CINCINNATI — After a five-week hiatus, the Bengals are finally ready to begin camp Wednesday outside Paycor Stadium.
Fans have grown weary of the contract standoffs with first rounder Shemar Stewart, second rounder Demetrius Knight Jr. and NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson.
There was some movement over the weekend as Knight, the linebacker out of South Carolina, finally signed on the dotted line, with 80 percent of his rookie four-year deal guaranteed.
But Stewart remains unsigned and Hendrickson and the Bengals have reportedly talked more in recents days and weeks but no contract extension has been ironed out.
T.J. Watt of the Steelers was extended for three years and $123 million. That deal precipitated a projection from Spotrac, a salary analysis website, that puts Hendrickson’s market value at $38.8 million annually, with a guaranteed number of $100 million. The Bengals aren’t expected to approach either number. But any offer north of $30 million and $70 million guaranteed could kickstart talks towards the finish line. The Bengals need to get creative to get the Hendrickson deal done. Otherwise, Hendrickson will be out until there’s more substantial movement.
Here are 12 other things to keep a close eye on:
1. Myles Murphy: There’s no one under more scrutiny coming into camp than the 2023 first-round pick out of Clemson. The third-year edge has just three sacks in two seasons, including none last year. That’s just not acceptable for someone at a position that the Bengals desperately need production. With Stewart not on the field to start camp and with Hendrickson still awaiting a contract extension, there is all the opportunity for Murphy to prove he belongs.
2. Left guard: Protecting Joe Burrow will be under the microscope all summer. The left guard spot was taken away from Cordell Volson at the end of last season and Volson had his contract restructured in the offseason to avoid being cut altogether. The team drafted Dylan Fairchild out of Georgia in the third round and immediately pronounced him as a leading contender to start at the position. Volson will get reps but Fairchild, who got most of the first-team reps in OTAs and minicamp, is poised to start camp as the left guard. Jaxson Kirkland is a darkhorse to compete for a role at this spot, perhaps as the first backup.
3. Right guard: The position was vacated when Alex Cappa was let go and signed with the Raiders. Now it’s up to a pair of veterans – Lucas Patrick and Cody Ford to compete for the job. Patrick was signed to a one-year deal from New Orleans in the offseason.
4. Joseph Ossai: With Sam Hubbard retired, the edge spot opposite Trey Hendrickson is Ossai’s to win. Ossai, brought back on a one-year deal, is in the ultimate prove-it deal. If the Bengals can make some noise and make a deep playoff run and Ossai plays a big role, the fifth-year player out of Texas could be in for a big payday. Ossai’s opportunity has never been bigger.
5. Evan McPherson: He started off the 2024 season inconsistently after signing his three-year, $16.4 million contract extension, missing a clutch field goal against the Ravens in overtime that was a killer at the time. He then missed a pair of go-ahead field goals against the Chargers in a game the Bengals could’ve won after trailing 27-6. He then suffered a groin injury in December that ended his season prematurely. McPherson needs to rediscover his consistency and prove he is healthy.
6. Linebacker: Logan Wilson needs to prove he’s back from a sub-par, injury-riddled 2024. Germaine Pratt, the heart and soul of the unit (and captain) for four years is gone. One of the big challenges for new defensive coordinator Al Golden is to figure out how to fit rookie Demetrius Knight Jr. Now that he’s signed and officially can work in camp, does he get first team reps or will Oren Burks start the season in that spot? Fourth round pick Barrett Carter is a middle of the field backer behind Logan Wilson. Keep a close eye on Joe Giles-Harris, a free agent out of Jacksonville.
7. Dax Hill: For the Bengals secondary to perform at a high level, they need Hill to show he’s back from his torn ACL of last October against Baltimore. He doesn’t start the season on PUP so that’s a good sign he’ll be ready to go to start camp. (The only player on PUP is tight end Erick All Jr. who also tore his ACL last October against the Eagles.) Hill, if healthy, is expected to be the starting outside corner opposite Cam Taylor-Britt. He was finding his groove last fall before making an ill-fated cut on the Paycor turf.
8. Slot corner: Who picks up the slack for Mike Hilton? A number of possibilities loom in Golden’s secondary. Josh Newton, a terrific tackler, got looks there in camp as did Taylor-Britt, who got some assignments against Mike Gesicki. Moving Taylor-Britt inside would involve playing either DJ Turner or Newton outside or having both on the field at the same time. Golden has a talented and young corps of defensive backs to play with, when all are healthy. Dark horses here include veteran Jalen Davis and DJ Ivey. They’ll get plenty of time in camp and preseason.
9. Safety: Geno Stone and Jordan Battle are the projected starters. But the story with this group is depth. It’s Daijahn Anthony and Tycen Anderson behind them. Anthony came thisclose to making a clutch play at the end of the Chiefs game on 4th-and-16. But he was too early with his breakup of a Patrick Mahomes cross-body heave down the field. Anthony will get more time in camp and preseason while PJ Jules got a shoutout from Dax Hill in minicamp. Keep a close eye on undrafted rookie Shaquan Loyal out of Rutgers, which has a tradition of producing NFL-caliber safeties. The Bengals desperately need to show they have depth on their last line of defense, should Battle or Stone get injured or prove ineffective.
10. Defensive line: This group has been pushed around without a lot of push to the quarterback. T.J. Slaton was signed away from Green Bay to provide some beef in the middle and provide a meaty complement to BJ Hill. This move should really help Hill. The more interesting storyline to watch will be the development of second-year interior linemen Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson. Howard Cross III is an undrafted free agent out of Notre Dame that played under Golden. Cross and Dante Barnett – an international pathway player – will get plenty of time in preseason games.
11. Chase Brown: He is a popular candidate as a “breakout” player for the Bengals in 2025, and for good reason. With defenses paying so much attention to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Mike Gesicki as targets for Joe Burrow, this could be the year for him to break out. But don’t sleep on rookie Tahj Brooks out of Texas Tech. The running back, a sixth-round selection, could be a sneaky big piece of the Bengals running game plans this season.
12. Andrei Iosivas and Jermaine Burton: Will Iosivas take that next step this season and become that true No. 3 behind Chase and Higgins? He put on muscle and strength in each of the last two offseasons. Burton has been given another chance to match his incredible talent with Burrow. He could be an incredibly valuable weapon in the return game and as a fourth receiver. Burton will have to compete with Charlie Jones for playing time in camp and preseason. But he’s going to be given a chance to prove he belongs as part of Dan Pitcher’s week-to-week gameplan.
13. Joe Burrow: How good does Burrow look throwing to all of his weapons on offense? This team is built as offense-first. Burrow has the grasp of Zac Taylor’s offense and with Chase, Higgins, Gesicki, Brown, Iosivas and Burton, this is a unit capable of scoring 30 points a game. Burrow is coming off the best statistical season of his five-year career. Burrow, no doubt, would trade some of those numbers for the one that really matters, wins. Burrow is always a must-watch in camp but this will be the first time since 2021 that he will play in the preseason. So much has been made of the need to start fast, and for good reason. Burrow and the offense need to come out firing on Sept. 7 and a good camp and preseason is a good way to get there.
