Cincinnati Bengals 53 Man Roster Predictions:
QB (2):
9. Joe Burrow
8. Brandon Allen
No question as to who the starter will be. It is obviously Burrow. There didn’t seem to be much question about the backup job either, but Brandon Allen’s lacklustre preseason, combined with Browning’s solid one, makes it a tougher decision. If it’s me, I think I go with Browning, however, I feel the Bengals ultimately will stick with the veteran. I put Browning on the practice squad.
RB (3):
28. Joe Mixon
34. Samaje Perine
25. Chris Evans
Mixon’s spot as the bellcow is secure. There were fans wanting Evans to jump Perine on the depth chart but, as good as Evans performed in the preseason, Perine seems set in his spot as well. That said, we could see more of Evans on passing downs. I decided to go with three RB’s, leaving more room for other positions. I do feel that Jacques Patrick is deserving of a roster spot, but ended up putting him on the practice squad. Trayveon Williams ended up among the cuts in these projections, but it wouldn’t surprise me to see him on the practice squad.
WR (7):
1. Ja’Marr Chase
85. Tee Higgins
83. Tyler Boyd
11. Trent Taylor
80. Mike Thomas
17. Stanley Morgan
19. Kendric Pryor
The top three were all set in stone entering the offseason, but the rest of the depth chart was completely up in the air. Trent Taylor had a solid preseason. That combined with his veteran presence earns him the number 4 spot. Mike Thomas and Stanley Morgan make it for their special teams ability. Pryor, meanwhile, makes it as an undrafted rookie. His impressive preseason not only lands him a spot on the team, but also leaves the possibility that he rises further up the depth chart. Lassiter and Irwin were both solid in the preseason. They make the practice squad.
TE (3):
88. Hayden Hurst
89. Drew Sample
84. Mitchell Wilcox
Hurst was signed in the offseason to start. His spot is all locked up. Sample is currently injured, but he’ll likely remain the number 2, barring an upgrade added during final cuts. Wilcox makes it as the third guy, largely for his special teams ability. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see a new addition made to fill the third spot. I put Moss on the practice squad, but he had a poor preseason. Justin Rigg did score a TD and looked solid as a blocker. Perhaps he makes it instead?
OT (4):
73. Jonah Williams
71. La’el Collins
77. Hakeem Adeniji
70. D’Ante Smith
Working with the current members of the roster, there isn’t much of a decision here. Williams and Collins will start. Adeniji looked the best out of the depth guys, though that isn’t saying much. Smith had a poor preseason, but the team is still high on his upside. Isaiah Prince would also be here, but there seems to be a good chance he starts the year on IR. Devin Cochran goes to the practice squad as a developmental project. Looking at this group, an addition after final cuts would not be surprising at all.
G (3):
65. Alex Cappa
67. Cordell Volson
79. Jackson Carman
Cappa was a high profile signing and will start at RG. Carman was the favourite to start at LG, but seems to have lost that battle to Volson. Carman still makes it as a backup. There have been a few people saying to trade him. Perhaps it would make sense to, but I don’t see the Bengals giving up on him this fast. However, another addition at G would make sense. Maybe Quinton Spain returns. Desmond Noel had a solid preseason. He goes to the practice squad.
C (2):
64. Ted Karras
63. Trey Hill
Ted Karras was brought in as a free agent to start. Trey Hill had a rough rookie season and wasn’t great in the preseason opener. However, he was pretty solid in the remaining two games. Ben Brown is currently on IR. Gaillard is cut.
DE (6):
91. Trey Hendrickson
94. Sam Hubbard
58. Joseph Ossai
96. Cam Sample
90. Khalid Kareem
93. Jeffrey Gunter
DE was probably the most complicated position at the bottom. Hendrickson, Hubbard, and Ossai are obviously locked into their spots. Sample should also see a decent amount of paying time, with some of it coming from the interior. Kareem isn’t a lock, but he has looked solid in the time he’s seen the field. I think he makes it. Gunter was a standout in the preseason and should also make the team. Noah Spence makes the practice squad.
