The Cincinnati Bengals have a few glaring needs after the 2025 NFL Draft, especially at guard. Though the team added Dylan Fairchild and Jalen Rivers in the draft, Cincinnati still doesn’t have two starting-caliber players at the position, which must change before the season kicks off.
The Bengals should look to acquire a veteran starter on the interior of the offensive line to protect quarterback Joe Burrow, and Bengals Wire’s Chris Rolling believes Cincinnati should sign free-agent guard Brandon Scherff.
“A former high-end first-round pick, there are questions as to whether Scherff wants to keep playing at the age of 33. He’d come in as a starter, though, which is a boon to find at this stage of the market,” Rolling wrote.
Scherff is getting older and won’t be a long-term solution at guard, but the five-time Pro Bowler hasn’t missed a game since 2021 and would immediately step in as a solid starter at right guard, the position he’s played his entire career. The 33-year-old didn’t allow a single sack in 2024 with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has played over 1,000 snaps in each of the last three seasons.
Additionally, Scherff shouldn’t cost much to sign, as Spotrac projects the veteran will land a one-year deal worth around $6.7 million, which the Bengals should be willing to pay. Cincinnati has around $25 million in cap space, per Over the Cap.
Protecting and keeping Burrow healthy should be the No.1 priority for the Bengals. Their inept pass protection has cost them many games over the last few years. Signing Scherff to a team-friendly deal to serve as a consistent and reliable starter on the interior would be a fantastic move by the front office, led by director of player personnel Duke Tobin.
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