INDIANAPOLIS – As Cincinnati becomes a destination for free agents, the franchise remains committed to the support of star quarterback Joe Barrow, according to Bengals players director Duke Tobin.
This may include stepping up the team’s offensive line after the Bengals surrendered 74 sacks in 2021.
“He’s the real deal,” Tobin told Burrow, speaking Tuesday at the NFL Scout Factory. “Our job, as I said when we elected him, is to support him in the best way we can. This league is for quarterbacks. And when you have one, you have to support him in the best way you can. “
Tobin was reluctant to point to the offensive line as Bengal’s off-season priority after Burrow was sacked 19 times in four games after the season, including seven times in the loss of the Super Bowl LVI to the Los Angeles Rams.
In fact, Tobin opened his press conference at the Indiana Convention Center, praising the unit for helping Burroughs and Bengals play a productive attack and winning the first AFC championship in 33 years.
But although the unit was not warned on Tuesday, Tobin said the team would look for ways to improve – which could include potential trading for an initial offensive line player.
“Sometimes there are winners,” Tobin said. “But we don’t deny the opportunity to think about things. Trade is one of those things.”
Tobin mentioned the deal during the pre-season preparations for 2021, which sent the former first round pick Billy Price to the New York Giants for a defensive match with BJ Hill. Price was the Giants’ starting point, while Hill produced 5.5 bags for Cincinnati.
Bengals coach Zack Taylor, who recently received an extension of his contract until the 2026 season, admitted the talk of blocking the team’s pass after what happened in the postseason.
“I know what the story is,” Taylor said. “I see. We don’t want our quarterback to be fired or hit like him. At the same time, the other side is that these guys did a lot of great things for us.”
Tobin said Bengals would have several resources to improve the list. The Bengals will have eight draft picks and $ 47.7 million in salary ceiling space, according to the list management system.
Cincinnati is ranked 30th in the regular season victory pass, according to a study by ESPN Stats & Information. The Bengals are still optimistic that some of their young players, such as second-round pick Jackson Karman, could make a key contribution.
But that won’t stop Cincinnati from taking action to secure Burrow’s support, as the Bengals seek to repeat themselves as AFC champions.
“You don’t just run 1,000 yards and have two receivers per 1,000 yards, and the quarterback had the year he had and you could win all the games you played if the line didn’t do a really good job,” Taylor said. “That doesn’t mean we won’t appreciate our whole team. You can always get better. That will be in the next few weeks.”