Cappa, G, Buccaneers. Age: 27.
Signed with Bengals (4 years, $40 million)
Alex Cappa has developed very well since being chosen in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He’s a solid blocker who has no weaknesses in his game.
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Ted Karras, G, Patriots. Age: 29.
Signed with Bengals (3 years, $18 million)
Ted Karras stepped into the starting lineup in October and never looked back. He was an excellent starting guard on New England’s stellar offensive line.
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Hayden Hurst, TE, Falcons. Age: 29.
Signed with Bengals (1 year)
If it wasn’t for Kyle Pitts, Hayden Hurst would have been a solid producer this past season.
Cincinnati Bengals Free Agents:
Salary Cap: TBA.
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Jessie Bates, S, Bengals. Age: 25.
Franchised by Bengals
Jessie Bates is one of the best young safeties in the NFL. He’s coming off a bit of a down year, but he should be able to rebound in 2022. He’s only 25, so his future is very bright.
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Riley Reiff, OT/G, Bengals. Age: 33.
Riley Reiff played well when healthy for the Bengals, but he missed the final quarter of the year with an ankle injury. Now 33, Reiff could decline in the near future.
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Quinton Spain, G, Bengals. Age: 31.
Quinton Spain was a quality guard for the Bengals last year, especially when it came to run blocking. Pass protection was a bit of an issue, but not a glaring one.
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C.J. Uzomah, TE, Bengals. Age: 29.
Signed with Jets (3 years, $24 million)
C.J. Uzomah is coming off the best season of his career. He was able to exploit great matchups very easily, catching 49 passes for 493 yards and five touchdowns.
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Auden Tate, WR, Bengals. Age: 25.
Signed with Falcons (1 year)
Auden Tate caught only three passes in four games last year, but he’s a talented receiver buried on a very deep depth chart. He should be able to compete for a larger role elsewhere.
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Kevin Huber, P, Bengals. Age: 37.
Re-signed with Bengals
Kevin Huber was ranked in the middle of the pack as far as net yardage in 2021.
- Eli Apple, CB, Bengals. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Bengals (1 year)
- B.J. Hill, DT, Bengals. Age: 26. — Re-signed with Bengals
- Larry Ogunjobi, DT, Bengals. Age: 28.
- Trae Waynes, CB, Bengals. Age: 30.
- Darius Phillips, CB/KR, Bengals. Age: 26. — Signed with Raiders
- Tre Flowers, CB, Bengals. Age: 27. — Re-signed with Bengals
- Josh Tupou, DT, Bengals. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Bengals
- Trey Hopkins, C, Bengals. Age: 30.
- Vernon Hargreaves, CB, Bengals. Age: 27.
- Ricardo Allen, S, Bengals. Age: 30.
- Mike Thomas, WR, Bengals. Age: 28. — Re-signed with Bengals
- Brandon Allen, QB, Bengals. Age: 29. — Re-signed with Bengals (1 year)
- Jordan Evans, LB, Bengals. Age: 27.
- Jalen Davis, CB, Bengals. Age: 26.
- Trent Taylor, WR, Bengals. Age: 28.
- Noah Spence, DE, Bengals. Age: 28.
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