By: Jake Rajala

The Cincinnati Bengals take a trip to the Big Easy in Week 6. The Bengals signal-caller Joe Burrow is returning to his old stomping grounds — as he was a mythical figure at LSU. With that said, I will untwine five questions for the Burrow-led Bengals in Week 6.

1. Can Ja’Marr Chase explode against the Saints?

The 2021 Offensive Rookie of The Year, Ja’Marr Chase, has been hit or miss this season. Chase unleashed 10 catches for 129 yards, a touchdown in Week 1, and a modest 81 yards in Week 4. However, Chase only unveiled 54 yards in Week 2, 29 yards in Week 3, and seven catches for 50 yds last week. The New Orleans Saints CB1 Marshon Lattimore will be out, so Chase will have the golden opportunity to shine against Who Dat Nation.

2. Can Trey Hendrickson shine?

Trey Hendrickson will seek to wreak havoc against his former team this Sunday. Hendrickson only has 2.5 sacks on the season (which came against the New York Jets). He will be facing James Hurst — who has only allowed one sack this season.

3. Will Eli Apple have a quality performance?

Eli Apple will link arms with Trey Hendrickson in their attempt to fight to the death against their former squad, the New Orleans Saints. Apple was honestly underrated in my opinion last season. Well, 2022 has told a different tale about his abilities (as PFF has given him a 52.2 grade). Expect the Saints to try and match Chris Olave with Apple on deep-passing plays.

4. Will Joe Burrow have a big day?

The New Orleans Saints made Geno Smith look like Tom Brady a week ago (as Smith unveiled 3 passing touchdowns to 0 interceptions and a 139.7 passer rating). Burrow has the perfect opportunity to have a big day against a Saints defense that has been mediocre on the back end as of late. The former LSU QB has only thrown more than two touchdowns once this season. Hopefully, Burrow & Chase can start clicking in Lousiana once again.

5. Will La’el Collins play well against Cameron Jordan?

The Bengals signed La’el Collins this past off-season and anticipated him to be a star at tackle for their shiny offensive trio. Collins has blatantly been a bust for their OL this season. He’s earned a porous 53.2 grade by PFF thus far. It won’t be easy for him to return to being a stud against Cameron Jordan, who had a pair of sacks last week.

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By: Jake Rajala

The New Orleans Saints long-time pass rusher Cameron Jordan has been sacking Matt Ryan since the Declaration of Independence was signed. Jordan ousted his 100th career sack in December and he’s clearly going into the Saints ring of honor when he retires. Here is a closer look at how dominant he has been in his career:

• 107.5 career sacks
• seven-time Pro Bowl selection
• All-Pro in 2017
• 10 seasons of 7.5+ sacks
• missed only one game in his career (due to COVID)

It’s clear that Jordan has been a pillar of consistency and dominance throughout his Saints tenure. Nonetheless, I don’t believe the grass is greener on the other side of the fence for Jordan. He’s shown signs of slowing down. He might have captured everybody’s emotion and attention for his late-season heroics in 2021, but he was often MIA in the first half of the 2021 season. In 2020, he had 7.5 sacks and he was even bullied by tight ends on multiple occasions.

Jordan is playing at a position (DE) on the Saints that is filled with talent. The Saints were even featuring Trey Hendrickson in 2020, but they let him leave and watch him almost win DPOY in his first season in Cincy. Hendrickson knocked out 15.5 sacks and he was more potent in the playoffs.

On the DE outlook, the Saints have Jordan, Marcus Davenport, Payton Turner, Tanoh Kpassagnon, and Carl Granderson. One thing is clear: the Saints are loaded at the DE position. Marcus Davenport was one of the most efficient edge rushers per PFF in 2021 and Dennis Allen has called him the best player on his defense. When Davenport comes off the edge, it seems like the OT blocking him will automatically be pushed back into the QB.

Jordan is 33 years old this offseason, while Davenport (25 years old) and Turner (23 years old) have a plethora of potential. I believe the combination of potential on DE and the age of Jordan should make the beloved Cam expendable. Tanoh is quietly a modest pass rusher, as well (four sacks in 2021).

We’ve seen Payton ship out Jimmy Graham for OL talent and draft picks. I do believe that Allen is less likely than Payton to trade away profiles like Thomas, Ramczyk, Kamara, and Jordan. Although, it might be a wise move to trade away Jordan (and draft picks), especially if they can reel in a QB in a Cam trade.

Outside of Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson (assuming they stay on their team), there are QBs like Jimmy G, Garnder Minshew, Kirk Cousins, that could be acquired in a Jordan trade. I also strongly believe Jordan is the best trade chip out of Alvin Kamara, Michael Thomas, Ryan Ramczyk, Marshon Lattimore, and Demario Davis. Jordan will soon have grey hair and he’s playing at the Saints packed edge rusher position.

