Predicting Bengals final 53-man roster reveals major improvement
By Aaron Burd
Quarterbacks (3): Joe Burrow, Ryan Finley, Jake Dolegala
Quarterback is the position that has been at the forefront of every fan’s mind this offseason, and the Bengals finally got their guy in first overall pick Joe Burrow.
With the departure of Andy Dalton, there will be competition for the backup spot behind Burrow. Ryan Finley and Jake Dolegala are two young players who could develop into a solid backup for the new franchise quarterback. I expect both to make the team in 2020.
Running Backs (4): Joe Mixon, Giovani Bernard, Rodney Anderson, Trayveon Williams
The Bengals’ running back position is probably the group that experienced the least turnover in the 2020 offseason. Because of that, the players to make the roster should not be too unexpected.
Joe Mixon and Giovani Bernard are no-brainers. Behind them, Rodney Anderson and Trayveon Williams are both sixth-round picks from 2019 who have the potential to develop into more than just backups.
Wide Receivers (6): A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, John Ross III, Auden Tate, Alex Erickson
Perhaps the most exciting group on the roster, the backend of this group will feature heavy competition. While the first five spots are virtual locks in A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins, John Ross, and Auden Tate, the last spot could be multiple different players.
Damion Willis, Stanley Morgan Jr., Mike Thomas, and more could compete for the spot, but I expect Alex Erickson to win out due to his kick return abilities. Willis and Morgan Jr. could be stashed away on the practice squad to develop more.
Tight Ends (3): Drew Sample, C.J. Uzomah, Cethan Carter
One of the more questionable positions on the team, tight end is a risky group for the Bengals in 2020. With longtime fan favorite Tyler Eifert departing for Jacksonville in free agency, Drew Sample and C.J. Uzomah will have bigger roles.
At the back of the group, Cethan Carter and Mason Schreck should compete for the third and final spot. This one could be a coin toss, but I give Carter the edge.
Offensive Line (9): Jonah Williams, Michael Jordan, Trey Hopkins, Xavier Su’a-Filo, Fred Johnson, Bobby Hart, Billy Price, Hakeem Adeniji, Alex Redmond
Widely regarded as the weakest group on the Bengals’ roster, the offensive line will be an interesting experiment in 2020. There are not going to be many surprise cuts among this group, mostly because the team cannot afford to thin the line out any further.