Dec 28, 2024; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) celebrates following his landing cross to huge receiver Tee Higgins (5) in the course of the fourth quarter towards the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium. Necessary Credit score: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Photographs | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Photographs
The Cincinnati Bengals added strong gamers in free company, nevertheless it nonetheless felt like there was a gap or two on the protection.
Then they crammed that gap with Dexter Lawrence.
After that, they added some spunk to the cross rush by drafting Cashius Howell within the second spherical. For these causes and extra, Chase Senior of Chat Sports activities has the Bengals as the most effective workforce within the AFC in his post-Draft rankings.
NFL energy rankings after NFL Free Company and the NFL Draft. #NFL pic.twitter.com/OwUEMkarov
— Chase Senior (@Chase_Senior) April 30, 2026
When requested why, he responded with:
When Joe Burrow is wholesome, is perhaps the second finest QB within the NFL. Chase and Higgins are an elite WR duo.. Main enhancements on protection: buying and selling for Dexter Lawrence, signed Boye Mafe, Bryan Prepare dinner, Kyle Dugger, drafted Cassius [sic] Howell and Tacario Davis. Final 12 months with Burrow lacking a ton of time, they had been nonetheless twelfth in PPG, third in purple zone scoring. Achilles heel has been their protection which I believe is a lot better
Exhausting to argue with that.
Whereas we’ve seen different analysts and even oddsmakers just lately present doubt within the Bengals’ probabilities of being a contender subsequent season, everyone knows this workforce has the potential for a particular season, so it’s good to see another person believes on this workforce’s potential.
We recapped the Draft and the Lawrence commerce in our most up-to-date present.
