Somewhere in the multiverse the NFL's biggest names are playing for different teams. Each general manager is tasked with being his franchise's version of Dr....
The 2022 offseason has created some seismic shifts
What Minkah Fitzpatrick’s Record-Setting Deal Means for the Future of NFL Safeties
Jun 16, 2022
PITTSBURGH, PA - MAY 25: Pittsburgh Steelers safety Minkah Fitzpatrick (39) takes part in a drill during the team's OTA practice on May 25, 2022, at the Steelers Practice Facility in Pittsburgh, PA. (Photo by Brandon Sloter/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
In the near future, a safety will sign a deal worth $20 million annually. Maybe not this offseason, but Minkah Fitzpatrick's market-setting deal sets the stage for it to happen in 2023.
On Wednesday, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed Fitzpatrick to a four-year, $73.6 million extension, per NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Since the AFC North club acquired him from the Miami Dolphins in September of 2019, he's recorded 203 tackles (144 solo), 27 pass breakups and 11 interceptions (two pick-sixes). The 25-year-old is also a two-time Pro Bowler and All-Pro.
The safety market has grown rapidly over the past year.
Last offseason, Justin Simmons (four years, $61 million), Jamal Adams (four years, $70 million) and Harrison Smith (four years, $64 million) signed big-money extensions with their respective teams.
With Fitzpatrick's contract topping the market at $18.4 million in average annual value (AAV), Derwin James and Jessie Bates III can surpass or come close to matching that mark. At 31 years old, Jordan Poyer's age will likely prevent him from getting a top-of-the-market salary if the Buffalo Bills sign him to an extension.
Even though he's coming off an All-Pro year, Poyer doesn't have a resume that compares to Smith (six Pro Bowls and an All-Pro season), who signed his new deal at 32 years old. Also, the Bills have little wiggle room in cap space with quarterback Josh Allen cashing in $43 million per year on a long-term contract.
Interestingly, agent David Mulugheta represents both James and Bates, so he can use some of the same tactics to negotiate deals for the two safeties.
Mulugheta has a much better chance to talk the Los Angeles Chargers into making James the highest-paid player at the position.
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - NOVEMBER 21: Derwin James #33 of the Los Angeles Chargers warms up before the game against the Pittsburgh Steelers at SoFi Stadium on November 21, 2021 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
James has the same number of Pro Bowl nods as Fitzpatrick (two) but one fewer All-Pro campaign (one). Despite the former's concerning injury history, missing 29 games through four seasons, he plays a vital role in the Chargers defense as one of the most complete players at the position.
Through 36 outings, James has recorded 257 tackles (173 solo), 14 for loss, 5.5 sacks, 19 pass breakups and five interceptions. He's not quite Adams in terms of rushing the passer, but the versatile defender can supplement the pass rush if necessary. While James isn't a ball hawk, the Chargers can trust him in coverage. He's allowed just two touchdowns over the past two seasons and permitted a 63.7 passer rating in coverage last year.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the Chargers will strike a deal with James, and he thinks the talented defensive back has a chance to slide above Fitzpatrick on the pay scale.
"I'm told Los Angeles definitely believes this will get done. The Chargers see James as a true roster pillar, and James can take one of two paths strategically:
1. Do a fair market deal now.
2. Wait for Fitzpatrick to go first, and then slide in around -- or slightly above -- that number."
Even at fair value, James' new contract value should exceed $70 million in total, so our projection of four years, $72 million ($39 million guaranteed) on megacontract seems feasible for Los Angeles. Remember, the Chargers have quarterback Justin Herbert on a rookie deal for at least another year, so the front office can splurge on one of its best players.
If the Chargers hesitate to pay James $39 million in guarantees because of concerns about his durability, they can inflate the AAV of his deal and push that figure closer to $20 million.
Mulugheta will go through tougher negotiations with the Cincinnati Bengals if he tries to get Bates a contract that resets the market.
Unlike James, Bates doesn't have Pro Bowl or All-Pro recognition on his resume. He's also less versatile and more of a deep cover safety with the tendency to take the ball away. Lastly, the 25-year-old struggled through the first half of the 2021 campaign and finished the regular season with 88 tackles, four pass breakups and an interception—all career lows for a single term.
