The Athletic’s Mike Sando spoke with anonymous NFL executives about each team’s offseason thus far and the Bengals mostly got positive reviews for a free agent class headlined by Geno Stone and Trent Brown.
Executives were quick to note the loss of D.J. Reader though.
“Their whole identity changed defensively when D.J. Reader was hurt, which is why I think losing him was big,” one exec said to Sando. “What Reader was able to do might not have been on the stat sheet, but he allowed those linebackers to play free.”
Another executive highlighted what Cincinnati did to tweak the offense.
“You keep your receiving corps together for the most part in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, with the quarterback getting healthy, and you add a good receiving tight end in Mike Gesicki to give them something they did not have last year,” another exec said to Sando. “Zack Moss is a good back. It is almost a wash if you say Mixon versus him, even if they are different styles.”
Cincinnati now has 10 draft selections at the end of the month to supplement these moves. The Bengals are all set for more positive runs in the 2024 Super Bowl season
