Marvin Lewis Addresses Bengals' Future at Left Tackle

The Bengals didn't have many pressing needs entering free agency and May's NFL Draft, and while the cornerback position does need to be addressed, drafting an offensive tackle could have a bigger impact on this team in 2014.

That's because Anthony Collins is now with the Buccaneers after signing a 5-year, $30 million deal to become their blindside protector. Collins held that role in Cincinnati after Andrew Whitworth moved to guard.

Now the Collins is gone, the Bengals plan to move Whitworth back to left tackle for the time being:

He intimated that Whitworth was always the LT and there wasn't a hole there RT @GeoffHobsonCin Whitworth is the left tackle, Lewis says

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) March 14, 2014

It's hard to ignore Whitworth and his age (32) and the fact that he missed two games due to injury in 2013, but the Bengals appear to think he's the future at that position.

The Bengals did draft Tanner Hawkinson last year, and offensive line coach Paul Alexander has been one of the best in the business at developing project lineman into full-time starters (Anthony Collins comes to mind).

Regardless, expect Whit to e the opening day starter at LT unless the team drafts one high in the NFL Draft.