The Saints can make sure they retain Davenport with Jordan’s salary out of the pass rusher bank. Turner and Davenport can the long-term pass-rushing tandem. Jordan (and Mark Ingram) might be the most popular players on the team, but I don’t see him being a true Pro Bowl-caliber beyond two more seasons with the Saints.

They could really use QB help and Jordan would be a smart piece to move. In 2024, Jordan could be retired, Davenport could cash in elsewhere, Hendrickson has already left, and their QB could be Mitchell Trubisky. I believe the prior scenario is really scary, but it’s very possible of happening. If the Saints don’t bring in a QB that’s capable of capitalizing off their loaded roster and bringing them to the Super Bowl soon, they should look at shipping out talented, veterans (cough, cough, Cameron Jordan).

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By: Jake Rajala

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive lineman Ndamukong Suh is a football legend and future Hall of Famer. Suh is in fact 34 years old, but he’s clearly still capable of playing at a high level. The Bucs defensive lineman unveiled six sacks, 13 QB hits, and seven tackles for loss last season.

Here is a look at how special Suh has been in his overall career:

• 70.5 career sacks
• Three-time All-Pro selection
• Five-time Pro Bowl selection
• Super Bowl LV champion

Suh has clearly been a gift to the world by the football gods and he’s shown his unique ability in each stage of his career. With that stated, the question is: where will Suh’s talent reside in the next chapter of his career? Well, here are a few potential destinations for Suh.

San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers would be an ideal fit for Suh for a variety of reasons. He could remain on the west coast (he lives in Portland, Oregon), strongly contend for a Super Bowl ring with the 49ers, and play across from Nick Bosa.

Suh has been strongly linked to the 49ers and he was close to signing with them in the 2020 offseason. He opted to ink with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and then re-sign with the Bucs last off-season. Suh could be a huge addition to the 49ers defensive front and the potential missing link that Shanny has been seeking.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

“If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”

The Bucs reputable profile Ndakumong Suh has fit in perfectly with the Bucs over the past couple of seasons. He’s had 12 sacks in the past two years combined and he’s won a Super Bowl ring. The Bucs might not be Super Bowl favorites without Brady, but they should be able to make the playoffs with a QB like Mitchell Trubisky or Jimmy Garoppolo next season. The Bucs still have Bruce Arians, Mike Evans, potentially Chris Godwin, Ronald Jones, Lavonte David, and Devin White.

Suh is playing in a defense that is known for being a brick wall against the run. He has great matchups and he knows the scheme to a tee. If the Bucs give him another short, quality contract, I expect his familiar team in Florida will be one of the most attractive destinations in 2022.

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have the fourth most cap-space in the NFL and they are pushing for a Lombardi trophy in the near future. Cincy could sign Suh and still have the resources to ink a few other impressive profiles. Suh witnessed his former teammate Aaron Donald win a Super Bowl ring and he has to be blood thirsty for his second SB trophy.

It’s clear that the Bengals have one of the most explosive offenses in the league with Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Joe Mixon. It should be noted that the Bengals passing attack is nicely complemented by Trey Hendrickson on defense. T-Rex unveiled 14 sacks in 2021 and he’s quietly a DPOY candidate in 2022. Suh has to be in awe of the idea of not only playing with the cool Joe Burrow, but also playing next to Hendrickson.

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The elite pass rusher Chandler Jones enters an interesting period in his career. The two-time All-Pro, four-time Pro Bowl pass rusher, and one-time Super Bowl champion is a 2022 free agent and it’s clear he will have plenty of interest this offseason. Here is a look at how special Jones has been in his career thus far:

*stats are according to Pro Football Reference

• 107.5 career sacks
• seven seasons of 10+ sacks
• 19 sacks in 2019 (single-season career high)
• NFC Defensive Player of The Year in 2019

Jones has been a force to be reckoned with at every point of his career thus far. The question is: where his next destination be? Here are the potential landing spots for the former 21st overall pick.

Pittsburgh Steelers

The Pittsburgh Steelers have the tenth most cap space in the league and they have the Hulk, also known as T.J. Watt. Jones could be tired of playing with J.J. Watt and move to play with the new and improved Watt. The Steelers have the money to tempt Jones to wreak havoc across from T.J. and Cameron Hayward in the AFC.

The Steelers led the NFL in sacks last season and they could look to build on it with Jones and potentially create the most superb pass rush of all time. The days of the Steel curtain and the James Harrison-led defense might be in the review mirror, but Mike Tomlin can bring the team back to its roots in 2022. The Steelers are truly a team capable of making the playoffs in the near future, especially if they add a quality QB. Meanwhile, the Arizona Cardinals may not have Kyler Murray, so Jones (and J.J. Watt) may not be thrilled to play in AZ for potentially the rest of his career.

Miami Dolphins

The Mike McDaniels-led Miami Dolphins have swag and the most cap in the NFL. The Dolphins could add a new toy to join Jaylen Waddle for Tua Tagovailoa and they can swing big for a few other free agents. Life won’t get easier for the Dolphins in the AFC East, as they frequently play Josh Allen, Mac Jones, and the young Zach Wilson.

