2024 Cincinnati Bengals Preview: Roster Moves, Depth Chart, Schedule, Storylines and More

2024 Cincinnati Bengals Preview: Roster Moves, Depth Chart, Schedule, Storylines and More

This article is part of our Team Previews series.

Cincinnati Bengals

It's hard to characterize the 2023 Bengals season as anything but a waste of a year. Joe Burrow injured his calf in training camp, rushed back and struggled as the Bengals limped to a 1-3 start. He then suffered a season-ending wrist injury Week 11, and while Jake Browning exceeded expectations as Burrow's replacement, the team finished out of the playoffs with a 9-8 record. Deep playoff runs are the baseline as long as Burrow is the franchise quarterback.

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Vital Information

  • Head Coach: Zac Taylor (Year 6)
  • Offensive Coordinator: Dan Pitcher (Year 1) – West Coast spread
  • Defensive Coordinator: Lou Anarumo (Year 6) – 4-3 scheme
  • Bye Week: 12

Full 2024 Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart

Full 2023 Cincinnati Bengals Stats

Stats to Know for the Cincinnati Bengals

  • 2023 Record: 9-8
  • 2023 Strength of Schedule: .574 (1st)
  • 2023 Point Differential: -18 (T-17th)
  • 2023 Pass-Play Rate: 67% (3rd)
  • 2023 PROE: +5.6% (2nd)
  • 2023 PFF O-Line Rating: 26th
2023 StatsOffenseDefense
Plays1,048 (24th)1,055 (10th)
Points366 (16th)384 (21st)
Turnovers16 (T-2nd)26 (T-12th)
Yards5,422 (22nd)6,368 (31st)
Rush Yards1,527 (31st)2,145 (26th)
Pass Yards3.895 (15th)4,223 (28th)
Drives188 (15th)187 (T-18th)
Yards per Drive28.8 (22nd)34.0 (27th)
Points per Drive1.87 (15th)2.01 (23rd)

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Key Transactions

Skill Positions

 QBRBWRTE
Veteran AdditionsLogan WoodsideZack MossNoneMike Gesicki
     
Veteran DeparturesAJ McCarronJoe MixonTyler BoydIrv Smith
    Mitchell Wilcox

Defense

 DLLBDB
Veteran AdditionsSheldon RankinsNoneGeno Stone
   Vonn Bell
    
Veteran DeparturesDJ ReaderNoneChidobe Awuzie
 Josh Tupou Nick Scott

Draft Picks

RoundPickPlayerPosition
118Amarius MimsT
249Kris JenkinsDT
380Jermaine BurtonWR
397McKinnley JacksonDT
4115Erick AllTE
5149Josh NewtonCB
6194Tanner McLachlanTE
6214Cedric JohnsonDE
7224Daijahn AnthonyCB
7237Matt LeeC

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Top Fantasy Story

Whether Joe Burrow will be at full capacity in 2024 or even for the rest of his career is hardly a settled matter. In June, he declined to put a percentage on the rehab of his right wrist while hinting at a more cautious approach in training camp. Coach Zac Taylor seemed to put questions about Burrow's health to rest by saying the quarterback was cleared for contact at the start of camp, but an unconfirmed report previously suggested that the Bengals were concerned that his wrist might forever be an issue. One way that they can better keep him healthy is to lessen how often he gets hit, as Cincinnati QBs were sacked 50 times last year.

As a result, the Bengals signed RT Trent Brown and drafted T Amarius Mims in the first round. Perhaps with more time Burrow will go back to attempting more downfield passes to Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins and rookie Jermaine Burton, after ranking 30th in downfield throws (6.8%) and last in aDOT (6.3 yards).

Meanwhile, the Bengals are coming to grips with the salary cap constraints that come with having a highly-compensated signal-caller. Tyler Boyd went to Tennessee as a free agent, and Joe Mixon was traded to Houston. Additionally, Higgins signed his franchise tender over the summer after initially requesting a trade, and a long-term deal with him seems unlikely. Replacing Mixon will be Zack Moss and second-year back Chase Brown. The team continues to recycle one-year TEs, this time around turning to Mike Gesicki to replace Irv Smith.

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Sleepers

⬆️  Sleeper: RB Zack Moss

Moss signed with little fanfare on a two-year, $8 million deal, a relatively low amount for a potential starting running back. He revived his career in Indianapolis last season, filling in capably for Jonathan Taylor when Taylor was out and often playing on all three downs. Many expect Chase Brown to take over on third downs, but Moss has plenty of good experience in the role. Moss is going in the RB25-30 range in early RotoWire Online Championship drafts, a bargain if he's a full-time back for the Bengals.

😴  Super Sleeper: TE Mike Gesicki

Gesicki will lose some playing time because he's not a great blocker, but he's also turned in two 700-plus yard seasons with the Dolphins and now joins a Bengals tight end room that doesn't have a clear playing time threat like he had in Hunter Henry in New England last year. Joe Burrow will throw to his tight ends (115 combined targets last year), and with Tyler Boyd gone, Gesicki could command more of the short and intermediate targets that went Boyd's way.

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Team Futures

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Player Futures

Cincinnati Bengals 2024 Schedule

WeekDateOpponentKickoff (ET)
1Sep 8New England Patriots1:00 PM
2Sep 15at Kansas City Chiefs4:25 PM
3Sep 23Washington Commanders8:15 PM
4Sep 29at Carolina Panthers1:00 PM
5Oct 6Baltimore Ravens1:00 PM
6Oct 13at New York Giants8:20 PM
7Oct 20at Cleveland Browns1:00 PM
8Oct 27Philadelphia Eagles4:25 PM
9Nov 3Las Vegas Raiders1:00 PM
10Nov 7at Baltimore Ravens8:15 PM
11Nov 17at Los Angeles Chargers4:25 PM
12Bye  
13Dec 1Pittsburgh Steelers1:00 PM
14Dec 9at Dallas Cowboys8:15 PM
15Dec 15at Tennessee Titans1:00 PM
16Dec 19Cleveland Browns8:15 PM
17TBDDenver BroncosTBD
18TBDat Pittsburgh SteelersTBD

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jeff Erickson
Jeff Erickson is a co-founder of RotoWire and the only two-time winner of Baseball Writer of the Year from the Fantasy Sports Writers Association. He's also in the FSWA Hall of Fame. He roots for the Reds, Bengals, Red Wings, Pacers and Northwestern University (the real NU).
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