With NFL minicamps underway, teams will have their first chance to get on the practice field ahead of the 2025 season, and the position battles will begin. One of the biggest areas of focus for the Cincinnati Bengals this season will be improving the offensive line, as quarterback Joe Burrow was sacked 48 times last season, the second-most sacks he’s taken in a year throughout his NFL career.
Looking to not only address, but fix the offensive line issues the Bengals spent two of their draft picks on the position, selecting guard Dylan Fairchild with the 81st pick, and then in the fifth round they drafted tackle Jalen Rivers. Recently, Bleacher Report published a list of later round rookies who could outplay their teammates who were drafted ahead of them, which in the case of the Bengals, would mean Rivers outplays Fairchild throughout camp.
Although it was Fairchild who was taken first, Rivers showed versatility during his career at Miami (FL), spending the early part of his college days playing left guard, and over the past two years he started 21 games at left tackle. The key for this rookie battle will be the versatility that Rivers has already displayed before entering the NFL, as it is Fairchild who has the initial higher projection, but Rivers could be more useful as a rookie because of his ability to play two different positions.
The Bengals’ left guard position is open for the taking, and while it would be easy to slot Fairchild in there based off his draft position, Rivers should not be overlooked in camp, and depending on performance could secure a starting job or a swing lineman role to fill in when necessary.
No matter how it’s broken down, the Bengals have a real urgency to improve their offensive line from last year. Keeping Joe Burrow upright and getting the defense back on track are the two biggest keys for the team to get back to as real contenders in the AFC, and it could be an overlooked versatile rookie lineman who gets the unit back on track, in turn putting the Bengals back where they’ve been over the last few seasons.
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