The Cincinnati Bengals were just a minute and a half away from winning their first Super Bowl in franchise history before eventually falling to the Los Angeles Rams.
While many thought the Bengals would see how close they got and choose to sit on their hands and run it back with the same roster in 2022, that has been anything but the case. The Cincinnati front office has gone out of its way to get stronger and add players through free agency.
While moves such as big-time signings along the offensive line or re-signing B.J. Hill are sure to help them immensely in their quest for a world championship, there are still a few moves the Bengals could make to really put them over the edge.
They are on the right track, but these five moves would make them a complete team that should be considered frontrunners in the race for a Super Bowl.
5. Re-sign Larry Ogunjobi
The first order of business for the Bengals’ front office is one that they could get done immediately if they wanted to. There is a gaping hole in the interior of the defensive line, and luckily for them, they have an in-house free agent available at the position.
Defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi was a big difference-maker for the Bengals’ defense in 2021 before missing the majority of the playoffs with an injury.
Ogunjobi earned himself a lucrative contract from the Chicago Bears but had the offer pulled when he failed to pass a physical. Due to this, Ogunjobi will likely have to take another one-year prove-it deal for cheap, which the Bengals should pounce on.
To have Ogunjobi back alongside D.J. Reader and B.J. Hill would be huge for a Bengals defense that carried the team through the playoffs.
In the Super Bowl, depth along the defensive line was one of the things that ultimately led to their loss. On the Rams’ game-winning drive, the Bengals had many of their top linemen on the sidelines catching their breath and the backups couldn’t pressure Matthew Stafford.
If Cincinnati wants to actually win a Super Bowl, maintaining a solid rotation along the defensive line will be crucial.