LA Chargers: Getting to know the Week 1 opponent, the Cincinnati Bengals
By Devon Auriemma
The Bengals’ offseason additions
After an abysmal 2019 season, the Bengals have had a very good offseason. As mentioned before, they took Burrow with the first pick in the draft. Joe Burrow had an incredible 2019 season and one of the best seasons in College Football history. He threw for 5,671 yards and 60 touchdowns, both of which rank inside the top three for a single season, and led the LSU Tigers to a National Championship victory over Clemson.
Along with Burrow, the Bengals selected wide receiver Tee Higgins, linebackers Logan Wilson, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey, defensive end Khalid Kareem and offensive tackle Hakeem Adenji in the 2020 NFL Draft.
Higgins was one of the top wide receiver prospects in the draft coming out of Clemson and many thought he would be a first-round selection. Luckily for the Bengals, they were able to grab him at the top of the second round to add him to an already solid wide receiver group which includes Green, Auden Tate and Tyler Boyd.
The addition of Wilson, Davis-Gaither and Bailey fills the void of losing linebacker Nick Vigil and improves their front seven. Overall, this was a very solid draft class for the Bengals, which earned them an “A” rating from Bleacher Report.
The Bengals were also very active in free agency signing defensive tackle D.J. Reader, cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, safety Von Bell and guard Xavier Su’a-Filo.
In addition to their draft picks and free-agent signings, the Bengals will also be getting seven-time Pro Bowler A.J. Green and their 2019 first-round selection Jonah Williams back from injury, both of which missed the entire 2019 season.
With an offense consisting of Green, Higgins, Joe Mixon and others, the Bengals offense could look completely different than last season. After a brutal season last year, the Bengals made some solid acquisitions and are hoping to improve upon last year.