While the Cincinnati Bengals offensive line struggles to figure things out in training camp, the unit continues to take heat in broader analysis.
The latest comes from ESPN, where its annual set of future power rankings puts the Bengals at a mere 15th overall with an 79.1 grade.
While there are obvious positives such as Joe Burrow in the analysis, Louis Riddick took aim at the offensive line as the biggest concern:
“I have written about the offensive line for the past two seasons, and I’m going to write about it again. Nothing has changed with this unit regarding its mediocre play. As a unit, it finished 32nd in pass block win rate (50.1%) and 30th in run block win rate (68.2%). The Bengals are spending $86.5 million in 2025 on the WR room, $20 million more than the next closest team, but it won’t mean anything if they can’t get this OL situation figured out.”
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None of this will surprise Bengals fans. The team is betting big on new coaching helping develop players. It’s betting on Amarius Mims staying healthy and developing at right tackle. And it’s betting on rookie Dylan Fairchild being a capable immediate starter at one guard spot while new arrival Lucas Patrick upgrades the other.
Until some of those things come to fruition, the Bengals’ poor success rate in the offensive trenches dating back to the Andrew Whitworth days will continue to bog them down in analysis like this.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ OL targeted as holding team back in future outlook
Reporting by Chris Roling, Bengals Wire / Bengals Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
