Bengals Notebook: Analyzing Offseason Plan Following Eventful Week at NFL Combine

The Bengals have to answer plenty of offseason questions over the next few months.

CINCINNATI — Bengals' brass has spent the week in Indianapolis for the 2024 NFL Combine. They have clear needs to address this offseason. How do they plan to address right tackle? What about defensive tackle? Safety? 

Here are our notes from an eventful week in Indianapolis:

Plan for Tee

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The Bengals franchise tagged Tee Higgins on Monday. They're comfortable paying him $21.8 million for the 2024 season.

"We want him on the roster, yeah. We want him on the roster." Duke Tobin said. 

Don't rule out a tag and trade, but it feels unlikely. 

"I've never done one," Tobin added. "We tagged him with the intent of him playing for us. He's a good player. We want good players. He fits us perfectly. So we tagged him for that reason. The hypotheticals of what could happen, it's hard for me to comment on."

Higgins will likely be on the roster this season, even if a trade hasn't been ruled out.

Uncertainty at Running Back

The Bengals were non-committal when it came to Joe Mixon's future on the team. He's due a $3 million roster bonus on March 17. That's essentially the deadline for the Bengals to make a decision. 

The Bengals could free up over $6 million in cap room by parting ways with Mixon. With clear needs at offensive and defensive tackle, they could certainly look to get cheaper in the running back room. 

They also want to get more explosive on offense and it's fair to wonder if they can realistically do that with Mixon on the roster. 

Finding a way to get more juice out of the run game is an offseason goal for this team and that could mean an overhaul of the running back room. 

Trenches

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The Bengals know they need to bolster the trenches. Right tackle is their biggest hole on offense with Jonah Williams poised to sign a multi-year deal elsewhere. 

Look for Cincinnati to sign a proven veteran in free agency that can start right away. They don't want to go into the draft needing to find a starting offensive lineman.

If the right guy is there in round one, they'd love to add him to the room. They want a veteran and will likely take an offensive tackle on the first two days of the draft.

Jermaine Eluemunor, Mekhi Becton, Trent Brown and George Fant are all potential options in free agency. 

It's fair to wonder if they'll try to make a run at Mike Onwenu. The 28-year-old has experience at both tackle and guard. He'll get big-time money in free agency, but would arguably be the best option in free agency. 

Eluemunor is also intriguing because like Onwenu, he has the versatility to play guard and tackle. 

Offensive line coach Frank Pollack was on the Jets staff when they took Becton in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft. He's dealt with injuries, but he's only 24 years old and could be an ideal target with plenty of upside. 

What About Defensive Tackle?

While the Bengals are open to taking a defensive tackle in the first round for the first time since 1994, they're hoping to address their biggest need in free agency. 

Cincinnati wants to add multiple veterans to their defensive tackle room. That could mean re-signing DJ Reader, who continues to rehab at team facilities. He won't be able to do that when the new league year starts and he officially becomes a free agent. 

"I don't know the exact timeline yet, but I'll let the Duke and his crew work that out," defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said. "And hopefully it works out."

The Bengals know they need to add proven veterans at defensive tackle. BJ Hill is under contract and there's some belief that Sam Hubbard could play inside a bit more this season. It would free up Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai to rush the passer from the edge a bit more. 

Even with that option, it would be surprising if Cincinnati didn't sign two veteran defensive tackles in free agency. 

Veteran Safety

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The Bengals sound open to adding a veteran safety, but they also made it clear that they still believe in Dax Hill. 

Cincinnati gave up too many big plays last season. 

“I think they played like young guys," Anarumo said when asked about the young secondary. "We all wanted it to be better: players, coaches, for sure. Again, there was things that were really good at times, but it goes back to it just wasn’t consistent enough and next year we’ll be better for sure.”

Could Hill move to the nickel cornerback spot? Will he become a safety/nickel hybrid?

“We’re still looking at everything. We look at not just Dax, but everybody last year when you have a year that wasn’t quite up to the standard," Anarumo said. "He’s still a young player in a lot of regards. It was only his second year. Played a handful of snaps his first year. So I think his development and his upside is huge. Nobody is down on the guy at all. We just have to make sure that he’s honed in and making sure that he’s being able to do the things we’re asking him to do. Wherever that may be.”

Is it important to add a veteran on the back end?

"That’s always a conversation that is ongoing," Anarumo said. "That’s something that when things can go sideways a little bit it usually starts back there with communication. The guys that have done it and have experience can always add to that. There’s a fine line with how it all fits. You start talking about veteran safeties and, oh by the way, the third safety has to play a lot of special teams. It’s a balancing act but everything is open and on the table right now."

It's fair to expect the Bengals to add a safety in free agency if the price is right. 

Both offensive and defensive tackle feel like bigger priorities, but the Bengals will certainly have their eyes on the safety market. 

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