Since when the organization was founded in 1968, the Cincinnati Bengals maintained a tough and gritty identity that continued all the way up until the mid-2010s. The consistent primary focus on this team resided in the offensive line, particularly since the first player ever drafted by the team was a center (Bob Johnson). Following a mass exodus that included All-Pro left tackle Andrew Whitworth, right guard Kevin Zeitler and right tackle Andre Smith in 2017, this unit has been a shell of its former self and has consistently ranked near the bottom of the NFL.
Following a dramatic Super Bowl loss in 2022 where the porous offensive line of Cincinnati was exposed, this franchise has put a gradually increasing effort into giving elite quarterback Joe Burrow the protection he deserves. This season, after the essential signing of former Pro Bowl swing tackle Trent Brown and the selection of Amarius Mims with the first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, experts are finally starting to look at this front unit seriously.
