3 Bold Predictions for the Bengals Offseason

The Cincinnati Bengals storybook 2021 season ended at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams in an exciting Super Bowl matchup. This team is nowhere near done yet, though. With quarterback Joe Burrow at the helm, Cincinnati's front office should do everything it can to surround him with talent.

Of course, general manager Mike Brown has not shortage of assets to make the necessary moves. Cincinnati is projected to have over $48.7 million in available cap space and owns eight picks in the upcoming NFL Draft. Let's take a look at three bold predictions for the Bengals this offseason.

Bengals Bold Predictions

1. Bengals Re-Sign Jessie Bates III to Massive Contract

The first order of business for the Bengals should be locking down one of their most impactful players in free agency. Jessie Bates III has shined as a playmaking safety for defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo by racking up at least 100 tackles and 3 interceptions in three of his first four NFL seasons. There's no doubt that Bates is going to command a massive contract at only 24 years old. Fortunately, Cincinnati has the cap space to get a deal done here and shouldn't hesitate to go all-in on the former Wake Forest standout. It'd be a much safer option than bringing in a new starter in need of learning the team's entire defensive system.

2. Bengals Replace CJ Uzomah with Rob Gronkowski

It's possible that the Bengals will lose veteran tight end CJ Uzomah to free agency this offseason. If that is the case, signing someone capable of being both a great blocker and a scary receiving threat should be a top priority. Rob Gronkowski certainly fits that mold. With quarterback Tom Brady retiring, Gronk's options are wide open and he has been vocal about his admiration for Burrow in the past. The five-time Pro Bowler's route-running skills would open up space for Cincinnati's wide receivers and give the team a true mismatch down near the end zone. Bringing Gronkowski in on a short-term deal driven by incentives seems like a win for everyone involved.

3. Bengals Select Three or More OL in NFL Draft

Cincinnati's offseason is going to be dominated by whatever moves they make to address a mediocre offensive line. After all, Burrow was sacked a whopping 70 times between the regular season and the playoffs. This free agent class is not exactly filled with a ton of reliable starting options, though. That means the Bengals could easily opt to rely on the NFL Draft, instead. Starting with the No. 31 overall pick, it's not unrealistic to think the front office takes at least three linemen in an attempt to find a breakout player or two. Names that stick out in this case include Bernhard Raimann, Zion Johnson, and Darian Kinnard.

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Larry Rupp is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Larry Rupp also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username phillyfan424. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.