Poll: Who was the Bengals’ most important offseason addition?

The Cincinnati Bengals revamped their roster this offseason through both the draft and free agency. In total, they have brought in 29 new players and two players returning (who spent some time away from the team). However, some of those players are expected to make more of an impact than others.

Let’s take a look at the new additions expected to make the biggest impact on the Bengals’ 2017 roster.

John Ross

The Bengals picked up the draft’s speedies receiver with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft. He broke Chris Johnson’s combine 40-yard dash record with a 4.22 and had the football world abuzz in the process. He is expected to play a major part in the Bengals’ passing game going forward, giving the Bengals that coveted top-tier option next to A.J. Green.

Joe Mixon

The Bengals’ looked past Mixon’s controversial past to see a running back with virtually every on-field trait you could want. If he can stay out of trouble, he should bring a formidable element to the Bengals’ running game, utilizing his proficiency as an agile runner, power runner, and backfield pass-catcher to keep defenses on their toes.

Carl Lawson

The No. 1 defensive end prospect coming out of high school, Lawson’s development in college was stunted due to a series of costly injuries. But, he finally saw significant playing time in 2016 and showed he was worth the hype. His lack of production for more than one year in college saw him fall to the fourth round, but the Bengals picked him up and are hoping he can help boost their pass rush beyond disappointing results in 2016.

Kevin Minter

The Bengals don’t typically sign free agents from other teams in their prime, but they took a chance on former Cardinals linebacker Kevin Minter. His signing allowed the Bengals enough confidence to release long-time middle linebacker Rey Maualuga. He is a strong tackler and a force in the middle of the field, so he should be an upgrade for the Bengals as they move forward without Maualuga.

Andre Smith

Bringing Smith back after a year in Minnesota was a questionable move when the Bengals made it, but given the losses of Kevin Zeitler and Andrew Whitworth, it was probably a good thing the Bengals brought a veteran lineman back into the fold. Smith has had consistency and penalty issues in the past, not to mention injury issues, so it is hard to tell how well he will pan out. But, his addition fills a significant need and adds veteran leadership to a young position.

Jake Elliott

The Bengals’ committed to their goal of holding an open kicking competition this offseason by making Elliott the first kicker taken in the 2017 NFL Draft. They still waited until the fifth round, but in the selection they picked up a kicker who is well known for his accuracy and proficiency for not allowing misses to affect his confidence and become trends.

What do you think, Bengals fans? Which player was the most important offseason addition for the team?