However, James made his presence felt in coverage during the Bengals' playoff run to Super Bowl LVI, registering six pass breakups and two interceptions in four games.
Though Cincinnati selected safety Dax Hill in the first round of the 2022 draft, quarterback Joe Burrow praised Bates for his performance on the field and leadership in the locker room, something a rookie cannot provide in his first year:
Joe Burrow says he & Jessie Bates are about to take a trip to Vegas.
As the face of the franchise, Burrow understands when he speaks, people in the organization listen to him. While that doesn't mean the Bengals will back up the Brinks truck for Bates, the fifth-year pro has made it clear that he wants a long-term deal.
During an appearance on NFL Network (h/t SI.com's James Rapien), Bates talked about his contract situation.
"I'm not too worried about being the highest-paid safety," Bates said. "But I do know value over cost and I think that is something that we are going to continue to evaluate.”
According to USA Today's Tyler Dragon, Bates has "no intentions" of playing with the franchise tag for the 2022 season.
This year, the league set the franchise tender for safeties at $12.9 million. If the Bengals come to a long-term agreement with Bates, he would probably sign a deal worth $16-17 million per year with at least $33 million guaranteed, which doesn't top Fitzpatrick but keeps him within the top five at the position in both salary aspects.
CINCINNATI, OH - DECEMBER 26: Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) runs during a game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens on December 26, 2021, at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati, OH. (Photo by Robin Alam/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
As arguably a top-five safety in the league, Bates will eventually benefit from Fitzpatrick's new contract because of the rise in the market ceiling.
Though Bates doesn't have a resume that compares to Fitzpatrick's or James' in accolades, he's racked up impressive numbers through 63 contests, logging 408 tackles (289 solo), five for loss, 35 pass breakups and 10 interceptions (one pick-six).
More reliable in availability than James, Bates could push for a high amount of guaranteed money. Perhaps he can match Marcus Williams, who signed a five-year, $70 million deal with $37 million in guarantees with the Baltimore Ravens in free agency. The latter has similar coverage numbers (38 pass breakups, 15 interceptions and one pick-six) to the former, but he's played one more year in the league.
The Bengals can also offer Bates a contract AAV that's close to Fitzpatrick's and drop the amount of guaranteed money to keep up with the competitive market, which may bump him up to $17-18 million annually.
If Cincinnati refuses to sign Bates to a long-term deal before the July 15 deadline, he can turn that team decision into a bigger payday for himself with a change of heart on his current stance.
With a stellar 2022 campaign, Bates can raise his contract demands. Coming off a year with career-high numbers, he can possibly command a deal worth $20 million per year or use Fitzpatrick's deal as a template for his asking price.
Player salary rankings are provided by Over the Cap.
Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
Bengals' Joe Burrow Hasn't Thought Much About 2nd Contract amid 'Exploding' Market
Jun 15, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is aware of the massive contracts his peers are receiving but said it isn't at the forefront of his mind.
Speaking to Geoff Hobson of the Bengals' official website, Burrow said the following Tuesday when asked about recent NFL quarterback contracts:
"I mean, the market is just exploding. It's crazy the number that these guys are putting up, and I think it's well deserved. All those guys are playing at the top of their game. They're being paid accordingly. But I'm not worried about [it]. I like to make jokes about it, but really, I haven't thought about it much right now."
Burrow, who is coming off leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl in his second NFL season in 2021, has two years remaining on his rookie contract, plus a fifth-year team option for 2024 that will almost certainly be picked up if the two sides don't reach a long-term agreement before then.
To Burrow's point, the NFL's top quarterbacks have indeed been getting rewarded with huge contracts in recent years, including this offseason.
Per Spotrac, the two highest-paid quarterbacks on an annual basis are Aaron Rodgers of the Green Bay Packers and Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns, both of whom signed new deals this offseason.
Rodgers signed a three-year contract worth more than $50 million per year, while Watson made history with a fully guaranteed five-year, $230 million deal after getting traded from the Houston Texans to Cleveland.
Following Rodgers and Watson in terms of average annual salary are Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs and Josh Allen of the Buffalo Bills, who both signed their deals recently as well.
