The Cincinnati Bengals are sitting pretty with one of the most formidable arsenals of talent surrounding a quarterback in the NFL. With Joe Burrow at the helm, there's a compelling argument to be made that he might just have the best setup in the league. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are a dynamic duo that many would consider unparalleled, with both boasting the credentials of a No. 1 wide receiver.
However, the depth chart takes a noticeable dip after these two stars. The Bengals haven't found a consistent third wide receiver to complement Chase and Higgins.
Running back Chase Brown hasn't yet been tasked with a significant workload, leaving questions about his potential as a bell-cow back. At tight end, the team is juggling a blend of slot receivers and blockers, without a standout performer.
This lineup is why ESPN’s Bill Barnwell has ranked the Bengals’ offensive weapons third, trailing the Los Angeles Rams and Detroit Lions. But there's a wildcard in the mix that could propel Cincinnati to the top spot: Erick All.
Barnwell points out that beyond the big names, the Bengals' depth has its challenges. Andrei Iosivas, for instance, has struggled with efficiency even when given opportunities.
Tight end Mike Gesicki hasn't been able to capitalize on his promising 2024 resurgence. Then there's Erick All Jr., who impressed with his play during the early part of his rookie season before a knee injury sidelined him for the remainder of 2024 and all of 2025.
The question is, can the 25-year-old tight end be the catalyst to elevate the Bengals’ offense to the league's elite?
Drafted in the fourth round in 2024, All was seen as a steal, his draft stock impacted by injury concerns. In his nine games as a rookie, he added a new dimension to the Bengals' offense.
Unfortunately, injuries have been a significant hurdle, but if All can stay healthy, he offers Burrow a versatile and potent weapon across various formations. His presence could indeed be the key to climbing those rankings.
And while rookie wide receiver Colbie Young might eventually grow into a significant role, the immediate focus is on All and his potential return to form. The spotlight is firmly on him to see if he can make the impact the Bengals need to reach new heights.
In Other News...
Andrew Whitworth Just Weighed In On The Bengals Burrow Debate
Andrew Whitworths take on the Bengals quarterback chatter carried the kind of weight only a former franchise cornerstone can bring. The retired offensive tackle made it clear he sees Cincinnatis identity as already tied to Joe Burrow, pointing to the way the organization has reshaped itself around its quarterback since Burrow arrived and made a much more aggressive push to build a contender.
Whitworth also framed the discussion in a way Bengals fans know all too well: the team has invested heavily, extended key homegrown players and gone after outside help, but the whole plan still turns on Burrow staying on the field. For Cincinnati, that is the real hinge point in any championship conversation, and it is why the latest debate feels less like a roster question than a reminder of how fragile the window can be. [Read more 🡒]
Jonathan Allen Knows Exactly What Bengals Fans Feared Up Front
Jonathan Allens arrival gives Cincinnati exactly the kind of interior presence it had been searching for, but it also reinforces the idea that the Bengals are not looking to lean on one or two big bodies and call it solved. Between Dexter Lawrence, BJ Hill, TJ Slaton, Kris Jenkins, McKinnley Jackson and Landon Robinson, the depth chart has become a real competition, and the bigger picture is pretty clear: the Bengals want more than just names up front. They want enough rotation to keep the group fresh and productive.
Allen has already made his own view of the plan known, preferring a workload that keeps him from being overextended after what he felt was too much last season. That meshes with what Cincinnati is building, but it also puts a spotlight on how the snaps will actually be divided once the games start mattering. The Bengals addressed one of their most obvious roster concerns, but the exact answer to who handles the heaviest load inside is still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]
What A Real Year 2 Leap Would Mean For Shemar Stewart
Shemar Stewarts first NFL season gave the Bengals only a thin glimpse of what they drafted, and the larger question now is whether a second-year leap can turn flashes into something closer to a real role. Cincinnati needs more from the edge, and Stewarts development matters because the front office cannot keep waiting forever for a young pass rusher to become more than a project.
The path is there, but it is crowded and still unfinished. Stewart is trying to build on a rookie year that produced modest returns, and the Bengals are heading into another season with multiple players in the mix for snaps on the edge, which means every practice rep and every early-season opportunity will count. A meaningful jump would not just help Stewart, it could change the shape of Cincinnatis rotation. [Read more 🡒]