Cincy Jungle
While Cordell Volson has started for the Bengals the last couple of years, criticisms have stayed in place. New arrivals place pressure on the veteran to keep his starting status in 2025.
We have a bit of an annual tradition that kicks off around this time of year. Once the first waves of free agency and the NFL Draft are in the rearview mirror, we turn our attention to identifying which Bengals players might be poised to take that all-important next step in their careers.
Here at Cincy Jungle and on our associated podcasts, we launch a recurring series each offseason titled “Potential Bengals Breakout Players.” It’s our way of forecasting which players could step into larger roles, show significant growth from the previous season, or otherwise emerge as key contributors in the upcoming year.
This isn’t just guesswork. It’s based on their likely increased responsibilities, glimpses of talent, and how they’ve been developing behind the scenes.
Building off that tradition, we’re rolling out a new companion series: “Make-or-Break Year.” This series spotlights Bengals players who are entering pivotal stretches in their careers—those who need to prove themselves now or risk fading from the team’s long-term plans.
These are players at a crossroads. Whether it’s due to inconsistent performance, off-field concerns, or simply needing to show growth, the next few months could be career-defining.
Ever since Joe Burrow joined the Cincinnati Bengals, the offensive line has been a major focal point of criticism and questions. Cincinnati made some major moves in outside free agency over the last few years, but the guard spots have particularly come under much scrutiny.
Cincinnati used a fourth round pick on Cordell Volson in 2022 and he has since manned the left guard spot. The staff thought so highly of him that, at certain points, he was the only starter the team originally drafted to play on the line.
While he has taken steps forward in his development, the consistency still hasn’t been there. Entering the final year of his rookie deal, Volson saw the team draft Dylan Fairchild in the third round a few weeks ago, followed by comments made by coaches saying the rookie has an opportunity to win a starting job.
Gone is a major Volson advocate in offensive line coach Frank Pollack, so Volson will need to ingratiate himself with new coach Scott Peters this spring and summer. Will he take another step in his development to show consistency, or will his future with the Bengals get murky as the preseason wears on?
One of the major factors that attracted the Bengals to Volson was his championship pedigree. Sure, he came from a small school, but North Dakota State is known as an NCAA Division I FCS powerhouse.
Volson played multiple positions on the Bison offensive line, making his versatility a highly coveted trait among many teams. Even with his...
