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After missing the playoffs for the second consecutive season, the Cincinnati Bengals returned to the drawing board in the 2025 offseason, resulting in significant changes to their unofficial depth chart. Their typical core returns, but the team made an effort to replace just about as much of its supporting cast as possible.
Whether those changes benefit them remains to be seen, but the Bengals were clearly determined to make them. While Cincinnati returned its starting offensive skill players, it projects to start two new offensive linemen and is slated to begin the year with five new first-team defenders.
The Bengals have already overhauled their offensive line on multiple occasions in the Joe Burrow era. They did not completely turn the unit over in the 2025 offseason, but made a couple of noticeable changes. Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims return on the edges, as does Ted Karras at center, but Cincinnati replaced its two starting guards.
Defensively, the Bengals lost two of their three starting linebackers in free agency, as well as two key members of their secondary. However, arguably the unit’s most significant loss was seven-year veteran defensive end Sam Hubbard, who semi-surprisingly announced his retirement in March. The team is replacing him internally, elevating 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy to the starting lineup.
Cincinnati is clearly committed to its talented offensive corps, but continues to seek answers at nearly every other position. With just a few weeks remaining until the regular season, the Bengals’ 2025 depth chart still seems like an unfinished product that could change at any given moment. That being said, a few current starters have much less job security than others.
The Bengals overhauled their offensive line yet again in the 2025 offseason, yet somehow left Amarius Mims in the starting lineup. Mims was arguably the team’s worst starter in 2024, but he will return for another year.
Mims was not just one of the worst blockers on the team in 2024; he was one of the worst offensive linemen in the NFL. In 15 games, he allowed 33 total pressures, including four sacks. He posted those numbers despite often lining up against the opposing defense’s No. 2 pass-rusher.
As bad as his pass-blocking was, Mims’ run-blocking has been even worse. He has struggled to create gaps and get into the second level. The deficiencies gave Mims a 57.8 player grade from Pro Football Focus, ranking in the bottom-30 percent of all offensive tackles.
After allowing Burrow to be sacked 48 times in 2024, the second-most of his career, the Bengals chose to replace their two guards. Three-year starter Cordell Volson returns, but Cincinnati lists rookie Dylan Fairchild and former New Orleans Saints starter Lucas Patrick atop its depth chart.
The changes keep Mims in the starting lineup, but with a short leash. Fans already put him on blast during the preseason as the worst part of a viral clip that surfaced from the team’s win against the Washington Commanders. During...
