Roster Changes

 

Key additions

DE Kerry Wynn, CB B.W. Webb

 

Key losses

TE Tyler Kroft, OT Andre Smith, OT Jake Fisher, OT Cedric Ogbuehi, DE Michael Johnson, LB Vontaze Burfict, LB Vincent Rey

 

2019 draft class

OT Jonah Williams (1.11), TE Drew Sample (2.52), LB Germaine Pratt (3.72), QB Ryan Finley (4.104), DT Renell Wren (4.125), G Michael Jordan (4.136), RB Trayveon Williams (6.182), LB Deshaun Davis (6.210), RB Rodney Anderson (6.211), CB Jordan Brown (7.223)

 

Projected Starters

 

Offense

QB: Andy Dalton
RB: Joe Mixon
WR: A.J. Green
WR: Tyler Boyd
WR: John Ross
TE: Tyler Eifert
LT: Jonah Williams
LG: Cordy Glenn
C: Billy Price
RG: John Miller
RT: Bobby Hart

 

Defense

DE: Carlos Dunlap
DT: Geno Atkins
DT: Andrew Billings
DE: Sam Hubbard
LB: Germaine Pratt
LB: Preston Brown
CB: William Jackson III
CB: Dre Kirkpatrick
CB: Darqueze Dennard
S: Jessie Bates III
S: Shawn Williams

 

Team Outlook

 

Notable depth

QB Ryan Finley, QB Jeff Driskel, RB Giovani Bernard, RB Trayveon Williams, RB Rodney Anderson, WR Alex Erickson, TE Drew Sample, TE C.J. Uzomah, G Clint Boling, G John Miller, G Christian Westerman, DE Carl Lawson, DE Jordan Willis, DE Kerry Wynn, DT Ryan Glasgow, DT Renell Wren, LB Malik Jefferson, LB Nick Vigil, LB Jordan Evans, LB Deshaun Davis, CB B.W. Webb, S Clayton Fejedelem

 

Biggest strength: Running back

Despite missing a couple games with a knee injury, Joe Mixon led the AFC in rushing yards (1,168) last season, and he’s proven to be one of the best all-around backs in the NFL. Behind him, Giovani Bernard is a solid receiving back, and rookies Trayveon Williams and Rodney Anderson both have the potential to be future starters. Even if an injury or two strikes, Cincinnati looks set in the backfield.

 

Biggest weakness: Quarterback

Andy Dalton isn’t a sub-par quarterback by any means (he has a solid 89:38 touchdown-interception ratio over the past four years), but the Bengals simply need more consistency out of him in a league where all 32 teams have a legitimate reason to be happy about where they are at the position. In the postseason, Dalton is 0-4 with a 1:6 touchdown-interception ratio, so hopefully new head coach Zac Taylor can makes things easier on him in big moments.

 

Position battle to watch: Right guard

After the team moved Cordy Glenn inside to left guard yesterday (opening up left tackle for Jonah Williams), Clint Boling—who has been a full-time starter since 2012—looks like he could be a cap casualty or forced to win the job at right guard. I would say it leans towards the former because Cincy signed John Miller to a respectable three-year deal this offseason, and fourth-rounder Michael Jordan can be the versatile backup on the interior.

 

One more thought

I didn’t get into the defense yet, but Cincinnati actually has a solid collection of pieces on that side of the ball thanks to their depth at defensive end and linebacker in particular. Carl Lawson isn’t projected to start, but he can be a big-time contributor in obvious pass-rush situations if he can return to his rookie form (8.5 sacks in 2017) by fully recovering from a torn ACL. Also, 2018 third-round pick Malik Jefferson still has the upside to be a difference-maker under a new coaching staff.

 

Early over/under: 6 wins (via CBS Sports)

Under. This is a difficult pick because the Bengals have some talent, but that hasn’t stopped them from not meeting expectations in the past, and Zac Taylor is an unknown. In a division that will likely see them finish third or fourth, I would take the under.