Florida is another relaxing state for Jones to consider living in. Jones could also be a big fan of the second-half success he witnessed the Dolphins have. The combination of talent, location, and money could help Jones ink a massive deal with the Dolphins. Jones would be the second future Hall of Fame DL to sign with the Dolphins over the past several years (Ndamukong Suh being the other).

Cincinnati Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals could soon ink a few more big profiles in a similar way that the Los Angeles Rams did last season. The Rams signed Von Miller to play with Aaron Donald and now it could be time for Cincy to add Jones to play with Trey Hendrickson (14 sacks in 2021). The Bengals have the resources (fourth in cap space) to make Jones very tempted to sign with the 2021 AFC champions.

The Bengals may have 2021 Offensive Rookie of The Year Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow, but they shouldn’t take the gas off the pedal. There’s been a reoccurring theme of “dynasty” teams like the Seattle Seahawks and Kansas City Chiefs taking a step back after getting to the Super Bowl. Zac Taylor could really capitalize off Trey Hendrickson’s prime years and the WR band being together (Chase, Tyler Boyd, Tee Higgins) by bringing in an elite defender like Jones this offseason.

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By: Andy Davies

“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work”. 

This quote from Thomas A Edison best describes how fortune has favoured the Cincinnati Bengals in recent history. Their last playoff win was on January 6, 1991 against the Houston Oilers in the Wildcard Round, a thirty-year streak that remains the longest in the NFL.  

For many Bengals fans, it does not seem long ago that they reached two Super Bowls. Their most recent visit to the big game during the 1988 season saw their offense filled with players such as quarterback Boomer Esiason, fullback Ickey Woods, running back James Brooks and wide receiver Eddie Brown.  

Esiason threw for 28 touchdowns, 14 interceptions and 3,572 yards. Woods ran for 1,066 yards and 15 touchdowns. Brooks recorded 931 rushing yards and 8 touchdowns. Brown caught for 1,273 yards and 9 touchdowns. On defense, the 1988 season saw defensive end Jim Skow get 9.5 sacks, cornerback Eric Thomas have 7 interceptions and nose tackle Jim Krumrie record 152 total tackles.  

Since their loss to the San Francisco 49ers in Super Bowl 23, the Bengals have seen a continuous decline, with only 8 winning seasons across the following 32 seasons. 

False dawns appeared for the franchise, when they had five straight winning seasons between the years of 2011 and 2015. They lost all five playoff games and have failed to make the postseason ever since.  

However, there appears to be a new exciting era in franchise era. After the comeback 24-21 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, here is why there is room for genuine optimism in Cincinnati. 

A Tough Schedule  

Their next five games will allow the world to see the true Bengals team, with games against the Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns in this time period. Games against the Detroit Lions and New York Jets allow them to pick up two extra wins.  

At worst, they will be 5-3. They have the personnel to earn some surprise victories. Their final eight games see them once again play the Browns, Pittsburgh Steelers and Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, San Francisco 49ers, Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers and Las Vegas Raiders. Six of their remaining opponents currently have a 3-1 record. They face a hard task, especially considering it is normally the team who wins the division that has a hard schedule.  

On paper, this run of fixtures will likely see Cincinnati miss out on the playoffs. Despite this, the goal for this franchise is not the present, it is the future. They have a young and exciting roster that gives them hope for years to come, one that could see them break this postseason win duck. 

Exciting Weapons On Offense  

There is of course, quarterback and 2020 first overall pick Joe Burrow. He had an encouraging rookie year before his season was cut short in Week 10. He has started 2021 in the same vein, with some brilliant performances. He has so far thrown for 9 touchdowns, 988 yards and 4 interceptions. He showed tremendous composure when driving the Bengals down the field in the second half against Jacksonville as they scored 17 unanswered third quarter point, with 348 yards, 2 touchdowns and 0 interceptions in the Week Four win. 

He was reunited with former LSU teammate Ja’Marr Chase, who was taken fifth overall by Cincinnati in this year’s draft. The argument can be made that they should have taken an offensive tackle, considering Burrow was the ninth most sacked quarterback in 2020 despite playing five or six games less than most starting quarterbacks in the league. Nevertheless, head coach Zac Taylor and general manager Duke Tobin went with Chase and so far, it appears to be working out for them.  

Penei Sewell, who eventually ended up with the Lions seventh overall, was seen by many to be the player that the Bengals needed. He has so far been far from the player people expected, whilst Chase has been exactly as advertised. In his first four games, he has caught for 297 yards and four touchdowns from 25 targets and 17 receptions, giving him an average of 74.3 yards per game and 17.5 yards per reception. Burrow does not just have Chase to throw to. Tyler Boyd has recorded 259 yards so far. Tight end C.J.Uzomah had 95 yards and 2 touchdowns in the win over Jacksonville. This shows the plethora of offensive talent that surround Burrow in the passing game.  