Mahomes inked a 10-year, $450 million contract in September 2020, and Allen signed for six years and over $258 million last August.
If Burrow remains on his current trajectory, he will be among those highest-paid signal-callers and will perhaps even top the list.
Cincinnati made Burrow the No. 1 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft on the heels of a dominant final college season at LSU that saw him lead the Tigers to an undefeated record and a national championship. He also won the Heisman Trophy.
Burrow showed promise as a rookie, although his season was cut short after 10 games because of a torn left ACL and MCL. He showed no ill effects last season, firmly establishing himself as an elite player at his position.
Joey Franchise went 10-6 as a starter and completed an NFL-best 70.4 percent of his passes to go along with 4,611 yards, 34 touchdowns and 14 interceptions.
Most importantly, Burrow led the Bengals to three playoff wins and took them all the way to the Super Bowl in what was their first playoff appearance since 2015.
Although the Bengals fell 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams, reaching Super Bowl LVI represented a huge leap forward for the franchise and put Burrow on track to cash in sooner rather than later.
Bengals' Joe Burrow Speaks on Need for Gun Reform After Recent Shootings
Jun 14, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) takes part in drills at the team's NFL football stadium, Tuesday, June 14, 2022, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow has called for gun reform in the wake of recent mass shootings around the United States.
"With everything that's going on, if you're not gonna outlaw everything, you gotta at least make it harder to get those crazy guns that everybody's using," he told reporters Tuesday. "I don't think you should be able to just walk in there and buy one. You gotta be able to go through a rigorous process to be able to buy something like that, I think. Hopefully the people that get paid to make those decisions figure that out. My job is to play football, but hopefully the politicians can figure that one out."
Bengals QB Joe Burrow, on gun reform: “If you’re not going to outlaw everything, you’ve gotta at least make it harder to get those crazy guns that everybody’s using.” Here’s his full response, via @bengals: pic.twitter.com/xJo1dOWsBA
Burrow appeared to be talking about gun reform for AR-15-style rifles in particular, which were used in the Buffalo, New York and Uvalde, Texas mass shootings.
His quotes came as a bipartisan group of senators, including 10 Republicans—enough to break a GOP-led filibuster—have agreed on gun-reform legislation.
"Families are scared, and it is our duty to come together and get something done that will help restore their sense of safety and security in their communities," the group of 20 senators said in a statement.
Though President Joe Biden has pushed for sweeping reform—he's asked to make assault rifles and high-capacity magazines illegal, to legally require universal background checks and raise the age limit for buying a firearm in the United States to 21 years of age—the bipartisan bill will be more limited in its scope.
2/ Major funding to help states pass and implement crisis intervention orders (red flag laws) that will allow law enforcement to temporarily take dangerous weapons away from people who pose a danger to others or themselves.
4/ Close the “boyfriend loophole”, so that no domestic abuser - a spouse OR a serious dating partner - can buy a gun if they are convicted of abuse against their partner.
6/ Enhanced background check for under 21 gun buyers and a short pause to conduct the check. Young buyers can get the gun only after the enhanced check is completed.
8/ Will this bill do everything we need to end our nation’s gun violence epidemic? No. But it’s real, meaningful progress. And it breaks a 30 year log jam, demonstrating that Democrats and Republicans can work together in a way that truly saves lives.
Burrow, 25, is entering his third year in the NFL, fresh off leading the Bengals to the Super Bowl last season.
Though NFL players have been more vocal about social and political issues in recent years, namely in the wake of Colin Kaepernick's protest of police brutality and racial discrimination by taking a knee during the national anthem in 2016, prominent white quarterbacks have not often led the way in such conversations or even lent their voices publicly.
Burrow's comments are perhaps a sign of incremental change in that regard.
Bengals' Evan McPherson: 'No Regrets' Watching Super Bowl Halftime Show Live
Jun 14, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Evan McPherson #2 of the Cincinnati Bengals warms up before Super Bowl LVI against the Los Angeles Rams at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals kicker Evan McPherson spent halftime of the Super Bowl watching Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and others on the field instead of listening to coaches in the locker room, and he remains happy with his decision.
