PFF ranks Bengals offensive line among most improved

By far, the most important task for the Cincinnati Bengals heading into the offseason was to improve the offensive line and provide quarterback Joe Burrow much-needed protection to avoid another serious injury.

Playing behind one of the NFL’s worst offensive lines, Burrow suffered a torn ACL late into his rookie season, putting the Bengals offensive line struggles on full display for the football world to see.

Needing to improve, the Bengals have done enough for Pro Football Focus to rank them as the fourth most improved offensive line only behind the Los Angeles Chargers, Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings.

The Bengals made two key additions to the offensive line this offseason as they signed veteran and former Vikings right tackle Riley Reiff and then drafted Clemson’s Jackson Carman in the second round of last week’s NFL Draft to become a starter at one of the guard positions. They also re-hired veteran offensive line coach Frank Pollack, who last served as Bengals offensive line coach in 2018 before spending the past two years with the New York Jets.

While the Bengals made two key additions and hired a new position coach, it’s hard to argue with any of the teams ranked above them.

The Chargers drafted Northwestern tackle Rashawn Slater in the first round of last week’s draft while signing Packers star center Corey Linsley and former Steelers guard Matt Feiler.

Kansas City improved an offensive line that was exposed in their 31-9 Super Bowl 55 loss to the Buccaneers by signing former New England Patriots guard Joe Thuney, former Carolina Panthers tackle Darryl Williams, former Chicago Bears All-Pro Kyle Long, traded for two-time Pro Bowler Orlando Brown, and drafted Oklahoma Sooners guard Creed Humphrey.

Minnesota drafted Christian Darrisaw in the first round of last week’s draft while also landing a potential mid-round steal with their third-round selection of Ohio State’s Wyatt Davis.