The Bengals have already taken a swing at their third wide receiver job by drafting Colbie Young, but the door still feels open for a bigger name.
Young will be in the mix with frontrunner Andrei Iosivas and others for the No. 3 spot behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. That’s the internal plan. Still, for a team that’s trying to go all-in, there’s room to keep looking.
DeAndre Hopkins keeps sounding like the kind of fit that makes sense.
Earlier this offseason, Hopkins was already talking up Joe Burrow and the Bengals, and he later caught passes from Burrow at a flag football event. Now he’s back in the conversation again, making the rounds and discussing what he sees as his next possible role.
“I know in my position, I'm a utility guy,” Hopkins said on SiriusXM NFL Radio. “I'm a special situation kind of guy.
I can go out there and beat anybody one on one at any time, but as of lately, I've been a third-down guy. I wasn't used in the red zone last year.
But (on) third down, they're gonna put D-Hop in, they're gonna come to me. I don't think that'll change anytime soon."
Hopkins also said he isn’t in a hurry, but he does want to land with a contender.
For Cincinnati, the appeal is obvious. A receiver with five Pro Bowls and three First-Team All-Pro selections would give Burrow another dependable option on third down and in short-yardage situations.
In Other News...
Bengals Keep Falling Into This Same Frustrating Roster Trap
The Bengals have spent much of the offseason trying to shore up the defense, but one familiar roster habit has followed them into camp: keeping a veteran tight end around even when the fit no longer feels especially dynamic. The position has been left largely intact, and the front office has not really gone hunting for outside help, which leaves the depth chart leaning on a player whose value comes more from stabilizing the run game and protecting the edge than changing much as a pass catcher.
For a team built around Joe Burrow, that kind of balance can be frustrating when the offense could use more juice from the tight end spot. There are younger options in the mix and the room is not exactly settled, so this is one of those situations that could still shift once camp gets rolling. For now, though, the Bengals appear content to keep trusting a familiar profile, even if it has become a little too familiar. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Fans Shouldnt Ignore What Bralyn Lux Is Suddenly Threatening
Bralyn Lux has gone from afterthought to name worth tracking in a hurry. The second-year undrafted cornerback signed a reserve/future deal in January, got on the field during OTAs and even picked up some first-team snaps, which is enough to make him part of the conversation as the Bengals sort through their secondary in training camp.
Lux is not just trying to hang around the roster this summer. He is pressing for a bigger role in the slot, where the Bengals need someone reliable near the line of scrimmage and capable of making plays in tight spaces, and that kind of usage would put real pressure on the current setup. After appearing in two games last season and recording three tackles, Lux has made himself into more than a depth piece, and the next step in that climb is the one that usually decides whether a player sticks or keeps forcing the issue. [Read more 🡒]