"Looking back on it, if there was a camera in my face, I wouldn't stay out there," McPherson told Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. "I get how it looked. It probably looked pretty bad. I probably wouldn't do it again, but no regrets."
McPherson was captured by the NBC broadcast sitting on the bench during the halftime show:
Announcer Mike Tirico also said the kicker was "out there the whole time."
It's certainly not what coaches would want to see from a rookie in the biggest game of his life, and the Bengals lost 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams.
Special teams coordinator and assistant head coach Darrin Simmons was especially upset with veteran long snapper Clark Harris, who watched the show with McPherson and was the ringleader, per Dehner. Simmons couldn't find Harris at halftime, when he needed to notify him of personnel adjustments. And then McPherson was caught on camera.
An NFL team's journey can vary. One may be short and sweet. Another may be a direct line to its preferred destination. Others may be forced to take a Lord of...
Joe Burrow: 'I'm Not Going to Accept Losing' After Bengals' Super Bowl Run
May 17, 2022
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 13: Joe Burrow #9 of the Cincinnati Bengals looks to pass against the Los Angeles Rams during Super Bowl LVI at SoFi Stadium on February 13, 2022 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2022 campaign with high hopes after reaching Super Bowl LVI last season.
But after falling to the Los Angeles Rams on the biggest stage, Joe Burrow has set the bar higher, and he is aiming for nothing less than a championship this season.
"I’m not going to accept losing," Burrow told reporters on Tuesday.
The 2021 season was the Bengals' best since the 1988 campaign in which they reached the Super Bowl but fell to the San Francisco 49ers.
Burrow led Cincinnati to a 10-7 record, which was good for first in the AFC North. The team hadn't finished first in its division since the 2015 season. The Bengals then went on to top the Las Vegas Raiders, Tennessee Titans and Kansas City Chiefs in the postseason to reach the Super Bowl.
Cincinnati lost the Super Bowl by just three points, a 23-20 loss to Matthew Stafford and the Rams. During that game, it was clear Burrow needed more protection after being sacked seven times, bringing the total times he was sacked in the playoffs to 19, an NFL postseason record.
The Bengals' offensive line was really their only weakness last season, and they completely revamped the O-line this offseason in hopes it will pay off with a Super Bowl title.
Cincinnati signed former Tampa Bay Buccaneers right guard Alex Cappa, which gives the franchise a stable option at the position for the first time in years. They also signed former New England Patriots offensive lineman Ted Karras, who can play either center or left guard, and former Dallas Cowboys right tackle La'el Collins.
With those additions on the offensive line, and the returns of Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and Joe Mixon alongside Burrow, the Bengals could be in line to finish with their most wins since 2015 when they went 12-4.
That said, they'll face a much more difficult AFC in 2022 with the Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Cleveland Browns all checking in with better odds to win the conference at this point, per DraftKings Sportsbook.
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Bengals' Jessie Bates III Reportedly Has No Plans to Play Under Franchise Tag in 2022
May 16, 2022
KANSAS CITY, MO - JANUARY 30: Cincinnati Bengals free safety Jessie Bates (30) before the AFC Championship game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Kansas City Chiefs on Jan 30, 2022 at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, MO. (Photo by Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
Cincinnati Bengals safety Jessie Bates III reportedly has no interest in playing for the defending AFC champions if it is under the franchise tag.
According to Tyler Dragon of USA Today, Bates is not expected to report to training camp or attend OTAs given his current contract status after the Bengals placed the tag on him in March.
The 25-year-old expressed a desire to avoid the franchise tag during a February appearance on NFL Now:
That's a conversation I think that we'll have with my agency and my team. I put a lot of trust in them with this whole process. I'm just trying to stay focused, control what I can. We'll see. Hopefully I'm not under a franchise tag. That's something that needs to be discussed as NFLPA a little bit. Some of the top guys got hurt under a franchise tag. It's tough; you only get one shot at this. You just got to play your cards right, I guess you could say.
Bates has proven to be a durable leader by starting in 63 games he has appeared in and has missed just two games in four seasons in the league. The second-round pick in the 2018 NFL draft out of Wake Forest finished the 2021 campaign with 88 tackles, four passes defended, one interception and one fumble recovery.
