Bengals Roster: 5 sleepers who can make a difference in 2022

Sleepers are considered players that many aren’t expecting a ton from. Here are five sleepers on the Cincinnati Bengals roster. 

The Cincinnati Bengals have a team that is structured very similarly to last season outside of a few minor changes and a few new additions to both sides of the football. The offensive line is what has been revamped the most with the expectation that there should be at least three new starting offensive linemen who weren’t in Cincinnati last season.

The tight end position will also look different with C.J. Uzomah out and Hayden Hurst in. Besides that, there have only been depth pieces added to what the Bengals already had in place.

Regardless some names will need to contribute if the Cincinnati Bengals want to get back to the playoffs and, more importantly, the Super Bowl. Here are some potential sleepers to watch during the 2022 NFL season.

All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference

5. Jackson Carman

Jackson Carman is heading into his second season after being selected in the second round out of Clemson in 2021. Carman had a consistent and very successful college career but was raw throughout his rookie season.

This is a massive year for Carman; The left guard spot is the only open job on the offensive line after the new additions across it during free agency. Many think that Carman is the favorite to maintain that job, but he has to go out and earn it.

Rookie Cordell Volson has been no slouch so far during camp, and D’Ante Smith, Trey Hill, and Hakeem Adeniji aren’t just going to roll over either. The second-year Ohio native will have to impress Frank Pollack and Zac Taylor to win the job. However, as of right now, it is safe to say he has the edge in the LG battle.

According to Charlie Goldsmith of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Taylor spoke on the left guard spot and emphasized that there is still a long way to go for those in the competition.

If Carman can win the job and starts Week 1 at left guard, he will be the most significant question mark on the offensive line. Ted Karras, Alex Cappa, and La’el Collins have proven themselves productive and efficient players in this league.

Jonah Williams has only improved since being drafted in the first round a few years back. Teams will try and target that weakness, so that is exactly why Jackson Carman has to show why it isn’t a weakness and that teams can’t expose him.

4. Chris Evans

Chris Evans could play a vital and under-the-radar role for the Bengals’ special teams and the offense. Evans is the third running back on the depth chart, but he could easily see split snaps with Samaje Perine as the RB2.

Evans was also very effective as the kick returner last year when Brandon Wilson went down with a season-ending injury. Wilson could return to that role, but Evans will still be a piece the Bengals use in many different sets.

Evans is an excellent pass catcher and can be placed in the slot and catch passes out of the backfield, making him extremely useful in many different aspects. He should see a decent amount of time during the preseason as the lead back with the expectation that Joe Mixon doesn’t play that much, if at all.

Evans slowly progressed last season and saw a higher usage rate as the season developed. As a result, the Michigan product expects a more complex workload this season. Fans would like to see him in the RB2 role over Perine but Zac Taylor loves giving Perine the ball in big moments. Hopefully, Evans doesn’t get shelved again this year.

3. Akeem Davis-Gaither

This is a big season for Akeem Davis-Gaither. He is coming off a season-ending injury but has the chance to be a massive piece to the Bengals’ defense this season and fill a void they did not have last year.

Davis-Gaither is a more modern-day linebacker which favors his long-term game and the team. He’s very athletic and is effective in coverage, especially across the middle of the field.

Davis-Gaither will play a vital role on the defense alongside Logan Wilson, Germaine Pratt, and rotational linebackers like Markus Bailey and Joe Bachie who both overachieved when called upon last season.

Throughout Gaithers’ first two seasons in the NFL, he has logged 58 tackles, one forced fumble, and one interception. He only appeared in seven games last year and was a fourth-round selection out of Appalachian State, so he didn’t see significant playing time his rookie year. The talented product is heading into year three, and Cincinnati is very fond of his game.

Being a 6’2″, 228-pound athlete allows him to be used in different schemes for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. Akeem Davis-Gaither may not be a household name just yet; he could be an instrumental player for the Bengals’ continued success in 2022.

2. Joseph Ossai

Joseph Ossai could be one of the most anticipated players to watch for the Cincinnati Bengals. Ossai, in his rookie season, had a great training camp and translated it right away during the Bengals’ first preseason game. However, he never saw Week 1 as he suffered a season-ending injury before that chance.

Ossai has a constant motor and can be another critical pass rusher that teams across the NFL have no clue about yet. Ossai is an EDGE rusher that can also lineup in different schemes that can disguise him as a linebacker. The Texas product won’t be with the starting defensive line, but the Bengals often rotate a lot of additional linemen throughout a game, and Ossai could have an extremely high usage rate.

An exciting thing to watch as training camp and preseason roll along will be how Anarumo decides to use their depth at that spot. Rookie Jeffrey Gunter and Zachary Carter have been very impressive so far throughout camp, but don’t anticipate them stepping into a vital role right away.

Still, they could work their way up as the season develops. Khalid Kareem is returning from an injury, so he hasn’t had the opportunity to participate much just yet. Last season, he was the first guy off the bench along with Josh Tupou, an interior lineman.

Seeing what Joseph Ossai brings to the table in his second season should be an exciting treat for Cincinnati Bengals fans.

1. Daxton Hill

This one may or may not be the most obvious. A lot of it depends on what ends up happening with star safety Jessie Bates. However, whether Bates is on the field or not, Daxton Hill could significantly boost the Cincinnati Bengals’ defense.

Hill is a very intelligent and versatile safety. He can lineup in the slot and play the natural safety position with minor weaknesses. So far, throughout camp, he has shown very solid ball skills, which is a good sign because he is forced into being the starter in Week 1 against the Steelers he will need to be stout.

Hill has very good ball skills, which is why he could be the type of player that makes an instant impact and could be NFL-ready from the jump. However, with Jessie Bate there, his role could be a lot different than if he isn’t. If Bates is on the field, Hill may be forced to play in formations he may not have much experience in.

It will be extremely interesting to see how Lou Anarumo uses him if Bates plays, especially if he once puts Bates, Hill, and Bell on the field. Hill can play in the box as well as the slot, but the effectiveness at the NFL level will be unknown until we see it firsthand, either in the preseason or during the regular season.

Which of these sleepers are you most excited about in 2022?