DT (4):
92. BJ Hill
98. DJ Reader
95. Zach Carter
68. Josh Tupou
Hill and Reader are locked in as starters. Carter, meanwhile, is a roster lock as a 3rd round pick. He has also earned it with a good preseason. I gave the final spot to Tupou. He wins the backup NT battle over Shelvin, who hasn’t lived up to expectations. I still keep Shelvin on the practice squad, along with Tisdale and Davis, who have both been solid in the preseason.
LB (5):
55. Logan Wilson
57. Germaine Pratt
59. Akeem Davis-Gaither
51. Markus Bailey
44. Clay Johnston
The Bengals have plenty of depth at LB. After the starters, Wilson and Pratt, is Davis-Gaither. He continues to take strides as he looks to earn a bigger role. I’m not quite as high on Bailey as others, but he is still solid. He should make the team, or perhaps could be used as trade bait to bolster another position. Johnston had an outstanding preseason. It should be enough to earn a spot. Bachie lands on PUP, while Keandre Jones makes the practice squad. Tegray Scales was a tough cut.
CB (6):
22. Chidobe Awuzie
20. Eli Apple
21. Mike Hilton
29. Cam Taylor-Britt
33. Tre Flowers
35. Jalen Davis
Awuzie, Apple, and Hilton will be starting on game days. Taylor-Britt has been injured most of the offseason, so it is hard to place him on the depth chart. He’ll definitely make the team, though. Flowers has had a good offseason, and his size is useful against TE’s. He should make it. The last spot was a tough one. Davis has been really consistent over the last couple of preseasons. But after a poor first game, Allan George really impressed in the next two. I went with Davis, but was close to 50/50. Could definitely see George making it instead. Whichever one makes it, the other should land on the practice squad.
S (5):
30. Jessie Bates
24. Vonn Bell
23. Daxton Hill
31. Michael Thomas
26. Tycen Anderson
Like LB, the Bengals have a lot of depth at safety. Bates is back with the team and will start at FS. Bell retains his SS role. Hill will be the primary backup and likely see snaps in various places this year. Thomas makes it for his special teams ability. Wouldn’t surprise me to see them attempt to stash Anderson on the practice squad, but I think that as a draft pick, he makes it. Brandon Wilson is injured and will start on PUP. Will be interesting to see if he gets his return duties back when he is healthy. Trayvon Henderson was a tough one to exclude from the roster, but the numbers just don’t work in his favour. He ends up on the practice squad yet again.
Special Teams (3):
2. Evan McPherson (K)
4. Drue Chrisman (P)
46. Clark Harris (LS)
McPherson is a lock. I gave the edge to Chrisman in the punter battle. He has the stronger leg and more upside. He can still improve his directional punting, but strides have been made. Still, I also wouldn’t be surprised to see Huber get one more year. I put Huber on the practice squad as insurance, however, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see him retire. As for the long snapping battle, Adomitis did nothing wrong, but Harris remains one of the best. Can’t cut him. Because of Harris’ age, Adomitis sticks on the practice squad with an eye towards the future.
PUP (2):
40. Brandon Wilson (S)
49. Joe Bachie (LB)
IR (3):
75. Isaiah Prince (OT)
62. Ben Brown (C)
36. Elijah Holyfield (RB)
Practice Squad (16):
6. Jake Browning (QB)
39. Jacques Patrick (RB)
16. Trenton Irwin (WR)
18. Kwamie Lassiter (WR)
81. Thaddeus Moss (TE)
76. Devin Cochran (OT)
60. Desmond Noel (G)
52. Noah Spence (DE)
97. Tariqious Tisdale (DT)
72. Domenique Davis (DT)
99. Tyler Shelvin (DT)
47. Keandre Jones (LB)
42. Allan George (CB)
41. Trayvon Henderson (S)
10. Kevin Huber (P)
48. Cal Adomitis (LS)
Cuts (10):
32. Trayveon Williams (RB)
87. Justin Rigg (TE)
86. Nick Eubanks (TE)
66. Nathan Gilliam (G)
61. Lamont Gaillard (C)
69. Raymond Johnson (DE)
45. Tegray Scales (LB)
50. Clarence Hicks (LB)
37. Delonte Hood (CB)
38. Javaris Davis (CB)
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