The ground game is also an area that can excite fans. Running back Joe Mixon so far has 353 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns from 89 attempts. Depth may be an issue for the Bengals if Mixon was to go down with an injury, with Samaje Perine the next best rusher with a measly 28 yards from 9 carries and Burrow the third best rusher to date this campaign. Should Mixon stay health along with Chase and Boyd in particular, then the franchise is in a good place offensively. These are game changers on offense that can help the team produce big results. 

Improvement On Defense

Defense has seen a massive improvement under defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo. They finished their 2020 campaign ranking 26^th in total yards allowed (6,227) and yards allowed per game (389.2), 19^th in passing yards allowed (3,859), 29^th in rushing yards allowed (2,368) and 22^nd in total points allowed (424).  

In the four games they have played so far in 2021, they rank 7^th in total yards given up (1,292) and yards allowed per game (323), 13^th in passing yards allowed (918), 9^th in rushing yards allowed (374) and 8^th in total points allowed (75).  

Defensive end Trey Hendrickson was one of the Bengals’ biggest offseason moves, signing a $60 million four-year deal after an impressive 2020 campaign. This acquisition was met with hesitancy, some believing he was playing his best because he was in a contract year. His 2020 season saw him record 13.5 sacks and 25 quarterback hits, both being more than his previous three years in the NFL. He has started 2021 in good form, with 2.5 sacks and 6 quarterback hits. This has him projected to finish the season with just over 10 sacks and 24 quarterback hits, reaching similar numbers to those of his previous campaign.  

Linebacker Logan Wilson is joint-sixth in the NFL for total tackles (4) and only the Dallas Cowboy’s Trevon Diggs (5) has more interceptions than the 3 recorded by Wilson. Offseason addition Larry Ogunjobi has recorded 4 tackles for loss, with the defensive tackle tied for eleventh across the league. 

The Bengals are giving their head coach the best chance to succeed with the start they have made, with Taylor seen as someone on the hotseat during the offseason. Taylor will be as keen as anyone to point out that it was never the aim to challenge for Super Bowls this year. They have shown enough encouragement that with a few more additions here and there along with the chance for their young talent to develop, they can once again be challenging for playoff spots and maybe more.

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By: Will Baptist

Trey Hendrickson will shoulder a lot of responsibilities after signing a 4 year $60 million contract with the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason. He will be the most talented pass rusher on the roster, and the Bengals need his presence to be felt immediately. After tying Aaron Donald for second in the NFL in sacks with 13.5 last season, he has become a force for opposing tackles to deal with.

Hendrickson has shown drastic improvement over the past two seasons and has blossomed into a dominant edge rusher. He has slowly started to take the field more often on early downs as he continues to develop as a run stopper. He played 53% of the Saints defensive snaps last year and if that number continues to grow, he can put up gaudy sack numbers. If he can successfully build on his breakout 2020 season, Hendrickson has a legitimate chance to compete for the Defensive Player of the Year award.

He will have his fair share of competition with Aaron Donald, T.J. Watt, Jalen Ramsey and so on. Aaron Donald won the award last year while also racking up 13.5 sacks, and has clearly been the best defensive player in the NFL over the last few seasons. Donald played 85% of the Rams snaps, while Watt played 83% of the Steelers snaps last season and finished with 15 sacks.

Watt, Donald and Hendrickson all racked up similar sack numbers, but Hendrickson played about 300 fewer snaps than both of them. That amount of production in only 53% of the snaps is extraordinary and will push him to develop the rest of his game in order to stay on the field more. If he can play up to at least 70% of the Bengals defensive snaps this year, he could potentially hit 20 sacks on the season.

There have only been 12 instances where a player has racked up 20 or more sacks in a season since sacks have become an official stat. With the additional game this season, it could become slightly more common, but it still will be extremely rare. Hendrickson would be in an elite company if he could get to 20 sacks but it is not out of the realm of possibility.

He has to play close to 800 snaps and remain healthy, but he also needs the players around him to be dominant at their position. If he is constantly getting double-teamed due to his teammates struggling, then it will be tough for him to win the award.

Talent surrounding him

Hendrickson had a terrific defense around him with the Saints, and Cam Jordan on the opposite side of the line to wreak havoc. Jordan drew most of the attention throughout the year and finished with 7.5 sacks, but Hendrickson has now made a name for himself. For Hendrickson to win the Defensive Player of the Year award, he needs a lot of talent around him such as he did last year.

One dominant defensive lineman can only do so much, but luckily for Hendrickson, the Bengals defense is much improved heading into the season. The line should take a massive leap forward with the return of D.J. Reader clogging up the middle and stopping the run. Sam Hubbard will be the other starting edge rusher and he just inked a new contract and is poised for a stellar season.

Hubbard had a somewhat disappointing 2020 season with only two sacks, but he excelled at stopping the run. He can work his way back to being a great pass rusher like he was in 2019 when he racked up 8.5 sacks in his second season in the NFL.

