2015 Team Preview: Cincinnati Bengals

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Updated on June 23, 2015 4:50PM EST

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE

Once again, the Bengals season ended in the first round of the playoffs, this time at the hands of the Colts on the road. That makes four years of reaching the playoffs with Andy Dalton at the helm of the offense, and four years of first-round exits. This is the lot that the Bengals have chosen – they gave Dalton a long-term contract before the start of the 2014 season, and haven't backed him up with a viable alternative (and no, Terrelle Pryor doesn't count). Coach Marvin Lewis is back for yet another run, doing his best to become the next Marty Schottenheimer. Perhaps that's not such a bad fate, but it's an open question whether more is possible under the current regime. To be fair to Lewis, the regime question extends to the front office and ownership.

The Bengals had a relatively quiet offseason, which is the status quo as well. Rarely do they make a big splash in free agency or make the blockbuster trade. The good news is that no longer are players holding out or demanding to be dealt, which used to be an offseason staple. If you look back through previous magazines and read the Bengals previews, the "offseason moves" section frequently highlighted players who had been cut by their previous teams (Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Green-Ellis) or were past their prime (Jerome Harrison, Terence Newman). This year is no different – there's a reclamation project (Denarius Moore

STATE OF THE FRANCHISE

But this year's draft didn't have a sense of urgency to it, at least at the top. They used their first two picks to select tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher, and both project to be backups (to Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith) this year. However, both starters were hurt often in 2014 and the Bengals found their backups lacking. Third-round pick Tyler Kroft and fifth-round pick C.J. Uzomah are tight ends that could replace Jermaine Gresham, but both are developmental prospects and unlikely to help right away.

The Bengals' aspirations are based on hope – hope that their star players stay healthier, that their young players take the next step in their development, and that the competition doesn't leave them behind. Shawshank Redemption taught us that "hope is a good thing," but it's also not a plan. It's dubious that it'll be enough for the Bengals to advance beyond the first round, if they get that far.

OFFSEASON MOVES

Key Acquisitions

Denarius Moore – WR, Raiders
The Bengals are hoping he can recapture the big play magic he displayed early in his career.

Michael Johnson – DE, Buccaneers
Returns after just one season with the Bucs and arrives with a smaller cap hit.

A.J. Hawk – LB, Packers
Hawk is a typical Bengals free agent signing – post-peak, signed at a lower cost.

Cedric Ogbuehi – OT, Texas A&M (ROUND 1, 21St OVERALL)
Injuries to Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith left the Bengals thin at tackle last year.

Jake Fisher – OT, Oregon (ROUND 2, 53Rd OVERALL)
If Ogbuehi doesn't start this year, Fisher might. He's very athletic for the position.

Tyler Kroft – TE, Rutgers (ROUND 3, 85Th OVERALL)
One of two tight ends taken by the Bengals, who are hoping to replace Jermaine Gresham.

Key Losses

Jermaine Gresham – TE, FA
Never quite fulfilled expectations as a first-round pick and had back surgery in March.

Terence Newman – CB, Vikings
Reunites with Mike Zimmer while making way for Dre' Kirkpatrick and Darqueze Dennard.

TEAM NOTES

THUNDER BEATS LIGHTNING
When the Bengals drafted Jeremy Hill in the second round last year, many wondered how he and Giovani Benard would co-exist. Would he be a change-of-pace back and goal line specialist? Or would he turn out to have a higher ceiling? The latter turned out to be the case, with injuries to Bernard (ribs, and then a hip/clavicle injury) paving the way for more playing time. Hill wasn't simply a younger version of The Law Firm in the Bengals running back platoon, but instead a three-down back capable of handling a full workload. In today's NFL it's beneficial to have two viable backs, so Bernard retains utility especially in PPR leagues, but Hill is the one who should draw your investment.

RED RIFLE OR RED MENACE?
One year after throwing for 4,293 yards and 33 touchdowns, Andy Dalton regressed badly in 2014, netting 3,398 yards and 19 touchdowns. In particular, the big plays disappeared for him, as he completed only 33 passes greater than 20 yards and just seven for greater than 40 yards. Clearly Dalton wasn't dealing with a full complement of options. Marvin Jones never played a snap due to a foot injury in training camp and then an ankle injury upon returning to practice. Moreover, Tyler Eifert was lost for the season after a Week 1 injury, and A.J. Green missed three regular season games and parts of others with toe, hip and arm injuries, and then the playoff loss with a concussion. Dalton didn't elevate the play of the remaining receivers, though it's debatable as to how much that was possible. But the Bengals also didn't do much to help him, unless the two rookie tight ends become viable right away, or if Denarius Moore is a successful reclamation project. Dalton's ceiling, much like that of the team, seems capped.

NOBODY'S BURFICT
If you play in IDP leagues, Vontaze Burfict was a fantasy-killer last year for you. He led the league in 2013 with 171 tackles, encouraging many to draft him among the first linebackers in 2014. But he played in only five games, making through the full game just once. In Week 1 he suffered a concussion while tackling Joe Flacco, and then appeared to aggravate that concussion the following week against the Falcons. He missed the next two games before getting shut down again. He wasn't declared out for the season until late and then needed microfracture surgery this offseason. It's an open question whether he'll be ready for the start of the season or ever be the same player again.

VALUE METER

Rising:Jeremy Hill is the obvious pick here, though his workload will probably fall short of the top workhorse backs in the league. He's worth a second-round pick in most leagues.

Declining:Mohamed Sanu was the last man standing for the Bengals by the time the playoffs rolled around, but he won't get as many targets this season.

Sleeper: Because he missed almost all of 2014 and is still recovering from shoulder surgery, Tyler Eifert will be forgotten in most leagues, but the Bengals will lean heavily upon him.

Supersleeper:Marvin Jones should carry the same "forgotten man" persona that Eifert has – watch him carefully in training camp to see if his ankle has fully healed.

IDP WATCH

Geno Atkins – DT
Atkins was back but not himself last year. Can he generate more of a pass rush?

Vontaze Burfict – LB
Coming back from microfracture knee surgery, his status is uncertain for Week 1.

Dre Kirkpatrick – CB
The former first-round pick is taking over for Terence Newman. He's high-risk, high-upside.