After missing the playoffs in 2024 due to a suspect defense, the Bengals decided to double down on offense. By re-signing both of their top receivers, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, in free agency, the Bengals have essentially committed to playing all offense and no defense in the coming seasons. Here are their top 5 most important players.
5. Tee Higgins, WR
A contested-catch monster, Higgins is option 1B to Chase’s 1A in the Bengals’ passing game. He played in just 12 games in 2024 but still racked up 911 yards and 10 touchdowns. Higgins’ mastery of the goal-line fade is big for the Bengals’ red-zone offense.
4. Orlando Brown Jr., OT
Protecting Joe Burrow is a huge need for the Bengals. And while the Cincy offensive line isn’t great, having Brown Jr. protect Burrow’s blind side is key. He may not excel as a run-blocker, but the four-time Pro Bowler is more than capable of passing downs.
3. Trey Hendrickson, DE
While he has been permitted to seek a trade, Hendrickson is still a Bengal as of now. And without his 17.5 sacks in each of the last two seasons, it’s hard to imagine where the Cincinnati defense would be. The 30-year-old is one of the NFL’s top-edge rushers.
2. Ja’Marr Chase, WR
The NFL’s second-best wide receiver behind college teammate Justin Jefferson, Chase enjoyed a monster season in 2024. Chase led the league in receptions (127), receiving yards (1,708), and receiving touchdowns (17) and was named first-team All-Pro.
1. Joe Burrow, QB
Burrow, one of the league’s best QBs, pairs exceptional accuracy and decision-making with good athleticism. And the fact that he gets to throw to Chase and Higgins makes him even tougher to stop. His 2024 season – in which he led the league in passing yards (4,918) and touchdowns (43) – was nothing short of a masterpiece.
