Bengals’ approach at offensive line reaching critical moment with NFL Draft

All eyes in Cincinnati are on the Bengals and the offensive line in the first round of next week’s NFL Draft. Along with Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, the position has been the most mocked to Cincinnati, and for good reason.

The offensive line class is as talented at the top as any in recent memory. So many fit exactly the type the Bengals seek. They weren’t overaggressive in free agency, landing an ideal bridge tackle in Trent Brown on a reasonable one-year deal. They set the stage for a first-round tackle of the future who doesn’t have to play immediately.

More than just right tackle exists on the agenda for the oldest position group on a notably young roster. They will need an interior line pick at some point with eyes on what comes next at all three spots despite starters solidified for 2024.

There’s a history of significant whiffs drafting this position. They have to start replenishing and building. They can’t afford to miss again with the health of the franchise quarterback hanging in the balance.

Signed through (age) …

2024 season

• Ted Karras (31): Beloved captain, but could he follow a line of aging vets the Bengals let walk?
• Trent Brown (31): Likely another one-year rental at RT.
• Jackson Carman (24): His money starts to increase this year and he could easily be cut in camp.
• Cody Ford (27): Earned spot as reserve G/T and will hold that role again.
• D’Ante Smith (25): One of three 2021 OL picks fighting for a roster spot in camp.
• Trey Hill (24): Last of three 2021 OL picks fighting for a roster spot in camp.
• Jaxson Kirkland (ERFA, 25): Sleeper to make with a solid camp.
• Nathan Gilliam (ERFA, 26): Battle for practice squad.
• Devin Cochran (ERFA, 25): Battle for practice squad.

2025 season

• Alex Cappa (29): Level of play stayed steady and he’ll likely complete the full duration of his contract.
• Cordell Volson (25): Team liked how he started trending at the end of last year. If it continues, he could have a solid payday coming.

2026 season

• Orlando Brown Jr. (27): Money flips after the 2025 season where he could be a cap casualty, but he has solid standing now.

Profile they seek

Powerful, anchored pass protectors. Every conversation about the profile in protecting Joe Burrow begins with strength and pass protection. That’s what this offense will be geared around. Few will throw it more. Burrow desires a firm middle and can take care of the edge rushers with his pocket presence, but improvement at tackle offers more space for him to move. Does any offensive tackle need to be at least 6-foot-6 and 335 pounds? No. But employing the two monsters on the outside was not a coincidence, it was by design.

The Bengals will look to veteran Trent Brown to protect Joe Burrow at right tackle this season. (Jim McIsaac / Getty Images)

Top of the depth chart
• Trent Brown: 6-8, 355
• Orlando Brown: 6-8, 345
• Volson: 6-6, 315
• Cappa: 6-6, 310
• Karras: 6-4, 310
• Ford: 6-3, 329
• Carman: 6-5, 322

Five NFL guards were listed as at least 6-6 and 310 pounds to start at least eight games last year. The Bengals employ two of them.

There were five tackles at least 6-6 and 340 pounds to start at least eight games last year. The Bengals employ two of them.

Mock draft the largest humans on the planet to the Bengals and don’t think twice.

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They said it

New offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher on the team’s heavy lean into massive tackles and what it specifically brings with Orlando Brown and Trent Brown in the starting spots:

“When (Trent Brown) engages a rusher on the edge and that rusher tries to do anything other than run around him, he’s able to blunt that rush and keep the width of the pocket. A lot of time, quite honestly, guys just quit. Guys stop rushing. When they engage him and try to collapse him to the spot and are not going anywhere, they stop. That’s where size comes in.

“We’re all in search of the guys that can do all of it. Just because we lean in one direction, potentially, doesn’t mean we completely remove ourselves from another. It’s about finding the right balance. I still think we have variety of scheme based on how we are built. But you are on the right path with that assessment, it’s a sliding scale. Just like anything in life, you give something up to get something in return.”

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History of O-linemen taken in first 4 rounds

Going down the road of early offensive line selections can give Bengals fans nightmares. They’ve rarely worked out.

• 2022: Volson (4th round/pick 136)
• 2021: Carman (2nd/46)
• 2021: Smith (4th/139)
• 2019: Jonah Williams (1st/11th)
• 2019: Michael Jordan (4th/136)
• 2018: Billy Price (1st/21)
• 2015: Cedric Ogbuehi (1st/21)
• 2015: Jake Fisher (2nd/53)

Yet, nearly everything about the Bengals has changed in the last five years. If truly looking at an offensive line pick from this regime in premium rounds, the list is Williams and Carman. One solid, one bust. Say whatever you would like about Williams, his fifth-year option was exercised and he received a $15 million per year contract in free agency. Carman missed for reasons they banked and believe to have learned from. The solid contribution of Volson is an example of understanding mistakes, leaning more into players made of the right stuff and less specifically about traits. Should there be apprehension to go down this road again? Sure. It’s easy to understand fans who have been around long enough being nervous and nobody wants to see the next Ogbuehi/Price/Carman. There’s no reason to assume those misses suggest another is coming.

