This past postseason, the Bengals did the impossible, they made the Super Bowl with a piss poor offensive line. Through four playoff games, Cincinnati’s offensive line allowed 19 sacks and lost 137 yards; Joe Burrow took an absolute BEATING. After seeing the thumping that their young quarterback took in the postseason, the Bengals front office went out and picked up key pieces to keep Burrow upright in the 2022-2023 season.
Upgrading The Center Position
Typically on a poor offensive line there are only one or two underperforming offensive linemen. For the Bengals, they were terrible at multiple positions so they addressed the interior and exterior. A great signing was the addition of the very versatile Ted Karras. I personally love this signing. Karras has the ability to play all three interior positions and did so in 2021 for New England.
Bouncing from position to position is difficult, but Karras excelled as a traveling blocker. This past season, the Illinois alum played 829 snaps and allowed only 3 sacks and committed 2 penalties. Bringing in Karras is an immediate upgrade at center from last years option, Trey Hopkins. Hopkins toted a PFF score of 51.4% on 928 snaps while allowing 4 sacks and committing 4 penalties.
Burrow should be thrilled by this addition as this signing alone takes Cincinnati’s offensive line to the next level. Cincinnati gave Karras a 3 year, 18 million dollar deal with 7 million in 2022.
The Interior Only Gets Beefier
While the addition of Ted Karras is sweet, the interior only gets better by bringing in guard Alex Cappa. Cappa is ten times better than every guard currently on the Bengals roster and solidifies a solid interior offensive line. His presence will open up holes for Joe Mixon in the run game and keep Joe Burrow off his ass against pass rushers like Cam Heyward, Jeffery Simmons, and Chris Jones.
The Humboldt State alum allowed 5 sacks with only 1 penalty on 1,182 snaps and posted a PFF grade of 73.8%. This grade is better than Quinton Spains 72.3%, Jackson Carmans 56.3%, and Hakeem Adenijis 48.3%; the Bengals three other guards on roster. Cappa is phenomenal in the run game when he pulls and shows tremendous athleticism on pass plays.
What an awesome value pickup here that doesn’t break the bank for Cincinnati as they signed Cappa to a 4 year, 40 million dollar contract. Another step in the right direction.
What Late Addition Make The Bengals Line Elite?
As the dust began to settle during free agency, Dallas released 28 year old tackle La’el Collins and I imagine that Bengals GM Mike Brown was drooling. Collins is a 6’4 mountain that will be the solidified starter at right tackle if he can stay healthy and not get suspended. In 2021, the LSU alum was slapped with a 5 game suspension for failing a drug test.
I personally love Collins physical style of play and think it matches what the Bengals needed. They didn’t need a soft, finesse tackle like Alejandro Villanueva; they needed a mauler in the trenches and got it. Collins played 671 snaps in 2021 with a PFF grade of 82%. He did a good job against solid edge rushers like Derek Barnett, Chase Young, and Montez Sweat only allowing 2 sacks on the season; one concern though is that he did record 8 penalties, but if he can cut that down then Cincinnati will be in business.
Bengals Projected 2022 Offensive Line
With those three big additions, the offensive line in front of Burrow will look a lot different. Ted Karras will anchor the offensive line at center while Alex Cappa takes over the right guard position. La’el Collins replaces Isaiah Prince and revamps the right tackle position which is arguably the biggest upgrade. On the left side of the line Jackson Carman will stick in at left guard while Jonah Williams keeps the left tackle position, for now.
If Cincinnati really wants to blow up last years unit then they should look at an offensive lineman with the 31st pick. Tyler Linderbaum from Iowa could be available here and would make for an awesome plug and play starter. If the Bengals take the Iowa kid, then Karras moves to left guard and Linderbaum starts from day one at center.
They could also take guard Kenyon Green. Green is very versatile and has the ability to play either guard position which would take Carman out of the lineup. If they want to target a tackle, Central Michigans Bernhard Raimann will be there. He could battle Jonah Williams for the starting left tackle position immediately. A lot of solid plug and play guys will be available at 31 to add a fourth new starter to the Bengals offensive line.
Joe Burrow has to be thrilled with what Mike Brown has done and this gives them a shot to get back to the Super Bowl.