Bates' statistical production took a step back after three straight seasons with more than 100 tackles and three picks and a 2020 campaign that saw him post a career-best 15 passes defended. However, he played some of his best football during Cincinnati's playoff run.
He recorded three passes defended in the Wild Card round against the Las Vegas Raiders, an interception in the Divisional Round win over the Tennessee Titans, a key pass breakup in overtime that led to a pick in the AFC Championship Game win over the Kansas City Chiefs, and an interception in the end zone during the Super Bowl loss to the Los Angeles Rams.
The postseason performance was indicative of someone Cincinnati may want to build around, but it also selected three safeties in the 2022 NFL draft. One of those was Michigan's Daxton Hill in the first round.
Bates' immediate future with the team figures to remain a major talking point as long as he doesn't want to play under the tag.
Why Joe Burrow and the Bengals Won't Be a One-Year Wonder in Loaded AFC
May 11, 2022
Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) reacts during the second half of the NFL Super Bowl 56 football game against the Los Angeles Rams, Sunday, Feb. 13, 2022, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
The "Super Bowl hangover" is a thing.
Over more than a half-century of the biggest game in sports, there have been all of three instances where a team that lost the Super Bowl went on to win it the following year—the 1971 Dallas Cowboys (Super Bowl VI), the 1972 Miami Dolphins (Super Bowl VII) and the 2018 New England Patriots (Super Bowl LIII).
For each such team that bounced back, there have been multiple examples of teams that not only didn't get back to the Super Bowl but missed the postseason altogether. After losing Super Bowl XXXVIII, the 2004 Carolina Panthers went 7-9. The year after that the Philadelphia Eagles went from losing Super Bowl XXXIX to 6-10. It's the same record the Panthers posted the year after losing Super Bowl 50.
After a surprising 2021 season that culminated in an AFC North title and an even more surprising run to a date with the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI, it will fall to Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals to shake off that hangover in 2022. It won't be easy. Frankly, the odds are against them.
But the team has done what it can to avoid being a one-year wonder—by quietly having one of the NFL's best offseasons.
Per Bryan DeArdo of CBS Sports, after that Super Bowl loss Burrow said he fully intended to lead the Bengals back to another Super Bowl.
"We're a young team," he said. "You'd like to think that we'll be back in this situation multiple times over the course of the next few years. We take this and let it fuel you for the rest of our careers."
There was (and is) substantial reason to be confident. Burrow has as much offensive weaponry as any signal-caller in the league. Joe Mixon is a top-10 back in the prime of his career. Tee Higgins, Tyler Boyd and 2021 Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja'Marr Chase combine to form arguably the best trio of wideouts in the NFL.
A defensive front seven featuring two dangerous edge-rushers in Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson and a capable linebacker corps anchored by Germaine Pratt and Logan Wilson are underrated.
Then there's Burrow himself, who looks the part of a megastar in the making after throwing for 4,611 yards with 34 touchdown passes in his second professional season.
But there were two major weaknesses on Cincinnati's roster entering the offseason. And the Bengals bolstered both in a major way.
The first was glaringly obvious. The offensive line play in the Queen City a year ago was…offensive. Counting the postseason, Burrow was sacked a jaw-dropping 70 times in 2021. Only two quarterbacks in the history of the league (David Carr in 2002 and Randall Cunningham in 1986) were taken down more times in a season.
Upgrading that line with both quality and quantity was a must. And the Bengals got after it as soon as free agency opened.
After four seasons (and a Super Bowl win) with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, veteran guard Alex Cappa signed a four-year, $35 million contract with the Bengals. Seventh-year center Ted Karras got $18 million over three years with Cincinnati after allowing three sacks in 829 snaps with the Patriots in 2021. The Bengals have a new starter at right tackle as well after La'el Collins bolted the Dallas Cowboys for a three-year, $21 million pact.
After Collins was signed, offensive line coach Frank Pollack lauded his overhauled unit.
"We have three new guys that know how to set the tone," Pollack said, via Geoff Hobson of the team's website. "Pros that know how to prepare and practice. That's what L.C. is. He prepares hard and practices hard."
The new linemen aren't elite options. But they are capable, experienced veteran players who offer marked improvement. If left tackle Jonah Williams continues to improve in his fourth season, last year's biggest weakness could be a strength.
