Cincinnati Bengals: 3 Targets a Week Before Free Agency Opens

The Bengals should attempt to make their offensive line as airtight as possible, with Joe Burrow likely coming in to lead the franchise.

Offensive line coach Jim Turner will be getting Jonah Williams back from injury. The hope is the highly regarded prospect can lock down the left tackle spot. Trey Hopkins played well a season ago, earning him the right to anchor the line at the center position. The team is expecting a big developmental jump from Michael Jordan to shore up one of the guard spots.

That leaves two spots along the offensive trenches unaccounted for and although there are some options on the team, signing veteran Bryan Bulaga away from the Packers would go a long way to ensure Burrow stays upright during his rookie campaign.

Recently, we analyzed offensive line rebuilds of the past decade. Of the units that went from one of the worst-ranked groups, (according to Pro Football Focus) to one of the best the very next year, a majority of them signed a veteran over the age of 30 to lead the trenches. Bulaga, at age 31 with his plethora of experience, certainly qualifies as that.

His price tag shouldn’t be ridiculous either, as Spotrac has his market value set at $10.8 million per season, which is a small price to pay to acquire the services of the steady right tackle and protect the face of the franchise.