This time last year, the idea the Cincinnati Bengals could have one of the best groups of skill players in the NFL was just that — an idea.
Said idea needed proof, so Joe Burrow, Joe Mixon, Ja’Marr Chase and the rest went out and provided it en route to the Super Bowl.
Fast forward to now, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen says the Bengals have the league’s best group of skill position players. Besides the obvious, he highlighted what makes Tee Higgins and Tyler Boyd so lethal in the attack:
“Tee Higgins would be the best receiver on the roster for several teams. In this offense, he punishes single coverage or matchups against the opponent’s second-best corner when teams devote their resources to stopping Chase. Tyler Boyd is a big-play threat inside and his production speaks for itself — he was tied for fourth in receptions of 20 yards or more in the slot last season.”
Nguyen also went out of his way to point out things really exploded for the group when head coach Zac Taylor took the “handcuffs” off Burrow.
What’s funny about any ranking like this is the idea it could only get better next year now that the team upgraded three spots on what was probably the league’s worst offensive line.
Either way, for fans, it has to be fun to pop open mid-June rankings and see the Bengals not just get coverage, but dominate a list with the potential to keep doing so.
