Cincinnati Bengals: Offensive line is home to the team’s best-kept secret
The Cincinnati Bengals have a secret weapon on the roster and surprisingly, it’s along the offensive line. This would surprise most people, as the Bengals’ offensive line was not good a season ago. In fact, it was so bad that it led to rookie quarterback Joe Burrow getting injured and missing the final six games of his first pro season.
Yet, even with all of that in mind, the Bengals’ best-kept secret is on their offensive line. According to Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, that guy is center Trey Hopkins, who is entering his sixth season with the Bengals. The team struck gold when they signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Texas and he’s become a staple on the o-line for Cincinnati.
Knox offered this analysis as to why he chose Hopkins as the Bengals’ best-kept secret:
"In 2020, Hopkins played 938 offensive snaps and was responsible for only one sack and three penalties, according to Pro Football Focus.Cincinnati’s offensive line was not good last year, as it allowed 48 sacks and watched as rookie quarterback Joe Burrow was lost for the season to a knee injury. However, Hopkins was a bright spot and should once again have a prominent role in 2021."
Trey Hopkins is the Cincinnati Bengals’ best-kept secret.
The Bengals obviously believe in Hopkins moving forward though they did draft center Trey Hill in the sixth round of this year’s draft. Perhaps this is because Hopkins will be a free agent following the 2022 season and the Bengals wanted to make sure they had a replacement in case they can’t retain their former UDFA find.
It’s a good sign that the Bengals’ secret weapon is on their offensive line because fans want reinsurance that the line will be better this year. The Bengals did their part in trying to improve the unit, signing Riley Reiff in free agency, and drafting Jackson Carman out of Clemson in the second round. They’re planning on moving Carman to guard though, which could go either way.
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Hopefully, Hopkins lives up to his hype and can continue to flourish along the o-line this year. He really was quite the UDFA gem for Cincinnati and the team is fortunate to have him under contract for the next two years.