Author: Adam La Rose

The eight-year veteran took several visits and eventually inked a one-year Titans deal. Boyd, 29, will have plenty of competitions for targets on a team which also features DeAndre Hopkins and Calvin Ridley at the receiver spot. That setup is not unlike what he would have experienced had he remained in Cincinnati, and Will Levis is certainly not as accomplished as Burrow. Nonetheless, Boyd’s 2025 market will come down to his ability to perform under a familiar face in Brian Callahan.

Awuzie was a key figure on the Bengals’ defense during their Super Bowl run, but his 2022 ACL tear hurt his subsequent performances. He found himself out of the lineup midway through last season and despite returning to first-team duties afterwards, the former Cowboy was not expected to be retained in free agency.

Also taking a Cincinnati-to-Tennessee pathway, Awuzie landed nearly $23MM guaranteed on a three-year pact. He will be counted on as a full-time starter with the Titans while the Bengals rely on recent draftees to replace him. Upon switching to corner, Hill will spend the summer competing with DJ Turner for a starting spot. The winner of that battle will join fellow recent second-round selection Cam Taylor-Britt in a revamped Cincinnati secondary.

Draft:

• Round 1, No. 18: Amarius Mims (T, Georgia)
• Round 2, No. 49: Kris Jenkins Jr. (DT, Michigan) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 80: Jermaine Burton, WR (Alabama) (signed)
• Round 3, No. 97: McKinnley Jackson (DT, Texas A&M) (signed)
• Round 4, No. 115: Erick All (TE, Iowa) (signed)
• Round 5, No. 149: Josh Newton (CB, TCU) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 194: Tanner McLachlan (TE, Arizona) (signed)
• Round 6, No. 214: Cedric Johnson (DE, Ole Miss) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 224 (from Cardinals through Texans): Daijahn Anthony (DB, Mississippi State) (signed)
• Round 7, No. 237: Matt Lee (C, Miami) (signed)

With Brown being added on a one-year deal, right tackle remained a central priority leading into the draft. To no surprise, then, Cincinnati was connected to a number of prospects at the top of a celebrated class. JC Latham was firmly on the team’s radar, although the Alabama product established himself as the second-best O-lineman and went to the Titans at No. 7.

Likewise, the Bengals hosted both Taliese Fuaga and Troy Fautanu on pre-draft visits while evaluating their Day 1 options. The former excelled at right tackle with Oregon State, but the Saints added him with the intention of trying him on the blind side. That is also the case for the latter, whom Cincinnati will see plenty of for years to come during his Steelers tenure. When facing a decision between Fautanu and Mims, the Bengals chose to invest in upside over track record.

Fautanu played a key role on an offense which journeyed to the national title game, although he enters the league with questions related to health and the arm length needed to hold up at tackle. Mims certainly represents a gamble in his own respect based on a severe lack of playing time at Georgia. He made just eight starts in college. Starts in the 2022 playoffs set up a starting right tackle gig this past season, but an ankle injury limited his availability prior to declaring.

That decision proved to be a sound one as his frame (6-foot-7, 340 pounds) and athletic upside still resulted in a top-20 selection. Mims’ size and traits could lead to success on the right side early on and even allow him to transition to the left side down the road. Considering Mims’ inexperience, Cincinnati would no doubt prefer a redshirt rookie season to acclimate to the NFL — if Brown makes such a path possible.

Jenkins made only one appearance during his freshman campaign, but over the past three seasons he was an impactful member of the Wolverines’ elite defense. The second-generation NFL D-lineman’s best season as a run defender came in 2022 (54 stops), but during the team’s undefeated run to the title he set new career highs in sacks (2.5) and tackles for loss (4.5). That led to second-team all-conference and All-American honors and as such high expectations at the NFL level.

Considering the addition of Rankins in free agency (and with B.J. Hill still under contract for 2024), neither Jenkins nor Jackson should be forced into a heavy workload right away. The latter spent four seasons with the Aggies, increasing his sack total with every passing campaign. He added 15.5 tackles for loss during his college career. Translating that disruptiveness to the pro game will allow him to carve out at least a rotational role along the interior.

