Zac Taylor, Cincinnati Bengals. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The Bengals want Joe Burrow to take them to the promised land in 2020, but the rookie signal caller is going to need a lot of help from these five guys.
Drafting Joe Burrow with the No. 1 overall pick sends a clear signal that the Bengals are ready to rebuild around the former LSU quarterback. The number of wins Burrow can add to Cincinnati in 2020 is going to revolve around how much help he can get from his new teammates.
The Bengals’ 2-14 record from the 2019 season was well deserved. The offense struggled mightily to score points on a consistent basis. Scoring 17.4 points per game is not a recipe for success in the NFL.
The addition of Burrow to the mix could do a lot to cure the team’s offensive ills. Joe Mixon is one of the most underrated running backs in football. A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins form an intriguing corps of wide receivers. If the offensive line holds up this unit could grow into a top 10 unit in 2020.
The defense finished 25th in the NFL in scoring last season and it may struggle to improve upon that mark. D.J. Reader will be expected to upgrade the team’s work against the run from his nose tackle spot. Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander should help a cornerback group that struggled mightily a season ago. Add it all up and the defense will still struggle to stop opponents on a regular basis.
The Bengals wants to be respectable this season. They’ll need great performances from these five guys to achieve that goal.
5. Tyler Boyd
Bengals fans are very concerned about Green getting back onto the field. The truth is, Boyd may be more important to Burrow’s development as the team’s starter in the slot. That’s a position Burrow used to great effect during his LSU career. It might be tough for him to grab more than 90 passes this season, but going over 1,000 yards again would be huge for his offense.