Bengals are a viable landing spot for veteran tackle amid latest o-line concerns

Here we are again with the Cincinnati Bengals listed as a landing spot for an offensive lineman looking for a new home this season.

After a preseason game against the Detroit Lions, in which franchise quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked and hit too many times for anyone's liking, we should have expected that the subject of the offensive line would come up once again.

Now, Bleacher Report lists a veteran offensive tackle as a landing spot for the Bengals as the offensive line once again becomes the target of local and national attention.

Cincy linked to veteran tackle

Bleacher Report’s Kristopher Knox recently released his remaining bargain free agents and named offensive tackle Cam Robinson as a player who could end up with the Bengals.

Of Robinson, Knox writes, “Given the importance of protecting Joe Burrow, the Cincinnati Bengals should also consider Robinson as a Plan B behind Orlando Brown Jr.”

The nine-year vet was still playing at a high level at the end of the 2023 season, in which he posted a 97.4 pass-block efficiency rate for the Jaguars. However, Robinson hasn't been that dominant a force since then.

The Jaguars traded Robinson to the Vikings mid-season in 2024. Then, in 2025, Robinson signed with the Houston Texans as a free agent. However, the veteran tackle quickly found himself in a familiar situation when the Texans abruptly traded him to the Cleveland Browns.

Last season, Robinson started 12 games for the Elves. Now, he remains available for any team looking to bolster their depth along the offensive line.

Robinson stacks up favorably against Bengals tackles

Last season, Pro Football Focus gave Robinson a 56.2 pass-block grade and a 48.3 run-block grade.

In comparison, PFF gave Cody Ford a 53.0 and 41.7 grade in those same categories, respectively. Now, Cincinnati has decided to kick him inside to guard and move last year's fifth-round pick, Jalen Rivers, back to tackle, where he played his final season at the University of Miami.

As a guard last year, Rivers scored a 23.8 pass-blocking grade and a 34.8 run-blocking grade for an overall 31, which ranked 80th out of 81 eligible guards.

However, there are other options on the roster that need to get a look this preseason.

Bengals looking for a home-made elixir 

While Knox calls the Bengals a “logical landing spot,” the team hopes to address those concerns with players already on the roster. 

The coaching staff obviously isn't content with what they have seen from Rivers at guard or Ford at tackle. But if Rivers does not work out on the outside, the Bengals still have options who should get long looks in the third preseason game against a formidable Philadelphia Eagles defense.

In particular, we have already noted that undrafted rookie free agent Corey Robinson II should be in the running for a tackle spot on the roster. However, the Bengals have him listed as a guard, despite his success at tackle at Arkansas, specifically on the left side of the line.

The Bengals are also likely to give extended looks to Javon Foster and rookie sixth-round draft pick Brian Parker II at tackle in the final preseason game before giving Cam Robinson a call.

While everyone rushes to get rid of even more preseason games, coaches and players like Robinson II, Foster, and Parker II must take advantage of every extra rep offered. 

Not enough of a bargain for Bengals

Another reason we shouldn't expect Robinson in stripes anytime soon is what he could ask for in compensation, despite Knox listing him as a bargain.

Robinson signed a one-year, $12 million deal with the Texans last offseason. Spotrac values Robinson at $13.1 million for one year. Cincinnati isn't going to pay for a backup tackle behind Orlando Brown Jr.

Robinson could be waiting for a desperate team to pay him something close to that. However, the Bengals are nowhere near that desperate and are nowhere near that number.

Nevertheless, if things don't go the way the coaching staff wants with their current candidates, veteran Robinson could be an option, but at a much lower price if he is willing to play ball.

Or, the Bengals could get even more aggressive after Joe Burrow's most recent comments and seek a significant trade for a borderline starter who could take over for whichever spot along the offensive line the team feels is not holding up their end of the deal this season. 

However, if the Bengals do bring in Robinson as a backup, he would be a slight upgrade at tackle over Cody Ford, if you agree with PFF. He would also certainly be under $12 million for one year.

Expect the team to focus on in-house candidates before ringing Robinson’s phone.

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