Dave Lapham reveals the free agents he thinks the Bengals should target

The Bengals so obviously need offensive line help. Nearly every mock draft has the Bengals picking either Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater. Most fans want to see an offensive lineman sign with the Bengals this offseason.

Bengals radio analyst Dave Lapham, who played on the Bengals offensive line for a decade, also thinks the Bengals should go in that direction.

“Everybody talks about how guards aren’t that important,” he said in the Bengals Booth Podcast. “Well in today’s NFL they’ve become more and more important. They’re important in the run game. Everybody talks about pressure in a quarterbacks face. The depth of the pocket is determined by the guards and the center up front so I think the guards are taking a bigger and bigger role.

“How did Joe Burrow’s injury occur? It occurred with a guard being bull rushed in a game against the Washington Football Team.”

There are two names at the top of Lapham’s list.

“I’d probably spend my big dollars on Joe Thuney or Brandon Scherff,” Lapham said. ”One of those offensive linemen that can be a bell cow...I just think those guys are proven guys. They’re both 28-years-old. I’m sure it would be a bidding war. It would be big dollar, but it would knock one of the big needs off.”

The Bengals just hired Frank Pollack to coach the offensive line, so his reputation might sweeten the pot for a prospective free agent. The Bengals desperately need help on the offensive line. Thuney and Scherff would certainly help protect the Bengals’ new franchise quarterback.