The Cincinnati Bengals went on a surprising Super Bowl run last season, behind the play of second-year quarterback Joe Burrow. The Bengals have a young roster, and they weren't even expected to make it to the playoffs.
While they made a great run last year, a good offseason was necessary to stay competitive in the tough AFC. Almost every team in the AFC has the talent to make it into the postseason.
The Bengals were not complacent this offseason. They recognized the glaring holes and aggressively pursued and filled them. Cincinnati's upgrades will prove vital to their success next season. With that said, here are two ways the Bengals improved on their Super Bowl team with 2022 NFL free agency signings.
2. Bengals added another weapon
Although Cincinnati had a stacked offense this past campaign, you can never have enough weapons. The Bengals signed tight end Hayden Hurst to a one-year deal, who has shown potential throughout his career.
In his previous stop, Hurst was the backup tight end in Atlanta, behind rookie tight end Kyle Pitts. Hurst caught 26 passes for 221 yards and three touchdowns. However, the year prior before Pitts was in Atlanta, Hurst shined in the Falcons offense. He reeled in 56 catches for 571 yards and six receiving touchdowns. Unlike his time in Atlanta, opposing defenses will not be able to create winning matchups against Hurst. There are too many other threats.
With great weapons in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd, and Joe Mixon around him, Hurst has a tremendous opportunity to grow. He will also have one of the best quarterbacks in the league in Burrow throwing him the ball.
Last season, Burrow threw for 4,611 yards along with 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. Giving him another target allows the offense to take another jump. With playoff experience under their belt, the Bengals are primed to improve upon last year.
1. Bengals rebuilt the offensive line
Cincinnati's offensive line was the weak link around an otherwise phenomenal roster. With plenty of cap space due to players on rookie deals, the Bengals went on a spending spree. They brought in three quality offensive linemen, which will give Burrow more time to deliver from the pocket.
The Bengals signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers guard Alex Cappa to a four-year $35 million deal. Cappa will be a great guard for Cincinnati, giving them a much-needed upgrade.
They also signed center Ted Karras and right tackle La'el Collins, who will be welcomed additions to the roster. Anyone who watched the Super Bowl saw that the difference in the game was the Bengals inability to protect Burrow. That should no longer be the case. Collins is clearly very excited to be joining the AFC Champions.
Bengals' La’el Collins shares message sent to QB Joe Burrow after signing deal https://t.co/wib3EvN2pe
— Fox News (@FoxNews) March 21, 2022
Last year, Burrow was sacked 70 times, combining the regular season and playoffs. This made Burrow the third most sacked player in a season in NFL history. The Bengals franchise QB already suffered a horrific injury in his rookie campaign, tearing his ACL and MCL. Cincinnati will not want to let this happen again, as their success rides on the play of Burrow.
Cappa, Collins, and Karras bring a veteran presence to the line, which will help solidify the protection of Burrow. In the Super Bowl, Burrow was sacked seven times. He frequently did not have time to deliver many downfield. The Bengals' offensive line will now be a quality unit, with the ability to limit the pass rush and create lanes for Mixon to rush through.
While other teams added stars this offseason, Cincinnati addressed their positions of need.
The AFC is set to be even more competitive next season, with superstar players joining via trade or free agency. The AFC West alone has four teams capable of making a deep playoff run, with the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Chargers, and Denver Broncos. It is likely that the Bengals will meet at least one of these teams in the playoffs.
Although it won't be easy, the Bengals are set to be one of the top teams in the league once again, following their free agency acquisitions.
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