The Cincinnati Bengals, despite plenty of regular season success in recent years, have failed to get anything done in the playoffs. Quarterback Andy Dalton is among the league's better passers, but he's had his struggles in the postseason and the team as a whole went back to the drawing board in the offseason.
2015 NFL depth charts: Bengals’ top draft picks may sit out rookie year
The Bengals are playing in a very competitive division and haven’t found success in the playoffs in past seasons. Have they done enough to improve this offseason?
Dalton is still there, but the Bengals need to change a few things. The team's lack of success after the regular season is a huge monkey on its back -- Cincinnati has lost in the Wild Card round of the playoffs for four straight years and hasn't won a postseason game since the 1990 season. It doesn't help that the AFC North is also one of the toughest divisions in football, as all four teams were in the playoff discussion through the first half of last season. When the playoffs rolled around, the Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers and Baltimore Ravens all made it in.
With free agency and the 2015 NFL Draft done, the Bengals have a good idea of what their team is going to look like next season. Have they done enough to put themselves on top of the division and, more importantly, find success in the playoffs? Let's take a look at some important questions surrounding this team.
What’s actually going on with the offensive line?
The Bengals grabbed two talented offensive linemen with their first two draft picks. That bodes well for Dalton and the offense as a whole, but many criticized the selections because the Bengals already have two competent tackles. Both tackles have expiring contracts after this coming season, but spending their first two picks on the position was a little questionable.
The Bengals already have Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith and most believe there were guys who could contribute right away where the Bengals took Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher. Cincinnati's top two picks may not get a single start in 2015. At the center position, Russell Bodine struggled last season and that has some suggesting the team might shake things up big time, shifting Whitworth to left guard and Clint Boling to center, allowing one of the rookie tackles to start on the right side.
Is there a starting tight end on this roster?
Last season, Tyler Eifert dislocated his elbow and though he's expected to be ready for training camp, the Bengals added multiple tight ends this offseason. All four of the new tight ends on the roster -- Tyler Kroft, C.J. Uzomah, Matt Lengel and John Peters -- are rookies. Kroft and Uzomah were taken in the NFL Draft while Lengel and Peters signed as undrafted free agents.
Eifert caught 39 passes for 445 yards and two touchdowns in 15 games in 2013, but only played in one game last season. He was a first-round pick in 2013 and should be the starter going forward, but the depth chart breakdown for the position is a big question mark at this point. Kroft is the most likely candidate to get some playing time as Cincinnati’s third-round pick but it should be one of the more interesting things to watch in training camp.
Which rookies will actually get playing time?
The Bengals drafted TCU linebacker Paul Dawson with the No. 99 overall pick, and experts loved the selection. Most of the high grades the Bengals got from the draft came from the selection of Dawson, a player many felt deserved a first-round grade. He was certainly one of the most productive linebackers in college football.
The other pick that drew rave reviews: USC defensive back Josh Shaw at No. 120 overall. The Bengals' fourth-round pick is a versatile defensive back who should be able to start at either cornerback or safety. Dawson might play more than any other rookie for Cincinnati, and he could be in line for a starting role. Shaw may wind up being a safety, where the Bengals need help.
See More:
