In 2017, the Cincinnati Bengals finished a disappointing 7-9, a minimal improvement over their 6-9-1 2016 season. After an active offseason, Cincinnati looks to return to the playoffs, but they face an uphill battle.
Bengals Offense
The league's most average quarterback returns for an eighth season. Andy Dalton is not a bad QB. In fact, he has put together some very good seasons. But he is not the type of player to elevate a team, and Cincinnati won't be winning a Super Bowl with him any time soon.
Jeremy Hill is gone, which leaves 2017 second-round pick Joe Mixon as the feature back. Had Mixon not broken a woman's jaw during his time at Oklahoma, he would have gone in the first round. Giovani Bernard will reprise his role as the change-of-pace back, where he has excelled throughout his career. Running back will be a solid position group for the Bengals this year, but if everything goes according to plan, it will be dwarfed by the passing attack.
A.J. Green has been one of the NFL's elite receivers since he was drafted in 2011, and he figures to be the focal point of the offense once again. He is flanked by third-year player Tyler Boyd and sophomore John Ross III.
After running the fastest 40-yard dash in NFL history and being drafted eighth overall, Ross touched the ball once in 2017, a carry for 12 yards after which he fumbled. He should be much more involved in the game-plan this year, and the buzz out of Bengals training camp is that he looks much better and more prepared than a year ago. If he doesn't take a stride forward, it will be a massive waste of a draft pick for the Bengals.
Tyler Eifert is one of the best red-zone threats in the league when healthy, but that is becoming increasingly rare. He has missed 22 games over the past two seasons, but he has been practicing during training camp. Tyler Kroft and Ryan Hewitt will replace Eifert if he has to miss more time.
The offensive line was abhorrent last year, and Cincy's brain trust made it a priority to shore up the trenches this offseason. On paper, that mission has been accomplished.
A pre-draft trade brought in left tackle Cordy Glenn from Buffalo, who should be a massive upgrade. Bobby Hart came over from New York; his addition will push both Jake Fisher and Cedric Ogbuehi to the bench, which is a good thing. Ohio State's Billy Price was drafted 21st overall; he should be a fixture up front for years to come.
Bengals Defense
The defensive line is the strength of the Bengals' defense, per usual. Carlos Dunlap and Michael Johnson are aging, but still solid players. Jordan Willis is a good depth EDGE, as is new draftee Sam Hubbard. Second-year player Carl Lawson was an afterthought as a fourth-round pick, but he ended up with 8.5 sacks. This depth will ensure that Cincinnati always has fresh pass rushers on the field, which will be crucial late in games.
Inside, run stopper Andrew Billings lines up next to one of the best defensive tackles in football, Geno Atkins. Chris Baker was signed in free agency and Ryan Glasgow was drafted from Michigan, making the Bengals' defensive line one of the deepest in the league.
The linebacking corps is also solid. Vontaze Burfict, the NFL's dirtiest player, will miss the first four games due to another suspension, but he will be replaced by Malik Jefferson, one of the most athletic linebacker prospects to enter the league in recent years.
If defensive coordinator Teryl Austin can teach Jefferson the nuances of the NFL, the Bengals will have another Pro-Bowl linebacker. Nick Vigil and Vincent Rey will man the outside, and Preston Brown, the league's tackle leader in 2017, will anchor the middle.
In the secondary, things will look a bit different than usual. William Jackson III broke out in a big way last year and will draw the assignment of covering opposing #1 receivers. Dre Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard will start opposite Jackson, while Austin attempts to squeeze what he can out of Kansas City draft bust KeiVarae Russell.
George Iloka, who had been Cincinatti's starting safety since 2013, was released on Sunday, making Shawn Williams the starter while moving rookie Jessie Bates III into the starting FS spot. Iloka has been a solid player for a long time, which says something about how Bates has performed.
2018 Bengals Outlook
The Pittsburgh Steelers are almost guaranteed to win the division, but the Baltimore Ravens are extremely vulnerable. Unfortunately, the Bengals appear to be a team on par with Baltimore. Forget knocking off Pittsburgh; if the Bengals aren't careful, they could end up finishing behind the Cleveland Browns, something that hasn't happened since 2007.
However, if the offensive line improves as much as it should, Cincinnati could push for a Wild Card spot late in the season. That's as good as it's going to get for this iteration of the Bengals, but it could be a lot worse.
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