The secondary will be much better with the additions of Mike Hilton and Chidobe Awuzie, along with Trae Waynes returning from injury. Hendrickson can tally up coverage sacks as he did with the Saints if the secondary can play up to their potential in Cincinnati.

The Saints were an excellent team last year and finished the regular season at 12-4. Opposing teams were often losing and forced to throw the ball considering how good the Saints offense was. This helped Hendrickson with the ability to constantly rush the passer due to the Saints leading in most of their games.

The Bengals will need similar offensive production to get early leads and give Hendrickson the opportunity to get after the quarterback. If the Bengals do not improve much from their 4-11-1 record, the opposing teams will be run-heavy, and this will not play to Hendrickson’s strengths. With Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon healthy, the offense should not have an issue jumping out to early leads. Which should also lead to winning a lot more games for the Bengals.

Hendrickson will have his work cut out for him in the stacked AFC North and the firepower on the offensive side of the ball in that division. Chasing around Lamar Jackson will be a daunting task, but he showed how great he can be last year, and this franchise clearly believes in his talents and ability to grow.

The Bengals will need to be much better in order for Hendrickson to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. All the stars are aligning for the Bengals, and Hendrickson has the best chance of any player on the team to secure the award. His knack for getting after the quarterback and his extremely high motor are traits that translate to any franchise and system.

The 26-year old can prove that he can be one of the best defensive players in the NFL, and make the Bengals fans forget about losing Carl Lawson in free agency. If he can accomplish winning this award, or even be in the discussion for it, then the Bengals hit the lottery with this signing. He has all of the tools to win the award, it is simply a matter of remaining healthy and growing as an all-around defensive end to stay on the field more often.

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By: Jake Rajala

The young Cincinnati Bengals team led by now second-year quarterback Joe Burrow finished last in the AFC North in 2020. As training camp kicks off for Cincy, there’s a lot of reason for new optimism heading into the 2021 season. 

The Bengals have upgraded the offensive weapons for Burrow, reeled in big free agent names on defense, and retained excellent Bengals. With a new-look team and attitude, the Zac Taylor mentored squad has their sights set on accomplishing great feats in 2021. Kay Adams, who leads the Good Morning Football crew, boldly predicts that Burrow will even lead the Bengals to a playoff berth. 

I believe that a playoff trip is very possible and the Bengals will be serious competitors in each of their 17 game slate. Yet, I want to take the bar a step further. It appears to be the potential playoff team should be in the conversation for a division title. It will be a serious hurdle for the 4-11-1 Bengals squad from a season ago to transcend into divisions, but it’s a real possibility. 

Here is why the Bengals stand a chance to win the AFC North in 2021.

• Much improved pass rush

The Bengals passed the ball the second-most in the league with Joe Burrow under the helm. If Burrow’s offense is going to try and blow defenses out of the building, they need to be able to prevent offenses from torching their own defense. It doesn’t matter if the Bengals can put up high-scoring efforts if they can’t stop any opposing signal-caller. The Bengals were dreadful in 2020 at chasing QBs, as they ranked dead last in sacking the QB.

In 2021, there’s a lot of confidence in the Bengals front seven to have a turnaround and harass opposing QBs at will. The biggest difference will come from newly acquired pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. Hendrickson had more sacks than Aaron Donald, despite missing one game and playing in a rotation with Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. The Bengals may have lost Carl Lawson, but they will have Sam Hubbard to lean in as a replacement. Hubbard notched 8.5 sacks in 2019. 

• Ravens and Steelers QB situation

The Ravens and Steelers have undoubtedly stacked teams. Nonetheless, there are shaky factors with the Ravens QB and Steelers QB. These negative sides of the two divisional QB profiles could arise in 2021. 

The Steelers and Ravens carry the hardest course of schedule in the NFL. Lamar may be very electric, but he’s struggled mightily when tasked with facing quality teams on the big stage. He lost most of his CFB championship games, he’s been mostly porous on MNF showdowns, and he carries a 1-3 playoff record. Unfortunately, Lamar will be facing more talented teams in 2021 than he has in his career. 

Big Ben has often been a clutch player in big moments and he’s a sincere season veteran. However, the Steelers QB is clearly on the downhill of his career. The QB recorded a career-low Y/A in 2020 (6.3), which was a yard lower than his previous career-low (7.3). The Steelers QB is clearly on his last legs and he may see a sharper decline in what appears to be his last season in the NFL. I believe if the worst-case scenario at QB shows up for Pittsburgh, they could realistically squeeze out 7-9 wins, while the Ravens could get only 8-10 with a down year from Lamar. 

Truthfully, the Browns are AFC North favorites (no surprise) and real Super Bowl contenders. The Bengals will have to beat the Browns at least once, but it would be a tight finish for the prize if everything goes exceptionally well for the Bengals. The Bengals would need to reach their ceiling of 11 wins while beating the Browns at least once. Outside of beating the Browns head to head, a below-average version of OBJ and Clowney will have to surface for CLE throughout most of their season, while the pass defense needs to struggle if the Bengals want to edge out the Browns for AFC North glory.