Stats to consider

Proper expectations will be important for using the No. 18 pick on a tackle. What matters most in Cincinnati will be pass protection. Keep Burrow clean, line 1.

Using recent history with PFF pass block grade (not a perfect metric, but a ballpark guide) you can track the performance of rookies as they progress through the first three years of their careers.

I’ve filtered to only those with at least 500 snaps at tackle as a rookie. They are broken down by dividing the tackle grades into four tiers (one being best, four worst).

There are three notable takeaways:

1. Don’t count on above-average pass protection as a rookie. Anything grading in the top half of the league is extremely rare, no matter the draft position. Only four of the 26 players tracked finished in the top half of tackles as a rookie. Nearly everyone struggles. This emphasizes the importance of easing a pick in behind Trent Brown on the right side.

2. Beware when picking outside of the top 15. Perhaps the depth of this year’s top group of tackles allows a typical top-15 pick to come off the board at 18 and break these molds, but the potential for disaster increases dramatically at that cliff. That doesn’t mean to expect a star, but avoiding awful play is relevant. Specifically, this is a cautionary tale to passing at 18 and taking a tackle in the second round.

3. If the Bengals pick a tackle in the first round, keep patience for 2025. More often than not, that’s exactly when the light turns on (or you know they don’t have it).

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Understanding the class

Dane Brugler has offensive tackles holding six of the top 20 overall prospects. That’s been known. Maybe the most notable element of the entire draft class. Sifting through them from a Bengals’ perspective is challenging work. More on that momentarily. A less discussed note about this class is the quality depth on the interior offensive line, specifically at center. It could set up to take a shot at finding an answer should Karras leave in free agency after this season.

“The tackles are going to get most of the love, they will go off the board early,” Brugler said on “The Growler” podcast. “But the depth is on the interior.”

Best Bengals fits

If considering the size, strength and pass protection emphasis, a slightly clearer view of the top tackle group can be ascertained. With an assumption Notre Dame’s Joe Alt will likely be first off the board, here’s my list of the most likely OTs available at the Bengals’ selection at 18.

1. Troy Fautanu, Washington: Arguably the best pass protector in the class. There’s a projection moving from the left side to the right side, but he also brings position versatility to play both inside and outside — even potentially center down the line. Incredible athlete.
2. Taliese Fuaga, Oregon State: All the makings of a Bengals target on and off the field. He could kick inside to guard or continue at RT where he manned the edge for the Beavers the last two years.
3. JC Latham, Alabama: The most proven, strongest, powerful dude in the group. His anchor demoralizes edge rushers in the same way Pitcher spoke about above. It would be a match if he makes it to 18.
4. Olu Fashanu, Penn State: Tremendously gifted prototype offensive tackle, but will he make it to 18? How comfortable would the Bengals be with a move to right tackle for him or convincing Orlando Brown to move? Those questions push him down the list.

Alabama’s JC Latham fits the profile the Bengals seek. (Brian Rothmuller / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

Variable

Amarius Mims, Georgia. Freakish in every way at 6-7, 340 pounds. Carries the weight unlike any have. His tape for the Bulldogs screams first round. Yet, he’s only started eight games. The Bengals had him in on a 30 visit and how they feel about the small sample size will go a long way to determining their interest.

Player personnel director Duke Tobin in Indianapolis on the problem of small sample size:

“There’s guys who have done it for four years and guys who have done it for one, and time on task is important and if a guy hasn’t been playing, you want to know why. If we’re satisfied with the ‘why’ you haven’t been playing, maybe there was a great player in front of you who is now starring in the NFL and now you get your turn, fine I accept that ‘why.’ If he was hurt and couldn’t play but if I’m playing behind guys that are seventh-round picks and finally play one year, I’m worried about that ‘why.’ So I want to know the ‘why.’”

Sleepers

IOL Cooper Beebe, Kansas State: Potential Round 2 target who would be the future at guard and could have a future at center. Strong, powerful and overflowing with football character background, the two-time captain would strengthen the interior with an eye toward the future.

IOL Beaux Limmer, Arkansas: He would be a Day 3 pick, but his power and durability were legendary for the Razorbacks. Plus, he offers flexibility at multiple positions with a chance to develop into a starter in 2025.

OT Patrick Paul, Houston: Massive frame the Bengals could spend a year molding in the background and call upon if needed. At 6-7, 331 pounds, he would blend right in and come made of the right stuff as a two-time team captain.

Prediction

I still think this ends where we thought it would in the earliest days of draft evaluation. The intersection of need and draft strength is the collection of right tackles expected to go off the board in the teens. One of them should make it to Cincinnati. The order they come off is knowledge the entire league would like to know. My bet lands on Fautanu being the guy to make it to the Bengals. Toss in a Day 3 interior offensive lineman, as well.

(Top photo of Troy Fautanu: Jordon Kelly / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)