The Bengals are coming off the heels of their worst offseason in the Joe Burrow era. The front office failed to identify the talent necessary to aid a championship aspired roster. The 2024 free agent class has turned into a giant pumpkin well before midnight and the team neglected their two, star wideouts causing a hectic offseason that has bled into the regular season. The Cincinnati Bengals front office put together a disastrous offseason that has led to the current state of their season.

Free Agent Class

It is only week 12 but it may already be time to call this year’s free agent class a complete failure.

• Sheldon Rankins DT (signed 2-year $26M) 7 games, 1 sack
• Mike Gesicki TE (signed 1-year $3.25M) 11 games, 34 catches, 383 yards, 2 touchdowns
• Zack Moss RB (signed 2-year $8M) 8 games, 242 yards, 2 touchdowns, 3.3 ypc., placed on IR (neck)
• Geno Stone S (signed 2-year $15M) 11 games, 1 interception
• Vonn Bell S (signed 1-year $1.2M) 11 games, 1 interception
• Trent Brown RT (signed 1-year $4.75M) played 3 games before tearing patellar tendon, placed on IR

Sheldon Rankins was brought to help a struggling Bengals pass rush from 2023. But he’s only made it worse in 2024. After a 3-sack performance against Cincinnati last year the Bengals thought he could be doing that for them instead of against them. The team had tried to bring in Rankins services in prior off-season’s yet failed to do so, beat out by the Jets and Texans consecutively. Now, it seems the Bengals were too late. Rankins has been nothing of his former self. Rankins has been dealing with a hamstring injury, which caused him to miss three games earlier in the year. The hamstring injury could be playing a factor in his lack of production. But his one sack in 7 games just isn’t good enough, especially on a defense with just 17 past the halfway point of the year. The Bengals are paying Rankins more than the Lions are paying D.J. Reader who is continuing his impressive career.

Geno Stone was meant to be the rectifying signing to replace the miss on safety Nick Scott in the previous offseason. If anything, Stone has been worse than his predecessor in Cincinnati. Fooled by a seven-interception season in 2023, the Bengals are regretting their decision. Stone has made just one interception this season on an overthrown ball against the lowly Cleveland Browns. Stone is a liability against the run and in open space. His 15.9% missed tackle rate is the highest of his career and is a leading contribution to the Bengals defensive struggles.

The Bengals took two swings at safety this offseason and came back with two misses. After being released by Carolina, former Bengal Vonn Bell was brought back in order to sure up communication and depth issues at the position. Bell has looked like a shell of himself in 2024. He is no longer the enforcer he was once was and his three touchdowns given up and 11.1% missed tackle rate are hurting the Bengals defense. Worst of all Bell was given a much larger role on the defense than expected, taking away snaps and starts from promising second year defensive back Jordan Battle who had a solid rookie season.

Zack Moss and Trent Brown both had their seasons cut short due to serious injuries. While their play was decent, their lack of availability adds onto the lack of overall production from this free agent class. The Bengals had to spend a 7th round pick in a trade for Bears running back Khalil Herbert just to fill a roster hole. Cincinnati is also on its 4th tackle as Orlando Brown Jr. deals with a leg injury. With backup Cody Ford in the lineup, the Bengals really could’ve used Brown’s experience right now.

Tight end Mike Gesicki has been the Bengals best free agent signing by far-which isn’t saying much. Still, Gesicki’s three games over 70 receiving yards and two touchdowns on the season have left the door open for a possible extension and long-term role in the offense.

Where is the checkbook?

Part of the Bengals offseason was turned into a sideshow by the river. The Bengals failure to secure long-term deals with star wide receivers Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase made waves in Cincinnati over the summer.

The Bengals don’t have many mouths to feed on a lackluster roster and they still won’t pay Tee Higgins. The Bengals have completely mismanaged the situation with one of their best players. They knew they weren’t going to retain Higgins long term and still refused to trade him away for compensation. Even after an 0-3, and 3-5 start! To make matters worse, Tee Higgins has only played in six games this year. Now, the Bengals will lose Higgins for no compensation except a compensatory draft pick that could be negated by a big free agent signing. There was no plan here, only complete ineptitude.

Ja’Marr Chase’s contract situation hit a boiling point just before the regular season. Sitting out of training camp practices and even rumors of Chase sitting out week one made Bengals fans nervous. Cincinnati failed to get a long-term deal done before Ja’Marr’s best season where he currently leads the NFL in yards and touchdown catches. His price is about to rise.