The Cincinnati Bengals have turned things around quite rapidly. They are now one of the true contenders in the AFC, capable of not only hanging with but regularly defeating the other best teams in the conference.
A loaded offense led by quarterback Joe Burrow is a big reason for that. After advancing to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season, the Bengals fell just short of making another trip, losing to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship Game. This is a team that is here to stay but to get over the hump, a few more upgrades are needed.
Cincinnati has to figure out a way to protect Burrow. He has gotten beaten and battered through the first three seasons of his NFL career. He has absorbed 124 sacks in 42 regular season games and 29 more in seven playoff games. Even more quarterback hits have occurred and that will eventually catch up to him.
While fixing the offensive line remains a concern, another area that the Bengals have to address is their pass rush. They struggled to get consistent pressure on the opposing quarterback with only 30 sacks in 2022, which was the fourth fewest in the NFL.
For them to find success late in the postseason, they need to be able to get after the quarterback more consistently. They have been a popular mocked landing spot for Cam Jordan should the New Orleans Saints trade him to clear cap space. With money to spend in free agency, the Bengals could also seek help on the open market.
One player who should pique their interest is Yannick Ngakoue. Ngakoue, a third-round pick in the 2016 NFL Draft, is as consistent as it gets as a pass rusher. He has recorded at least eight sacks in every season of his professional career.
Despite that, he has struggled to find a consistent home. Since spending the first four seasons of his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars, Ngakoue has played for four teams in three seasons, getting traded three times.
Looking for a long-term home, the Bengals could provide him with that. Cincinnati is projected to sign the talented pass rusher to a four-year, $54 million deal. Ngakoue would provide the Bengals with a bookend for Trey Hendrickson, giving them a much-needed pass-rushing boost on the edge.
