Is Bengals Offensive Line Roster's Weakest Link? originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The NFL, unlike the NBA, is not a weak-link sport. Quarterbacks can cover several flaws on a roster, outsourcing defenses and making up for others’ mistakes. However, the offensive line often follows that paradigm.
The Cincinnati Bengals, with superstar quarterback Joe Burrow and a roster that has consistently let him down, add credence to that theory. After the defense managed to take Burrow out of playoff contention, it’s easy to bill a potential Trey Hendrickson-less pass rush or a poor run defense as the team’s biggest issue.
On the other side of the ball, though, the front five could give Burrow more trouble. With Pro Football Focus placing them last in the league, the Bengals’ offensive line ranking could spoil the 2025 season.
“The Bengals ranked 29th in both PFF pass-blocking grade and PFF run-blocking grade last season, and it doesn’t appear that they will fare much better in 2025,” Dalton Wasserman wrote.
“Center Ted Karras is the only returning player from last season who earned at least a 60.0 PFF overall grade. Left tackle Amarius Mims underwhelmed in his rookie season. The lowest-graded guard unit in football added only third-round pick Dylan Fairchild and veteran Lucas Patrick, who earned a 64.6 PFF grade in New Orleans in 2024.”
Cincinnati may have two new starters, but neither projects to be a plus-level addition. For a unit that could badly use a significant jump in talent, that’s bad news.
Still, there’s hope for the unit. First-round right tackle Amarius Mims was always going to be a bit of a project, drafted on the back of his incredible frame and tantalizing athleticism. Year 1 didn’t go particularly well, as Wasserman noted. But picking Mims was an upside play, meant to boast its biggest returns later in his rookie contract. If there’s a leap in store for Mims, Cincinnati stands to benefit. It’s worth noting that he flashed much more frequently in pass protection late in the year.
Fans can also expect more from Orlando Brown Jr., whose pedigree and past success make a bounce back possible. Getting high-level tackle play remains possible, and that’s the quickest route back to average for Cincinnati’s offensive line.
The upgrades to the interior should improve the floor of the unit, but the big swings on the outside could decide whether Burrow is optimized or held back in 2025.