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By: Drew Feinberg

The Cincinnati Bengals have been making some serious moves this offseason, showing signs that they plan to compete in the league as soon as possible. When the NFL offseason opened up on March 11, Cincinnati was eager to bolster its feeble defensive line, as the Bengals and former New Orleans Saints defensive end Trey Henrickson inked a four-year, $60 million contract.

Hendrickson shined in his final season under contract in New Orleans, ranking 2nd in the league with 13.5 sacks, which accounted for more than double his career sack total in his first three seasons. While not widely regarded as an established player, the Bengals are taking an expensive risk that Hendrickson will maintain last season’s form, and solidify himself as a premiere pass-rusher in the NFL. I, for one, will go one step further with Hendrickson’s outlook for the 2021 season. I am planting my flag and saying that Hendrickson will finish the 2021 season as the NFL’s sack leader; and here’s why:

Hendrickson’s Line

While adding Hendrickson to an already decrepit defensive line was an improvement, the Bengals have yet to make another major splash to help improve the line. Signing defensive tackle Larry Ogunjobi to a one-year deal was a decent start, but for a line that ranked dead last in sacks (17 sacks), more needs to be done.

Regardless of who is added or subtracted from the line, it will be Hendrickson’s unit to lead into the 2021 season. Hendrickson is an old-school, gritty lineman; perfect for the blue-collar fanbase Cincinnati has. He is a classic 4-3 defensive end who fights until the whistle is blown, and seems to never give up on any play.

Due to the sheer lack of talent surrounding Hendrickson, I don’t see anybody totalling more sacks than Hendrickson will in 2021. While 13.5 sacks will be quite a feat to duplicate, I simply don’t see a reason as to why he can’t surpass that total this season. In New Orleans, Hendrickson starred while being surrounded by established pass rushers such as Cameron Jordan and Marcus Davenport. Now in Cincinnati, Hendrickson will have the line all to himself, which I think will lead to a career year for the young man.

Competition

While Hendrickson may not be a household name, his 2020 stats put him in the same conversations as the “thought-to-be” superstar pass rushers, such as Browns, Myles Garrett; Steelers, T.J. Watt; and Rams, Aaron Donald. Not to mention, Hendrickson did this while playing some of the league’s premiere offensive lines during the 2020 season.

Switching gears to the 2021 season, the competition is still just as tough, but Hendrickson is trending in the right direction. He finished the 2020 season with the third-highest pressure rate (16.3%) in the NFL and was first in the league in third-down pressure rate (25.5%) according to NFL Next Gen Stats. If those numbers continue to rise, we will surely see it impact his statline positively.

While the spotlight will be shining a bit brighter on Hendrickson during the 2021 season, Hendrickson should be able to come in and make an instant impact in the Bengals ”˜new-look’ defense. Cincinnati is banking on Hendrickson to continue his rise in form, and I believe that given the reins, Hendrickson can be a difference maker in this league, and wreak havoc on opposing quarterbacks for years to come. 

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NFL free agency began with a bang last week as teams started to construct their rosters for 2021. Free agency is the first tentpole of the offseason, it precedes the draft, and fans can finally see what moves their team makes. At this time of the year, every fan is excited. It is the season of new hope. Conversely, it is also the time of year when teams make some mistakes. In their desperation, franchises may overpay for veterans or, they might make too many desperate moves. Last week saw many talking heads talk about which team made the right moves; therefore, it’s time to look at the wrong signings.

Nelson Agholor – New England Patriots

The New England Patriots splashed the cash in the first days of free agency. After missing out on the playoffs, New England is eager to rectify that in 2021. That is why the team spent big money on several players last week. A lot of those moves made sense for the Patriots, although one didn’t.

The Patriots inked wideout Nelson Agholor to a two-year $22 million deal. That is an exorbitant amount to give to a veteran receiver, specifically in a crowded market where no wideouts are getting top dollar. In comparison to Agholor, Juju Smith Schuster got a one-year $8 million contract. The Steelers pass-catcher is much better than Agholor at this stage of their careers.

Agholor shone for Las Vegas as the deep-threat on passing routes. His 2020 stat line read like this; 48 receptions, 896 yards and eight touchdowns. Going off those stats, Agholor is an inspired signing. It was the best season of his career. At 27, it felt like it came too late. Throughout his career, Agholor’s played very inconsistently. He’s only played a whole season three times in his career; moreover, Agholor is streaky. He experiences spells where he drops balls, struggles with his routes and can lose confidence.

Patriots quarterback Cam Newton is wildly inconsistent as well. The Patriots needed to sign a reliable number-one target. Agholor’s never been that in his career. Outside of deep-post routes or vertical routes, Agholor will struggle in New England. Newton’s arm is not as powerful as it was before.

Consequently, the deep-routes may not be the best plan for New England. If New England strays away from that plan, Agholor could become redundant as the Pats run the ball out of 22 personnel. Signing a streaky wideout to a big contract is overkill. New England could’ve spent the money elsewhere, especially with a loaded receiver class in the draft.

