Who is the best breakout candidate on the Bengals?

By: Jake Rajala

The Cincinnati Bengals stole the hearts of the NFL in 2021. The Bengals rookie WR Ja’Marr Chase won Offensive Rookie of The Year and he was arguably the best rookie WR of all time (81 receptions, 1,455 yds, and 13 touchdowns). Chase more than jumped onto the scene last season. The new question is: which Bengals will turn heads in 2022? Well, I’m going to untwine three Bengals profiles that will impress next season.

Hayden Hurst

Hayden Hurst escaped Atlanta island and It seems clear that he is in line for a heavy workload as the Bengals TE1. I really expect him to shatter his previous career receiving yard tally (576 yards) with Cincy. The 28-year-old signed a one-year, prove-it contract with Cincy and he should expect to have great match-ups across the NFL’s top WR trio. Ultimately, his third year QB that threw for the sixth-most passing yards in 2021 should help him excel in 2022.

Eli Apple

Eli Apple quietly allowed the lowest passer rating in man coverage last season. I believe he continues to be superb and not get torched after challenging Top-5 WRs in 2022 – which should grant him the most respect he’s had in his career. The CB that re-signed a one-year contract will be 27 years old in Week 1 and his expected consistent performance in 2022 should unfortunately surprise a lot of his haters.

Chris Evans (KR)

The Bengals clearly feel like they have a special role created for Chris Evans in the special teams area. Chris Evans was bumped to KR duties in the post-season and he was a modest performer in his fresh role. He returned one kick for 32 yards while averaging 23.4 yards on 9 kickoff returns in the playoffs. I expect him to crack a few kick returns, as he’s a special athlete (4.4 40 time and 22 bench reps at the combine). The Bengals could really benefit in prime-time games if Evans steps up to the plate.