We are still a couple of weeks away from training camp beginning. Before the battle start taking place, I have decided to take an early crack at predicting the Bengals 53 Man Roster for the upcoming season. Of course, things like waivers and free agency may impact how the final roster is constructed. But in this case, I am basing it on the current roster.
QB (2):
9. Joe Burrow
6. Jake Browning
No surprises here. Burrow is a top 2-3 QB in the league, and the Bengals are legit contenders as long as he is healthy. Browning was a capable fill-in back in 2023, and retains his spot as the backup.
RB (4):
30. Chase Brown
31. Zack Moss
34. Samaje Perine
25. Tahj Brooks
The Bengals have an interesting RB room this year. Brown is locked into the starting spot. Through their actions, it is clear they like both Moss and Perine. Moss took a pay cut to stay, but the additional guaranteed money given to him makes it less likely he is cut. Perine, meanwhile, is someone they were eager to bring back to Cincy. Keeping 4 RB’s isn’t the most efficient roster construction, but they used a draft pick on Brooks, and he also seems to be in their plans.
WR (6):
1. Ja’Marr Chase
5. Tee Higgins
80. Andrei Iosivas
81. Jermaine Burton
15. Charlie Jones
19. Kendric Pryor
Chase and Higgins are obviously locks. Iosivas might as well be considered one too. He might have to fight for the 3rd spot on the depth chart, but his roster spot should be safe. Burton was on thin ice earlier in the offseason, and still is. However, the reports in OTA’s were positive. As long as he can stay in line off the field, his on the field talent will earn him a spot. The final two spots, assuming they keep 6 on the roster, are more dicey. Jones has the draft pedigree and special teams value, so I kept him around. I decided to keep 6 receivers on the roster, with Pryor being the last one. I haven’t forgotten about his standout preseason a few years back. At his best, I think he can beat out the rest of the crop. He will have to battle for it, though.
TE (4):
88. Mike Gesicki
89. Drew Sample
87. Tanner Hudson
84. Tanner McLachlan
Went with 4 TE’s on the roster. Gesicki is the main pass catching TE, while Sample is the blocker. Hudson is unspectacular, but reliable enough to stick around. McLachlan spent most of last season as a healthy scratch, but I’m bullish on his potential. I’d like to see him stick around.
OT (3):
75. Orlando Brown
71. Amarius Mims
76. Devin Cochran
Brown and Mims are the unquestioned starters here. 3 at the position looks light on the surface, but guys like Cody Ford and Jalen Rivers play inside and out. I have Cochran as the third “true” OT, but a guy like Jaxson Kirkland could have been included in the overall OL depth instead.
G (5):
62. Lucas Patrick
67. Cordell Volson
63. Dylan Fairchild
61. Cody Ford
74. Jalen Rivers
This position will be a free for all. Fairchild is a lock to make the roster, as the Bengals used a 3rd round pick on him. I’d expect Rivers to as well, as a draft pick. Unless someone else is added, Patrick should make it as their “high profile” signing. And yes, I used that term very loosely. Ford can play G and OT, and has starting experience, so you’d expect him to have a leg up. Volson is tricky. I included him, based on his starting experience and the fact that he took a pay cut (with more guaranteed money added to his deal) to stay.
C (2):
64. Ted Karras
65. Matt Lee
Unlike at G, not a lot of chaos here. Karras is the starter, and I like Lee as a backup with future starting potential. Maybe McLaughlin makes a push for a spot, but his health is a question mark. In the early edition of my roster predictions, he is stashed on an injury list.
DE (4):
91. Trey Hendrickson
99. Myles Murphy
58. Joseph Ossai
97. Shemar Stewart
Hendrickson is under contract, despite the holdout, and obviously makes the roster. After him, there is unproven talent. Murphy and Ossai make it as the next two, and both hopefully can take a step forward. Especially Murphy. Stewart remains unsigned, but it would be a surprise to see this dispute drag out all the way into the regular season.
DT (5):
92. BJ Hill
98. Tedarrell Slaton
93. McKinnley Jackson
90. Kris Jenkins
95. Howard Cross III
Hill, Jackson, and Jenkins are all locks to make it. Slaton was another “high profile” signing, by the low standards I currently seem to have for that term. Solid veteran NT, hopefully he helps with the run defence. Cross III is a UDFA signing by the Bengals that I’m high on. I like his potential, and have thrown him in there to round out the DL.
LB (5):
55. Logan Wilson
42. Oren Burks
44. Demetrius Knight
49. Barrett Carter
50. Shaka Heyward
Wilson, Burks, Knight, and Carter all should be locks to make the roster. A couple questions remain about the last spot or two. The Bengals could go with 6 at the position, as Al Golden seems to use 3 LB’s more often. I went with 5, however, with Heyward getting the 5th spot. Njongmeta has a legit chance as well though.
CB (6):
29. Cam Taylor-Britt
23. Daxton Hill
20. DJ Turner
28. Josh Newton
35. Jalen Davis
38. DJ Ivey
I didn’t feel like there were any tough calls at CB. The top 4 here in Taylor-Britt, Hill, Turner, and Newton seem locked in, with the order being the main question. Not much depth exists beyond them that would pose a big threat to an established depth guy like Davis. That is, unless someone surprises in camp. But for now, I’ve got Davis in there, with the high upside Ivey rounding out the position group.
S (4):
22. Geno Stone
27. Jordan Battle
33. Daijahn Anthony
26. Tycen Anderson
The Bengals decided to run it back with Stone. He will start, probably next to Jordan Battle. The depth here is thin. Anthony had a good camp last year, and probably gets another year on the rooster to further establish himself. Anderson is good on special teams, so he makes it. As conservative as the Bengals seem to be right now when it comes to adding free agents, this is a position group that could use one.
Special Teams (3):
2. Evan McPherson (K)
4. Ryan Rehkow (P)
48. Cal Adomitis (LS)
Nothing going on at K and P, with McPherson and Rehkow keeping their spots. Adomitis will face competition from the rookie, Wagner, but I have the veteran winning this battle.
NFI (1):
68. Seth McLaughlin (C)
IR (1):
83. Erick All (TE)
Practice Squad (17):
11. Logan Woodside (QB)
36. Kendall Milton (RB)
14. Jordan Moore (WR)
18. Isaiah Williams (WR)
85. Cam Grandy (TE)
86. Kole Taylor (TE)
77. Caleb Etienne (OT)
60. Jaxson Kirkland (G)
52. Cedric Johnson (DE)
56. Raymond Johnson (DE)
94. Eric Gregory (DT)
69. Dante Barnett (DT)
45. Maema Njongmeta (LB)
53. Joe Giles-Harris (LB)
21. Bralyn Lux (CB)
24. Marco Wilson (CB)
47. Shaquan Loyal (S)
Cut (18):
10. Payton Thorne (QB)
40. Quali Conley (RB)
32. Gary Brightwell (RB)
17. Cole Burgess (WR)
16. Jamoi Mayes (WR)
12. Rashod Owens (WR)
82. Mitchell Tinsley (WR)
73. Andrew Stueber (OT)
79. Andrew Coker (OT)
66. Tashawn Manning (G)
96. Cam Sample (DE)
51. Isaiah Thomas (DE)
59. Craig Young (LB)
39. Lance Robinson (CB)
41. Nate Brooks (CB)
43. Jaylen Key (S)
37. PJ Jules (S)
46. William Wagner (LS)
