The Bengals are officially in offseason mode, and make no mistake - this one matters. After a three-year stretch that’s fallen well short of the high bar they set in 2021 and 2022, Cincinnati is gearing up for what could be a defining offseason. The message is clear: those two AFC Championship runs weren’t the exception - they were supposed to be the standard.
To get back to that level, the Bengals are turning their attention to roster building, and that starts with scouting. With college all-star showcases like the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl on deck, Cincinnati will be in attendance, evaluating talent with a few new faces in the room. These additions, brought on last spring, are part of a broader push to modernize and expand the team’s scouting operation - one of the smallest in the league.
Assistant GM Mike Potts summed up the shift in approach: “More efficient and more eyes on more players.” It’s not just about casting a wider net - it’s about seeing more prospects, more often, through more lenses. That includes in-person visits, film study, and now, a growing emphasis on data and technology.
The Bengals added veteran scouts Josh Hinch and Tyler Ramsey to the fold, both of whom will handle traditional scouting duties. But the more intriguing addition might be Trey LaBounty, a scouting research analyst tasked with helping bring the Bengals’ evaluation process into the modern era.
LaBounty’s role is less about watching tape and more about helping the team figure out which players even warrant a closer look in the first place. “Guys who are maybe more under the radar that we haven’t got as much of a look at,” LaBounty explained.
“Guys who got flagged for some reason, statistically, or whatever made them pop up. ‘Hey, this is a guy you should take a look at.
Maybe this guy’s not worth taking a look at.’ Kind of like a filter.
Time is precious.”
That filter could be a game-changer for a team that’s trying to do more with less. LaBounty is working closely with application developer Tyler Gross to build tools that deliver cleaner, faster, and more actionable data to the decision-makers. It’s about marrying traditional scouting instincts with modern analytics - and doing it in a way that fits the Bengals’ unique structure.
This offseason isn’t just about adding depth or filling holes. It’s about recalibrating the entire operation to get back to where they believe they belong - contending for Super Bowls.
With Joe Burrow under center, Ja’Marr Chase still ascending, and Tee Higgins in the mix, the core is intact. But the clock is ticking.
The Bengals know they’ve underdelivered the past three seasons. Fans know it, too.
That’s why this offseason feels like more than just another chapter - it feels like a turning point. And if Cincinnati’s revamped scouting department can uncover the right pieces, it might just be the start of the next great Bengals run.