7 offseason moves to make the Bengals playoff contenders again

Here’s a blueprint to get the Bengals back to the playoffs.

The Cincinnati Bengals fell well short of getting back to the playoffs to start the Zac Taylor era.

Luckily for all involved, the unintentional tank puts the Bengals in a nice position moving forward in terms of assets. With the right moves, the team could have a bigger turnaround than some might be comfortable projecting.

Here’s a brief eight-step plan to get the Bengals back to the playoffs in the next year or two.

 

Draft Joe Burrow

Dec 28, 2019; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; LSU Tigers quarterback Joe Burrow (9) is interviewed after the 2019 Peach Bowl college football playoff semifinal game between the LSU Tigers and the Oklahoma Sooners at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports

Even the most adamant Andy Dalton supporters can probably agree the Dalton era has run its course. Problems around the position or not, he wasn’t a great fit with Zac Taylor.

But now sure is a good time to finally should some gall and make a change for the long-term with Joe Burrow entering the draft. The Heisman Trophy winner just had one of the best college football seasons by a quarterback in history and has everything the NFL wants in a franchise passer. His energy and improv ability alone on the field could help propel what is quietly a talented supporting cast quite far.

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