Bengals Roster Breakdown: OT
Players:
75. Orlando Brown
73. Jonah Williams
71. La’el Collins
79. Jackson Carman
77. Hakeem Adeniji
61. Cody Ford
70. D’Ante Smith
76. Devin Cochran
The offensive line has been a recurring issue over the past several years for the Bengals. Though some moves were made over that span in an attempt to improve it, the situation, especially regarding their depth, has still yielded some problems. However, this offseason, the Bengals made the kind of splash that can truly turn things around.
Orlando Brown was signed in a surprise move by the Bengals. As one of the top OT’s in the game, he provides an instant boost to the offensive line. Brown made it clear before signing that his desire was to play LT, and the Bengals will be accommodating that wish.
With Brown sliding in at LT, it means that Jonah Williams will have to be displaced. He initially requested a trade, seemingly unhappy with the forced position change. However, things on that front seem to have settled down, and Williams has indicated that he is happy to play RT.
Last year’s starting RT, La’el Collins, is also still on the roster. If healthy, you would figure that he’d compete with Williams for the starting spot. However, he is still working his way back from a torn ACL that he suffered last year, and there is a strong possibility that he starts the year on the PUP list. Even when Collins returns, it is likely that Williams remains the starting RT. But having a guy like Collins ready to come off the bench would be amazing for the team’s depth, especially considering they have needed their backup RT in each of their last two playoff runs. With Collins in that spot, they are better prepared to handle mid-season injuries.
The depth spots after the top three will be determined by a camp battle. After looking like a dead man walking for a while in the Bengals organization, Jackson Carman has found some new life after some promising spot starts late last year. He still has a lot to prove, but Carman looks like the front runner for the spot.
Hakeem Adeniji is also battling with Carman. I think both make the team, but the battle will determine who is higher on the depth chart. Adeniji’s versatility will help him, though I think he’s clearly better at OT than G. In some spot starts, he has been solid, but unspectacular. He can’t bring the same ceiling that Carman comes with, so proving to be more consistent is what he’ll need to do to win that battle.
Cody Ford was brought in during the free agency period. Zac Taylor has mentioned him as being a player in the RT “battle.” If you look at his traits and draft pedigree, that doesn’t seem far fetched. However, his play in college has not translated to the pro level, and he has been among the league’s worst starters at both G and OT. Given his play thus far into his NFL career, he is nowhere close to being someone you can pencil into a roster spot. If the Bengals can get something closer to the college version, Ford does have an outside shot of beating out Carman or Adeniji.
With all of the commotion going on at the position, D’Ante Smith has turned into the forgotten man. The once promising player has slowly fallen down the depth chart. After showing some promising flashes as a rookie, Smith has not been able to take any steps forward since then. If he reaches his potential, Smith is someone who could contribute at OT or G. But it might be now or never for him to show that he can still get there.
Devin Cochran was signed last year as an undrafted free agent. He was a raw prospect with some good traits, and the Bengals were able to stash him on the practice squad. There is a bit of a logjam at the position right now, so it is hard to see him making the roster. That said, there is a good chance that the Bengals wish to continue developing him. Another year on the practice squad seems likely.
Modified Featured Image Via: All-Pro Reels (CC)