Kenny Golladay – New York Giants

Kenny Golladay signed an eye-watering four-year $72 million contract. As other receivers got the bare minimum, Golladay received the big bag of money he desired. Intrinsically, signing Golladay is not a bad thing. On the other hand, signing him to that deal is a big mistake. The former Detroit Lion is injury-prone. He’s played one 16-game season once in his career.

Moreover, there is the glaring issue of the quarterback. Daniel Jones is still wildly inconsistent; he straddles the lines of glory and disaster like a tight-rope walker. Jones requires players that create separation from defenders. Golladay is not that player.

He excelled in Detroit due to his skill at catching contested balls; plus, he had a quarterback that could rifle the ball into tight windows. Daniel Jones doesn’t possess Matthew Stafford’s bazooka arm. Jones isn’t the player to jam a ball in a tight window on his receivers’ back shoulder. That is Golladay’s bread and butter.

Kenny Golladay is a terrific receiver; however, the Giants won’t see that with Daniel Jones. New York effectively paid Golladay $18 million in 2021 to evaluate Jones. That is like buying the most expensive training-wheels for a bike missing a wheel. No team should ever overpay a skill-positions player to make a judgment on the quarterback. That is a recipe for disaster; especially, if Jones can’t make it work with an elite receiver.

Andy Dalton – Chicago Bears

The Chicago Bears’ miserable offseason continued as they signed quarterback Andy Dalton. After courting Russell Wilson, Chicago settled for the Red Rifle. Dalton is an upgrade on Trubisky, of that there is no doubt. Sadly, he isn’t Russell Wilson and because of the Bears fans understandable anger, Dalton is in a lose-lose situation.

It gets worse for Chicago. The Bears needed to release Pro-Bowl cornerback Kyle Fuller to clear space for Dalton. Chicago could’ve signed Dalton for less money last year; instead, they traded a pick for Nick Foles. Dalton is a solid quarterback, nevertheless, Chicago overpaid for a quarterback that doesn’t make them a contender in the NFC North.

Rayshawn Jenkins – Jacksonville Jaguars

The Jacksonville Jaguars came into free agency with a ton of cap space. Urban Meyer was ready to attack his first season in the NFL. Strangely, Jacksonville opted to sign safety Rayshawn Jenkins to a $35 million contract that may rise to $39.5 million.

Jenkins is notorious for his lousy tackling, plus he’s only notched five interceptions in his career. The 2021 draft boasts a wealth of talent at the safety position. The Jags own picks throughout the early rounds; they could draft a premier safety like Richie Grant or Trevon Moehrig instead of spending money on Jenkins, who’s struggled mightily in his career so far. The Jags would own more cap flexibility and a better player on the roster if they didn’t sign Jenkins.

Trey Hendrickson – Cincinnati Bengals

Paying players for the number of sacks they posted is a risky move. That is what the Bengals did in signing Trey Hendrickson. The former Saints player shone last year as he totaled 13.5 sacks; Although Hendrickson did play on a fantastic line in New Orleans.

A lot of his success can get dished to the other players as well as himself. The Bengals inked Hendrickson to a massive $60 million contract. It is a huge contract, one that Hendrickson mightn’t deliver on.

Hendrickson is a speed-rusher, one that beats players in one-on-one battles. The Bengals defensive line doesn’t boast the depth of talent that New Orleans’ did. That will become a problem for Hendrickson as he will get double-teamed a lot more.

Hendrickson lacks the power to bull-rush past defenders, he will need help from the other players on the defensive line. The Bengals spent a lot of money on Hendrickson; if they are to see an improvement on the line, they’ll need to spend some more.

The post Top Five Worst Free Agency Signings appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Ryan Patrick

The New Orleans Saints made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year and I don’t think many NFL fans were surprised on their birth into the postseason. The Saints have arguably the best roster in the entire league with a ton of mouths to feed on offense and a ton of productive players on defense. But this offseason the Saints now run into the most fundamental part of team development in the NFL, the salary cap.

That’s right, I hate to break it to Saints fans out there, but the time for your loaded roster is pretty much over. The Saints bought, and traded for one of the best rosters, but they’re running into similar issues that the Los Angeles Rams face as well, spreading the budget.

I’ve chosen two players that the Saints should re-sign, not re-sign, and release in order to get a head start on their salary cap fiasco this offseason. Also, I’d like to mention that I’m betting on Drew Brees following up on his word and retiring this offseason following his 20-year career in the NFL. He’ll go down as a great, a first ballot hall of famer, but he’ll leave behind a Saints team that needs to go through some spring cleaning.

Jameis Winston, QB ”“ RE-SIGN

I already know what some people will ask with Winston, “why on earth would you ever re-sign him?” And my response to that is look at who he shares the position with, Taysom Hill.

