The Cincinnati Bengals will soon cut their roster down to 53 players, and as improved as their core group is for the 2026 season, there's still plenty of room for improvement. Duke Tobin should actually have a lot of concern about multiple positions.
We have ourselves a full-blown, DEFCON 1 emergency at swing tackle. Once Cody Ford was mercifully excused from that so-called competition, that left only Jalen Rivers and Javon Foster as the primary contenders.
But that's not the only problem spot in Cincinnati. Yes, I have a viable swing tackle candidate to target who may soon be released...in addition to a couple other potential solutions for other holes, or at least areas that could use upgrades.
Broncos RB Jaleel McLaughlin may be squeezed out of Denver's crowded backfield
As if the injury scare to Ja'Marr Chase wasn't enough to get Who Dey Heads' hearts in their throats, Dexter Lawrence pulverized Bengals backup running back Samaje Perine in Tuesday's practice. Although Perine was OK, it was a reminder of how delicate Cincinnati's backfield depth is behind Chase Brown.
While I'm trying to Joe Burrow-style manifest a trade to score San Francisco 49ers running back Isaac Guerendo, I'd settle for Jaleel McLaughlin of Denver Broncos fame.
McLaughlin was put on notice in the 2026 NFL Draft when the Broncos selected Jonah Coleman out of Washington in the fourth round. With J.K. Dobbins and RJ Harvey entrenched as Denver's top 1-2 punch and Coleman being a priority to get on the field, it's down to Tyler Badie or McLaughlin for the probable last roster spot for the reigning AFC runners-up.
Badie eclipsed McLaughlin as the Broncos' primary situational No. 3 running back last season. He played over twice as many snaps (225 to 106 by PFF's count) and established himself as a superior pass-catching option.
I feel like McLaughlin is in Sean Payton's doghouse for some unknown reason. That dude is weird and temperamental.
All I know is, McLaughlin would be a huge upgrade from what little we've seen from Bengals 2025 sixth-round pick Tahj Brooks. McLaughlin has averaged a healthy 4.8 yards per carry through three seasons and only has 285 regular-season touches of tread on his tires. I say give him a crack at the RB3 or even future RB2 spot in Cincy.
Bengals could find their swing tackle solution in the AFC North with Jack Driscoll
Pretty easy math here. Hurt the division rival Pittsburgh Steelers by snatching Jack Driscoll, who spent his first five seasons (save for a Miami practice squad stint between Years 4 and 5) developing with the Philadelphia Eagles.
That Eagles group was a great offensive line of studs to learn from. Also, if elite Eagles GM Howie Roseman is a believer in Driscoll's talent, so am I!
Driscoll has played both tackle spots during his career, mostly at right tackle, and has a lot of reps at right guard as well. He can be a little hit or miss in the running game but is pretty darn solid in pass protection.
As for the Steelers' side of this, they drafted a right tackle in the first round of this year's draft in Max Iheanachor. Pittsburgh's latest depth chart has him as a backup to Dylan Cook, while Troy Fautanu is the starter at left tackle.
If the Squealers were keen to move off of past first-round pick/fringe roster-able swing tackle Broderick Jones, I'm pretty sure they would've done it a while back. Instead, they waited for him to recover from spinal fusion surgery. That was an eight-month process. He only returned in late July for training camp.
Safe to say Driscoll is on the bubble in Pittsburgh, no? And if he's axed, the Bengals should absolutely swoop in.
Isaiah Simmons is a versatile chess piece who'd raise the floor for Cincinnati's special teams (at least)
Check out Isaiah Simmons' career snap count splits, per PFF:
- 579 snaps on the defensive line (EDGE)
- 1,316 snaps in the box
- 792 snaps in the slot
- 80 snaps as a boundary cornerback
- 71 snaps at deep safety
Beginning his career with an aimless, moribund Arizona Cardinals franchise didn't exactly help Simmons live up to his billing as the No. 8 overall pick from 2020. The Cards couldn't figure out where to put him, but even still, Simmons was quite productive.
After a couple years with the Giants and spending last season with the Panthers, the 28-year-old Simmons is on Carolina's roster bubble. He blocked a punt in the Panthers' last game against the Los Angeles Rams, and his raw athleticism is a massive asset on special teams.
Love me some PJ Jules, but if you're telling me the Bengals can nab Isaiah Simmons in the possible event that Carolina cuts him, sign me up.
Simmons is not only a boon to the kick coverage units in Cincinnati; he could be a Swiss Army Knife type of versatile defender in Al Golden's scheme. Golden is keen to deploy Boye Mafe and Cashius Howell in a hybrid Viper role, which is mostly on the edge and a bit of off-ball linebacker.
Doesn't that sound like what Simmons is best suited for? Plus, he's far better in coverage than he gets credit for, allowing five TDs against four INTs since 2021.
Whether the Bengals would line him up at safety (his listed position in Carolina), linebacker, or a combination of both, Simmons is an ideal back end of the roster guy.
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