Cincinnati's other issue wasn't quite as massive. But it was a problem, nonetheless.
The Bengals have an excellent pair of safeties in Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates III. They found a free-agent gem last year in cornerback Chidobe Awuzie. And Mike Hilton is a decent veteran slot corner who told reporters that the team is on a mission to show that last year's success wasn't a fluke.
"When you think of the Bengals," Hilton said, "you're like, 'Oh, the Bengals,' you know? But now, with this group of guys that we have and the coaches that we have, we're really turning this organization around. And we're just trying to get the respect we deserve."
But despite re-signing Eli Apple, the other boundary corner spot was a weakness. After playing all of five games in two years with the team on a $42 million contract, Trae Waynes was shown the door in the offseason. Apple may not be quite as bad as the memes make him out to be, but he has allowed a passer rating against north of 100 in two of the past three seasons.
Whether it was depth behind Apple or a replacement for him, the Bengals needed to add talent in the defensive backfield. And that was the focus of the early rounds of the 2022 draft.
With the 31st pick, the Bengals selected Michigan safety Daxton Hill, a talented and versatile young defensive back whom Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network thinks could be a difference-maker in the NFL.
"Hill is an athletic safety who has shown consistent improvement on the field and increased his production every year," he said. "He possesses good upside and projects as a traditional free safety who can line up over the slot receiver."
Not only can Hill play both safety spots and the slot, but he told All Bengals after the draft that he's willing to try his hand at outside corner if needed.
"Yeah, I mean definitely," Hill said. "With corner, that's something I definitely have to prepare myself for. Whatever that is and whenever that is I'm ready for the challenge."
Cincinnati circled back in Round 2, drafting Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt, a physical presence Bleacher Report's Cory Giddings wrote has significant potential.
It's not guaranteed that either of those youngsters will beat out Apple to be a Week 1 starter. But at the very least defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo has more depth in sub-packages, added versatility and some insurance against an injury or a potential contract impasse with Bates.
All those things are good.
Granted, addressing those needs doesn't punch Cincinnati's ticket for a trip to Glendale. A lot that has to go right to facilitate a deep playoff run, not the least of which is key players like Burrow staying healthy.
Getting through the AFC North isn't going to be easy, either. The Baltimore Ravens were ravaged by injuries on both sides of the ball last year and had arguably the best draft of any team in the league. Depending on the playing status of quarterback Deshaun Watson, the Cleveland Browns could be a very tough out. The Pittsburgh Steelers haven't had a losing season since 2003.
Even if the Bengals can run that gauntlet and win the AFC North in consecutive seasons for the first time in franchise history (or make the playoffs as a wild-card team), getting back to the Super Bowl means navigating a second meat-grinder.
In 2022, the AFC is almost ridiculously stacked.
The Buffalo Bills are almost as loaded as the Bengals offensively and feature the league's No. 1 defense from a season ago. After a flurry of impact trades and signings this year that started with Denver's acquisition of quarterback Russell Wilson, the AFC West is loaded with teams from top to bottom that have aspirations of a deep playoff run, whether it's Wilson's Broncos, a Chargers team that made big changes defensively or a Raiders team that gave the Bengals all they could handle in the Wild Card Round and have since added edge-rusher Chandler Jones and wide receiver Davante Adams.
The only team in the West that didn't make high-profile additions this offseason was Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs. All the Chiefs have done is win six straight division titles and host the AFC Championship Game each of the past four seasons.
Other than that, they are just OK.
Of course, those teams all have their own question marks. The Chiefs have holes on defense and traded away star wideout Tyreek Hill. The Chargers faded down the stretch last year and missed the postseason. Buffalo's run game is suspect. And so on. But those teams also took steps to address their weaknesses in the offseason, which made it all the more imperative the Bengals do the same.
In revamping a woeful offensive line and upgrading the defensive backfield, Cincinnati did just that. It's hardly a guarantee that the team will become the fourth franchise to shake off the Super Bowl hangover and win a championship. There are no such guarantees to be had—especially as loaded as the AFC is in 2022.
But the offseason moves the Bengals made also make it less likely that these Bengals will be a one-hit wonder.
There's still some more music to be made in the Queen City.
