The Cincinnati Bengals have plenty of cap space to knock out all of Joe Burrow’s demands this offseason, especially after a higher-than-expected incoming salary cap for 2025.
But that doesn’t mean the Bengals front office shouldn’t be seeking out ways to add even more.
One example, as Bengals fans have circled in red since at least last August, has been the idea of gutting the defensive line. This popped up again from For the Win’s Christian D’Andrea:
The Bengals need all the pass rushing help they can get, but both Hubbard and Rankins slogged through awful seasons in 2024 to leave Trey Hendrickson as the team’s only pocket-crumpling threat. With cap space needed to keep Tee Higgins in town (and potentially extend Hendrickson), Cincinnati could generate $19 million in savings by blowing up its front line and starting over with younger, cheaper replacements.
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At this point, the Bengals will probably move on from both Hubbard ($9.6 million) and Rankins ($9.5 million).
There’s a scenario where the Bengals restructure with Hubbard, but he takes a significant role reduction behind former first-rounder Myles Murphy.
But the interior of the offensive line will get a youth movement that likely sees Rankins out the door after he could only suit up in seven games last season. The team drafted Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson one year ago in the wake of losing DJ Reader — and project to add even more this offseason.
Saving cap in this manner could roll extra money toward free agents, whether it’s on the same defensive line or goes to the interior offensive trenches in front of Joe Burrow, to name just a few options.