Three Realistic Presents The Bengals Could Unwrap This Offseason
Credit: Maria Lysaker-Imagn Images.
Have a Holly Jolly Who Dey! And in case you didn’t hear: Oh, by golly, how the Cincinnati Bengals have struggled this year.
It’s been a tough season for the Bengals, but Santa Claus is here to save the day! Okay, maybe it’s just Mike Brown in a red suit, and he’s riding a golf cart instead of a sleigh. But beggars can’t be choosers, and Bengals fans are hoping for a wonderful offseason after their beloved team fell well below the Super Bowl expectations they harbored back in September. Maybe fans can write a playoff spot on their wish lists, but at 7-8, Cincy’s playoff hopes reside in other teams faltering at the finish line.
2025 will see Joe Burrow’s mega extension kick in, a Ja’Marr Chase extension (at least, we hope), and a defense that aspires to give up fewer than 27.6 points per game. The Bengals can get off to a good start in preparing for the next season by visiting Santa at the Kenwood Mall, telling him how good they’ve been, and hoping for the best.
Which players are on their wish list? Of those, which ones are realistic? Let’s find out.
A Reunion With An Old Friend
What are the holidays about if not for catching up with loved ones you’ve lost touch with? It’s been eight years since Kevin Zeitler left Cincinnati, and he’s done nothing since, except put together solid season after solid season. Not only has he had a great career, but the pending free agent would also fill a major position of need.
Also, pretty amazing to see Kevin Zeitler leading all guards in Pro Bowl voting in his 13th season in the league.
Zeitler made his first Pro Bowl in 2023.
Other former #Bengals in Top 10:
S Jessie Bates 5th
RB Joe Mixon 6th— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) December 2, 2024
Zeitler, who the Bengals reportedly tried to get back into the fold in 2021, has aged like a fine wine. He made his first Pro Bowl in 2023 and currently has the third-highest PFF grade (88.3) among all guards. He’s also the third-highest-graded run blocker (88.0), which would be a great fit for a Bengals team that is one of the worst run-blocking teams in the league.
With Alex Cappa as a potential cut candidate, slotting the former Bengal into Cappa’s spot would be a tremendous upgrade. Zeitler would bring much-needed veteran leadership, top-tier abilities the team currently lacks, and the move would repair a burned bridge for a city that is working hard to repair their burned bridges.
An Ageless Future Hall of Famer
The Bengals’ linebacking corps has largely fallen flat all season. Logan Wilson, Cincinnati’s clear-cut best player at the position, is currently out for the year after undergoing knee surgery. Germaine Pratt, the Bengals’ other starting linebacker, has regressed over the last few years and has become a liability at times.
Acquiring a pending free agent who is almost assuredly headed for the Hall of Fame and already has a Super Bowl ring would greatly benefit a defense that needs any help it can get. Enter Bobby Wagner.
bobby wagner today
1.5 sacks
1 TFL
2 QBH
1 FFWell on his way to ANOTHER pro bowl selection. This guy just doesn’t age.
— Kaden. (@DlSTRICTSPORTS) October 6, 2024
Despite being 34 years old, Wagner has not slowed down in the slightest and remains the complete package. He has 3.0 sacks (10th among all linebackers) and 19 pressures (fifth among linebackers), both of which are a major part of why he is the highest-graded pass-rushing linebacker in the NFL this season (89.9 grade). As a run defender, he ranks 18th in the NFL with 39 defensive stops and has the sixth-highest run defense grade among all linebackers (90.5).
On a young defense loaded with potential but light on results, Wagner can provide stability at the top and shepherd along the next generation. He would bring the team captain-ship that Zac Taylor can’t get enough of.
If you were worried this wish list would only consist of aging veterans — Don’t.
A Visit From Saint Nic
Getting five sacks against Dorian Thompson-Robinson covers this up a tiny bit, but the Bengals entered Sunday with the second-fewest sacks in the league (25; now 30). Making this worse is that Trey Hendrickson is responsible for nearly half of them (13.5) as the NFL’s sack leader.
2024 Sacks Leaders:
12.5 – Trey Hendrickson
12.0 – Danielle Hunter
11.5 – Nik Bonitto
11.5 – T.J. Watt
11.0 – Myles GarrettAll Leaders: https://t.co/OCkSRmufvB
— Pro Football Reference (@pfref) December 20, 2024
While the Bengals will look to Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai to take a step forward after taking over for the injured Sam Hubbard, the Bengals need to use the draft to improve their pass rush, regardless of how either young edge rusher performs.
They can do that by sending “Saint Nic” down their chimney.
Bleacher Report has the Bengals selecting Texas A&M Edge Nic Scourton in a way-too-early 2025 mock draft.
Scourton is coming off a 10 sack season at Purdue where he also recorded 15 tackles for loss.
Always fun to look ahead a little bit. pic.twitter.com/rfovsiDHCw
— Bengalscentre (@benga1scentre) April 29, 2024
It’s entirely possible Scourton will be out of reach for a Bengals team that has won three consecutive games, hurting their draft position. But if there is a universe where Scourton is available to Cincinnati, Duke Tobin would be wise to make that selection. Scourton has an ideal build for a defensive end (6-foot-4, 280 pounds) and is an instinctual pass rusher whose play style translates well to the pro level. His advanced technique is rare for a player so young — he doesn’t turn 21 until August! If Saint Nick can deliver the Bengals Saint Nic, then they’ll be well on their way to a Happy New Year.
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