Hill is a fun player in terms of you never know where he’s going to line up. But we saw when Drew Brees was out, Hill looked lost as a consistent quarterback. Hill only has one game under his belt where he’s thrown at least one touchdown and had zero interceptions, this was against the Falcons in week 13. Which even then, he fumbled the ball three times and lost one of them. All in all, he is not a consistent threat at quarterback, nor a threat a quarterback, period.

But look at Winston. Yes, he has a turnover issue and he is certainly not a top-20 quarterback in the league. But I would rather have Winston line up under center and be the consistent quarterback for the Saints. I’m just saying, he is a former Pro Bowl quarterback and he’s thrown over 4,000 yards in three seasons throughout his career, not to mention going over 5,000 yards in 2019.

Like I said, I expect a rebuild this next season in New Orleans. So, if the Saints dip low enough in the standings, they should be able to draft a quarterback, or perhaps sign one, in the near future. For now, a cheap, one or two-year deal for Winston will suffice for the Saints.

Marcus Williams, FS ”“ RE-SIGN

Aside from his infamous missed tackle on Stefon Diggs in the 2018 NFC Divisional Playoff, Williams has adequately provided for this Saints defense since getting drafted there in 2017. With his rookie contract up, it’s time to sign him on long term.

The idea with this offseason for the Saints is to keep the defense in about as tip top shape as they can get it, and then rebuild the team from there. The Saints will want organizational veterans to keep that product on defense high. Williams would give New Orleans that and then some considering he picked off three passes in 2020 ”“ he’s averaged over three interceptions in his first four years with the team.

Keeping a stable defense is obviously important, but a stable secondary is arguably the most important part of the defense. Getting beat over the top on a blown coverage absolutely kills a defense’s spirit and I’d rather have as solid of a secondary as possible heading into a brief rebuild. 

Trey Hendrickson, DE ”“ DON’T RE-SIGN

Yes, I understand that Hendrickson had a breakout season in 2020 with a career high 13.5 sacks and he was a snub for the NFC Pro Bowl roster. However, the Saints need to save money every where they can in order to make room in the cap for the rest of the roster.

Hendrickson is going to want a lot of money, plain and simple, and I don’t blame him. Since getting drafted in the third round with the team back in 2017, the Saints slowly but surely increased his role over the past four years But the question remains, did he have a breakout season because it was a contract year?

To avoid the Saints potentially dumping more money than he’s worth, Hendrickson is better off helping out another team’s pass rush and one that’d be willing to pay him well. I’m not officially saying he’s going to be a bust or not, but with a cap situation like the Saints have this offseason, there’s no time for taking gambles, they need guarantees.

Jared Cook, TE ”“ DON’T RE-SIGN

For the past two season, Cook has been very solid for the Saints as their starting tight end. He put up a career high nine touchdowns in his first season and his second most touchdowns this past year. That being said, the Saints’ salary cap is bound for some spring cleaning this offseason, and not everyone can stay.

Since 2006, head coach Sean Payton has coached up some considerable tight end talent with the Saints. Jeremey Shockey, Jimmy Graham, and now even Jared Cook. That being said, I don’t doubt for a second that Payton and the Saints front office can set their sights on a new tight end to produce for the team in the future.

Much like the situation with Hendrickson, Cook will want a considerable amount of money after having a pair of breakout seasons. Cook is more dependable than Hendrickson is at the moment, considering he’s been in the league longer, but the Saints have a swiss army knife in Taysom Hill and a slant master in Michael Thomas to lift the passing game for years to come.

Emmanuel Sanders, WR ”“ RELEASE

I’m going to put my fantasy football bias to the side since Sanders screwed me over in a handful of games this year, but his time in New Orleans is over.

I understand that he was the team’s second leading receiver this season behind Alvin Kamara, but when you have Michael Thomas miss nine games during the season for an abundance of reasons, how do you not capitalize more? Sanders had just one 100-yard game this past season, and had three other receiving performances where he had single digit yardage (including playoffs). It’s obvious that the Saints wanted to use Cook and Hill in the pass game this year, and for that, New Orleans has a chance to save some money.

Similar to the Cook situation, the Saints will be perfectly fine with Thomas and Hill running routes for them. Plus, with Kamara’s ability to receive in the back field, this team has more options in the pass game than most teams could ever dream of. Who ever is taking snaps for the Saints this next year, they’ll have plenty to work with.

Latavius Murray, RB – RELEASE

This release of course is to free up some more cap. But let’s be honest, are the Saints attached to any running back on the roster that isn’t named Kamara?

Kamara is arguably the heart and sole of this offense now that Brees will likely be gone and who knows about Thomas’ health and temper moving forward. Kamara as a top five back in the league shows every year that he can’t be stopped by some “joe-shmoe” on defense. Kamara makes every team scared when they have to face them on Sundays.

That being said, Murray is a good back and he’ll probably find work some where else. But the Saints are better off either re-signing Ty Montegomery or drafting a running back in the later rounds of the draft.

The post New Orleans Saints Free Agents: Re-sign or Don’t Re-sign? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.