Bengals Training Camp: 3 OL roster battles to watch on other teams

With the lack of good offensive line play, NFL front offices will scour rosters for opportunities to improve their situation. These are just three camp competitions from around the league that the Cincinnati Bengals should keep a close eye on. 

Even though the Cincinnati Bengals have their starting offensive line figured out, that shouldn’t stop the front office from continuing to search for talented o-linemen to add to the squad.

Here are some roster battles going on throughout the league to keep a watchful eye on.

Indianapolis Colts: Matt Pryor vs. Bernhard Raimann vs. Dennis Kelly

One of the most intriguing roster battles is taking place in Indianapolis. The Colts have three players vying for the left tackle position. The competition is between Matt Pryor, Bernhard Rainmann, and Dennis Kelly. Right now, Pryor is the starter.

If Raimann, a third-round draft pick, can win the job, that could make Pryor available. Pryor could ask for his release or a trade, and the Colts might oblige. However, Indy would be likelier to trade him rather than grant him a release because that would create $5,290,000 in dead cap money and save a paltry $255,000 in cap space.

Pryor is the type of player that the Cincinnati Bengals love. He played right guard, right tackle, and left tackle last year and he played very well in his stints at those positions.

Furthermore, the Bengals have a penchant for turning late-round and undrafted guys into starters. Pryor fits that bill as a former seventh-round selection by the Philadelphia Eagles in 2018.

If you are inclined to believe in such things, Pryor’s PFF grades indicate a substantial upgrade over Jackson Carman’s grade of 54.2.

If available, he could win the left guard job now. Cincinnati could also allow him to compete for the left tackle spot in 2023, depending on what happens with Jonah Williams.

With that said, it appears that Pryor is looking for a permanent home at one position along an offensive line. He clearly stated he is not here for the ‘versatile’ moniker. Cincinnati’s “weakest link” appears to be at left guard. He could find a home there and potentially the contract he is looking for.

If Pryor becomes available, he would be highly sought after via trade or waivers. However, a five million dollar contract is worth it for an added amelioration to a team in need of an offensive line upgrade.