The Cincinnati Bengals still need to fix their offensive line and that was clear as day in their win over the Raiders on Sunday. Yes, the team won, but the offensive line wasn’t to thank for that. Joe Burrow was pressured far too much and considering the reason he missed the last chunk of his rookie season, the Bengals have to start taking the o-line issues more seriously.
Through two offseasons with Burrow as the expected QB1, Cincinnati hasn’t put the work in on the offensive line. That has to change this offseason if this team wants to officially turn the page and throw their hat into the Super Bowl ring.
So, with all of that in mind, we’re going to take a look at a WAAAAAY too early (that can’t be overstated) offensive line projection for next year. Before we dive all the way in, I’ll note that Quinton Spain (left guard) and Riley Reiff (right tackle) are slated to hit free agency. If they both leave, the Bengals will have to fill those two spots obviously.
The other starters are all slated to return to Cincinnati (though that doesn’t mean they all will) and we’ll dive into who should retain their job and who might be elsewhere in 2022.
So, let’s check out the way too early offensive line projection for 2022.
Left Tackle: Jonah Williams
The Bengals spent the 11th overall pick on Jonah Williams in the 2019 NFL Draft and he’ll be entering the fourth year of his rookie deal in 2022. Cincinnati will likely pick up Williams’ fifth-year option, tying him to the organization through at least 2023.
While Bengals fans have mixed opinions on Williams, he’s a serviceable left tackle and should be able to hold onto the job moving forward. PFF has given him a grade of 74.7, proving he’s one of the better left tackles in the league.
The issue with Williams has been injuries. He missed all of his rookie season due to injury and missed six games in 2020. Seeing him remain healthy to this point of the 2021 season has been a good sign for the future.
Good left tackles are hard to find and Williams has proven to be just that. He’ll be the starting left tackle in 2022 barring something unusual.
Left Guard: Quinton Spain
I mentioned on the intro slide that Quinton Spain is set to hit free agency this offseason. While the Bengals have a reputation for not wanting to spend money, they hit free agency hard last offseason and brought in a lot of high-end talent.
Spain is one of the players they re-signed and it was met with mixed opinions. He wasn’t great in 2020 but the Bengals gave him another shot and it’s paid off, as he’s looked great this year. He currently has a PFF grade of 74.8 through 10 starts.
The good news for the Bengals regarding a potential Spain reunion in 2022 is that left guard isn’t nearly as coveted as left tackle. He’s also 30 years old and will turn 31 ahead of next season so a team might not want to give him a big contract.
With all of that said, there’s a decent chance that Spain is back next year. Maybe the Bengals sign him for two years instead of a one-year flier but either way, hopefully, he remains a member of the Cincinnati Bengals moving forward.
Center: Tyler Linderbaum
Well, this is an unfamiliar name, isn’t it, Bengals fans?
Before we dive into more about Tyler Linderbaum, let’s discuss the current state of the center position in Cincinnati. Trey Hopkins looked like a steal at the position but he hasn’t been the same player since tearing his ACL in the Bengals’ final game last season.
To this point, Hopkins is a liability on the o-line and it’s time for the Bengals to explore other options at center. Tyler Linderbaum of Iowa looks to be the best center prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft and if the Bengals have a shot at him, they shouldn’t hesitate to add him to their roster.
When I did a mock draft simulation on Pro Football Network, Linderbaum — who was the No. 16 prospect on the site — was available when the Bengals were on the clock in the first round. He’d be hard to pass up considering the team’s need for a starting center in 2022.
One thing is for sure though — Hopkins shouldn’t be the starting center for the Bengals past 2021.
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.
Right Tackle: Riley Reiff
Bengals fans might roll their eyes at me predicting both Quinton Spain and Riley Reiff returning in 2022 but Cincinnati proved this year that they’re willing to bring in talent through free agency. Reiff played left tackle during his time in Detroit and Minnesota so the Bengals bringing him in to play right tackle was risky.
While Reiff hasn’t been perfect, he still has a respectable PFF grade of 69.8. The Bengals got him for a bargain of a price too after he was less popular than people anticipated on the free-agent market.
Reiff turns 33 in December, which could make him easier to retain. If the Bengals don’t end up re-signing Reiff, Hakeem Adeniji could be another option to start at right tackle. Adeniji has played at right guard since returning off the IR and it’s been hit and miss.
Jackson Carman and D’Ante Smith could be options at right tackle too if Reiff isn’t retained.
How do you think the Bengals’ offensive line will look in 2022?