The Cincinnati Bengals have something special with Joe Burrow, now they must turn the focus onto protecting the former first overall pick. This season he was sacked the third-most all-time in a single season, despite that, the former LSU Tiger led the stripes to their first Super Bowl since 1989.
The 2002 Texans, 1986 Eagles, and now the 2022 Bengals are the only teams in NFL history that have allowed 70 or more sacks in a single season. The Texans allowed 76 and finished the season with a 4-12 record. The Eagles allowed 72 and finished the season with a 5-10-1 record. While the Eagles and Texans ranked toward the bottom of the league after allowing 70 sacks in a season, the Bengals made it all the way to the Super Bowl.
The fact that the Bengals made it to the Super Bowl while giving up an immense number of sacks shows that Burrow is one of a kind, and the Bengals must go all-in on protecting him. If Cincinnati fails at protecting their franchise centerpiece, the Queen City may have an Andrew Luck case on their hands.
Offensive-line free agents the Bengals should target
Morgan Moses – The 30-year-old free agent played 94 percent of the Jets’ offensive snaps in the 2021-2022 season. Moses impressed in the 16 games he started in, as the Virginia alumni finished the season graded at 71, according to PFF. Moses had only three penalties called on him and only allowed four sacks in 2021. The Richmond, native is projected to sign a three-year deal for around $7.5 million per year, per Spotrac.
Laken Tomlinson – The Duke alumni didn’t miss a single offensive snap for the 49ers in 2021, this is the third year in a row Tomlinson hasn’t missed a single offensive snap. Tomlinson’s availability could be argued as his best asset. The Chicago native only allowed two sacks in 2021 while also only having five penalties called on him. Tomlinson, the former first-round pick earned a 73.6 overall grade from PFF in 2021 and is projected to sign a three-year deal for around $9 million per year, per PFF.
Offensive-line draft prospects the Bengals should pursue
Bernhard Raimann – Just two years ago, Raimann was playing tight end, now the Austria native is a top O-line prospect in the 2022 NFL Draft. Raimann received a 94.3 overall grade from PFF and only allowed a total of 10 pressures while playing for Central Michigan in 2021. The 24-year-old was named First Team All-MAC and selected to the Senior Bowl All-American team in 2021 as well.
Zion Johnson – The 6’3″ guard started his college career at Davidson before transferring to Boston College. While at Boston College, Johnson earned a spot on the All-ACC First Team and secured a spot on ESPN’s All-American team in 2021.
ESPN’s Todd McShay ranked the Maryland native as the second-best guard available in the 2022 draft. During the 2021 season, Johnson started all 12 games for the Eagles while only allowing a total of six pressures all year.
The Bengals finished the 2021-2022 season with the 20th best offensive line, according to PFF. If Cincinnati makes some of the necessary moves to upgrade this offensive line, Burrow will make sure the Bengals are a team to be reckoned with for many years to come.