Way too early projection of Bengals starting offensive line in 2022

Right Guard: Jackson Carman

Right guard was the hardest position to project but I went with Jackson Carman. The Bengals took Carman in the second round of this year’s draft with the intention of having him play guard despite him playing tackle in college so it doesn’t feel like they’d give up on having him start just two years into his career.

Carman had a rough preseason but when he was inserted into the lineup in Week 3, he played well. It went downhill from there, however, and Carman’s PFF grade is 43.5 after 10 games and five starts.

Assuming the Bengals do indeed re-sign Spain to play left guard, the biggest question mark on the line — once again — will be right guard. So far this season, Xavier Su’a-Filo, Carman, Trey Hill, and Hakeem Adeniji have all taken snaps at right guard with Adeniji currently serving at the position. It’ll likely come down to Adeniji, Carman, or D’Ante Smith for who gets to start at the spot in 2021.

Spain and Reiff’s futures will answer a lot of other questions about how right guard could shape up. If neither is re-signed, the three players I just mentioned could end up starting at left guard, right guard, and right tackle instead.