SEALED: Cincinnati Bengals have recently closed a huge, massive deal.
The Cincinnati Bengals did not have a good 2023 season. The Bengals did not make the playoffs this season, which was disappointing after they had won the AFC Championship the previous two seasons and made it to the Super
Bowl. That was largely due to injuries. Joe Burrow suffered an injury during training camp, which affected his play at the start of the season. After he eventually settled into a rhythm, he ended up missing the Bengals’ playoff push-
making final seven games due to a wrist injury. Ja’Marr Chase, a top receiver, was absent for a while. Chidobe Awuzie, Cincy’s best cornerback, missed a few games while healing from an ACL tear he sustained in the previous campaign. This season, Tee Higgins missed five games as well. This season, the Bengals had a lot to overcome.
However, that does not preclude the Bengals from being in the running for the playoffs in 2024. They shouldn’t have as many injury setbacks as they did this season, particularly with regard to Joe Burrow. The Bengals can contend for a Super Bowl if he is correct. However, they must continue to add to their roster through the draft and free agency while maintaining the strength of the remaining players. This entails re-signing important players who are set to become unrestricted free agents. Among the remaining players, the Bengals must find a way to re-sign two free agents.
Tee Higgins, Broad Achievers
Due to a hamstring injury, Tee Higgins had to leave the Bengals’ Week 17 game against the Chiefs.
Regaining Tee Higgins must be the Bengals’ top priority during the offseason. Although Ja’Marr Chase’s brilliance somewhat overshadows Higgins, Higgins still stands out on his own. Higgins averaged 1.73 yards per route run this season, per playerprofiler.com. Even though Higgins’ stats are 42nd among wide receivers, it’s still a very good result given that he struggled with injuries all season and missed almost half of it without his starting quarterback. That figure was 2.09 yards per route run in 2022. He performed even better in that metric in 2021, averaging 2.43 yards per route run.
These figures ought to allay any worries that Higgins is not the best receiver out there. If not, his stats in contests without Ja’Marr Chase should fairly represent Higgins and his play.
Tee Higgins played four games last season without Ja’Marr Chase (shoulder):
* Four top-24 finishes; * 92.8 ypg; * 26.2% target share
Following Chase’s injury on Saturday, three (or 25%) of Browning’s 12 passes were intended for Higgins.
After this season, Higgins’ rookie contract is set to expire. In March, he’ll be able to sign with any team. Fortunately, the Bengals have the tools necessary to get him back. The Bengals can use their $62 million in cap space during the summer. The Bengals can pay Higgins like a premier receiver, which is what he will want to be compensated for. They can always use the franchise tag to guarantee he stays on their roster for at least one more season if they are unable to reach a mutually beneficial agreement. If the Bengals want to lose Higgins, they can’t possibly lose him. Without a doubt, they ought to take that action.
Awuzie Chidobe, Cornerback
In 2021 and 2022, Chidobe Awuzie was among the NFL’s best corners. Sadly, an ACL tear ended his 2022 season, but Awuzie was already locking up receivers before that unlucky incident.
Compared to his 2021 campaign, Chidobe Awuzie has started 2022 even better.
Among CBs with 15 or more targets, he has the highest rate of targeting in the league.
Awuzie ranks seventh in EPA/target and has produced the fifth-least amount of EPA (8.09).
gives PFF#Bengals pic a 75 coverage grade as well.@upCEOSg1KI on Twitter
On September 26, 2022, Jake Sirkus (@JakeSirkus) said
The Bengals’ defense was greatly impacted by Awuzie’s continued recovery from his torn ACL in 2023. He wasn’t quite the same. Cincinnati’s defensive EPA allowed per play ranking in the NFL in 2023 was 27th, a significant decline from their ranking of eighth in 2022. Awuzie’s subpar performance is a contributing factor, but so is depending too heavily on young players in that secondary and letting safety Jessie Bates III walk in free agency.
While those players should still get better, it’s obvious that they’re not yet ready to be the cornerstone of a strong defense. Prior to tearing his ACL, Awuzie was highly productive and is familiar with this system. If Cincinnati can get him back, they should do so without a doubt. Hopefully, time will allow him to regain his 2021–2022 form.
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