Burton spent two years each at Georgia and Alabama, establishing himself as a deep threat with both programs. The relocating SEC talent’s 18 yards per catch average and 22 touchdowns illustrate his big-play ability, although character concerns are present as well upon entry into the NFL. The 6-foot, 196-pounder is one of several contenders for the third receiver spot vacated by Boyd, so his training camp and preseason performances will be interesting to see.

Extensions and restructures:

• Signed C Ted Karras to one-year, $6MM extension
• Signed QB Jake Browning to two-year, $1.95MM extension

Karras was part of the Bengals’ 2022 efforts to shore up their offensive line, and he has served in a starting role throughout his Cincinnati tenure. The 31-year-old was set to see his contract expire following the 2024 campaign, but his play to date earned him a bump in compensation and an extra year of security.

Karras will average $6.6MM across the next two seasons, a figure which could prove to be cost-effective if he remains a consistent performer. The former Patriot and Dolphin hopes to finish his career in Cincinnati, and his chances of doing so have increased.

Browning was tendered as an exclusive rights free agent, but cases such as his often result in separate extensions being worked out. The former UDFA would have been on course for restricted free agency in 2025, but his multi-year deal will prevent that from happening. Browning, 28, took over for Burrow after he was lost to injury and led the league in completion percentage (70.4%).

That total was not accompanied by a strong touchdown-to-interception ratio (12:7), but team and player will hope the near future will not include an extended run of opportunities to improve upon it. Browning’s presence will give the Bengals notable continuity at multiple spots on the QB depth chart.

Other:

• WR Tee Higgins signed $21.82MM franchise tag
• Exercised WR Ja’Marr Chase’s 2025 fifth-year option ($21.82MM)
• OC Brian Callahan took Titans’ head coaching gig
• Promoted QBs coach Dan Pitcher to offensive coordinator
• Turned down DE Trey Hendrickson‘s trade request
• Hired Justin Rascati as pass-game coordinator
• Colt Anderson joined Titans as special teams coordinator
• Signed 14 UDFAs

The expected outcome in Higgins’ case played out with 2024 set up as a walk year. The 25-year-old requested a trade in March with signs continuing to point to no extension agreement being reached, and Chase is known to be a higher priority for the Bengals. Cincinnati remained steadfast in wanting to keep Higgins in place for the coming season, though, so no serious consideration was made for moving him.

Higgins seemed to admit that when publicly addressing his future. Talks on a long-term deal have not taken place recently, and a new round of negotiations (especially without Chase having an extension in hand) would come as a notable surprise.

With Higgins tied to the tag — the only member of this year’s nine-man tag contingent not extended by the July 15 deadline — no talks can commence until January. The Bengals have not been prepared to submit a Higgins offer averaging more than $20MM per season; presuming the Bengals continue this recent negotiating pattern with their No. 2 wideout, a departure next offseason should be considered likely.

The top of the receiver market experienced another wave this offseason, and Higgins stands to benefit from a new pecking order in the relatively near future. He topped 900 yards as a rookie, then recorded back-to-back campaigns with 1,000-plus after Chase’s arrival. Rebounding from an injury-shortened 2023 season would allow Higgins to further his case for serving as a true No. 1 option on a new team. Meeting that goal is feasible, but almost certainly certainly not in Cincinnati after this year.

The Bengals are not known for spending big on the open market or with respect to retaining homegrown players. A rather expensive (but obvious) exception came last offseason with Burrow landing $55MM per season – coupled with significant cashflow early on and over $145MM locked in at signing. A similar commitment (relative to positional value, of course) will be needed to keep Chase in the fold.

Reuniting with his former LSU quarterback has allowed Chase to live up to expectations and stake his claim as one of the league’s top wideouts at any age. The 24-year-old has earned a Pro Bowl nod during each of his three seasons, racking up 3,717 yards and 29 touchdowns in that span. To little surprise, Chase’s camp waited for Justin Jefferson to reset the receiver market (via a $35MM-per-year extension with monster guarantees) before allowing serious talks for his own deal to take place.

A number of receivers looking for new deals skipped voluntary OTAs this spring, Chase included. Cincy’s top weapon did, however, take part in mandatory minicamp, a sign he may be willing to attend training camp even if no agreement is worked out by that point. Jefferson’s deal offers a potential blueprint for a Chase extension, and CeeDee Lamb could provide another comparable example if he and the Cowboys finalize an agreement of their own. Plenty of time remains for team and player to find a resolution in Chase’s case, but it will remain a storyline if none emerges before the start of the year.

Head coach Zac Taylor has been in place since 2019, and he had enjoyed notable stability at both the offensive and defensive coordinator spots until this offseason. DC Lou Anarumo is going into his sixth season with the Bengals, but Callahan’s departure will be felt on offense. Taylor will continue calling plays for the unit, meaning expectations will remain high and a drop-off would come as a surprise. Still, Cincinnati’s play design and preparation on the offensive side of the ball will undergo changes in a season when a deep postseason run remains a distinct possibility.

Callahan was on the head coaching track prior to this year, and he had second interviews lined up with the Panthers and Falcons prior to his Titans hire. While his departure thus came as little surprise, the same was true when Pitcher was tapped as Callahan’s replacement. The former took outside interviews, but Cincinnati only met with one other candidate before tapping him for the gig. Pitcher’s Bengals tenure dates back to 2016, so his transition to the role should be relatively smooth.

Hendrickson, 29, and the Bengals worked out a short-term arrangement last offseason, one which upped his 2023 earnings and added a year to his pact. His 2024 and 2025 salaries are nonguaranteed, though, which explains his decision to approach the team prior to the draft in search of new assurances. None were given, and Taylor confirmed in April the team’s stance that no consideration would be given to a trade.

The three-time Pro Bowler appears to be on board with suiting up in 2024 even if no adjustment is made to his pact. Hendrickson has been as advertised (perhaps better) in terms of production since joining Cincinnati, racking up 39.5 sacks across three campaigns. Expectations will remain high for the standout pass rusher moving forward, although it will be interesting to see if he makes a final push for a raise and/or new guarantees before the start of the regular season.

Top 10 cap charges for 2024:

1. Joe Burrow, QB: $29.55MM
2. Tee Higgins, WR: $21.82MM
3. Trey Hendrickson, DE: $20.17MM
4. Orlando Brown Jr., LT: $16.4MM
5. Sheldon Rankins, DT: $11.94MM
6. B.J. Hill, DT: $10.83MM
7. Sam Hubbard, DE: $10.12MM
8. Ja’Marr Chase, WR: $9.81MM
9. Alex Cappa, G: $9.25MM
10. Logan Wilson, LB: $9.05MM

Burrow’s market-topping deal will play a central role in Cincinnati’s financial decisions for years to come. The same will, of course, be true at the receiver position once Chase’s extension is in place. Even without an adjustment to his contract, Hendrickson ranks ninth in the league amongst edge rusher cap hits, a sign of his standing around the league at the position. Hill is the only player on the list other than Higgins who is a pending free agent, so stability at a number of key positions should be expected in 2025.

After Burrow’s latest major injury, he and the Bengals took a new approach to his recovery during the spring. Remaining healthy during the fall and through the postseason received added emphasis at the expense of returning to full health months before the start of the campaign, a strategy with which Burrow is fully on board.

If it succeeds, Cincinnati will once again be a team to be taken seriously in the AFC North and Super Bowl LIX races. A number of teams in the conference have made intriguing additions at the quarterback spot in recent years, and the AFC North figures to remain arguably the most competitive division in the league. Questions will loom over Higgins’ future and the effects his departure would have on the Bengals’ offense in 2025; for now, though, that unit (and the team as a whole) should enter the fall with aspirations of another run to the Super Bowl.