Bill Barnwell Ranks Bengals Offseason Sixth in NFL With One Move Cincinnati Should Still Make

The Bengals had to juggle a few roster decisions this offseason.

Author:
Russ Heltman
Publish date:
May 31, 2023 10:17 AM EDT

In this story:

CINCINNATI — The Bengals reshaped the roster throughout this offseason from adding Orlando Brown Jr. to replacing the entire starting safety unit.

ESPN's Bill Barnwell is a fan of the offseason as a whole, ranking Cincinnati's sixth among all 32 teams.

"Director of player personnel Duke Tobin & Co. are ready," Barnwell wrote about the upcoming big paydays for Joe Burrow and his weapons. "Last year, knowing that Bates, Bell, and Eli Apple were approaching free agency and with Waynes off the roster, the Bengals used a first-round pick on safety Dax Hill and a second-rounder on corner Cam Taylor-Britt.

"Hendrickson, Reader, and Awuzie will be free agents in 2024, so Tobin used his 2023 first-round pick on end Myles Murphy and a second-rounder on corner DJ Turner. Is it a guarantee the young guys will be able replacements for the veterans on more expensive contracts or that all the defensive stars will leave? Of course not. Having a plan and anticipating what the team will need a year in advance, though, is a thoughtful approach."

Barnwell also brought up a reunion he thinks should happen: Bringing back Eli Apple.

"He rebuilt his career as a starting cornerback on the Bengals over the past two seasons, so I'm surprised there wasn't at least some market for him in free agency," Barnwell wrote. "He is still out there, which seems remarkable in a league in which every team needs more cornerbacks.

"The Bengals have Hilton in the slot and a potential top three at cornerback of Awuzie, Taylor-Britt, and Turner, but the latter might not be ready to jump right in as a rookie. Awuzie was playing at an All-Pro level to start last season, but he tore his right ACL on Halloween and missed the remainder of the year. If everyone is healthy and lives up to expectations, the Bengals won't need Apple, but things don't often go that well over the course of an NFL campaign. A reunion between the two sides would make sense."

Apple posted a 55.7 overall PFF grade last season (105th of 131 qualified CBs) and a 55 coverage grade (105th out of 131).

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