The Bengals still need to add to their weapons around Joe Burrow.
Bengals bring back Samaje Perine
The Bengals’ running back room is a bit of a question mark at the moment. They traded Joe Mixon off their roster in the offseason to the Houston Texans for a 2024 seventh-round pick. It was mostly a financial move but Mixon hasn’t always been an efficient player during his time in Cincinnati. Mixon only had one season out of seven with above-4.5 yards-per-carry on average.
This offseason, the Bengals signed Zack Moss as their sole replacement. In the previous year’s draft, they also selected Illinois’ Chase Brown with a fifth-round pick. Although Brown didn’t play much as a rookie, in 2024 he will play a bigger part in Cincinnati’s offense.
In some ways, Moss might be preferable to Mixon. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, he was sixth among running backs in terms of rushing yards beyond expectation per attempt the previous season. On the other hand, Moss has only had one season where his average yards per run was higher than 4.5. In 12 games the previous season, Brown only managed 58 touches.
But, the Bengals’ depth behind those two is virtually nonexistent. They could use another piece in that backfield, which could come from Denver in Samaje Perine. Perine carved out a nice third-down role with the Bengals from 2020 through 2022. He is excellent in pass protection and 76 passes in that time.
Perine could be out of a role in Denver after one season with the team. Javonte Williams is fully healthy now after returning from a torn ACL. Jaleel McLaughlin emerged as a solid receiving back last year, and Denver drafted Notre Dame’s Audric Estime in the fifth round of the 2024 draft.
The Broncos don’t need Perine and the Bengals could use depth at that spot. Why not bring back a familiar face?
Cincinnati trades for Greg Dulcich
The Bengals have constantly been searching for a legitimate tight end in the Joe Burrow era. They’re about to enter a fourth consecutive season with a different starter at that position. It was CJ Uzomah in 2021, then Hayden Hurst 2022; Irv Smith Jr., the previous year. Mike Gesicki, a former Miami Dolphin, was brought in by the Bengals to replace Smith Jr., who left for the Kansas City Chiefs.
Tanner McLachlan of Arizona and Erick All Jr., a former tight end for Michigan and Iowa, were also selected by Cincinnati. Both, though, were selected on the third round, and none were expected to play significant roles this season. All may not even be ready for the 2024 season to begin because he tore his ACL in October of 2023.
Perhaps Denver’s Greg Dulcich can help Cincinnati with their tight end problem as well. In 2023, Dulcich was viewed by many as a breakout talent following a successful first season. From that position, he is a superb receiver who can
But injuries robbed him of the chance of building off of that success as a rookie. He played in only two games in 2023 and only three passes were caught. He missed the first several games of the season due to a hamstring ailment, which persisted to bother him.
Although Dulcich appears to be the Broncos’ top tight end going into 2024, it’s important to keep in mind that Sean Payton wasn’t in Denver when he was selected. While Adam Trautman was still with the Saints, he was drafted by him and brought to the Broncos by him. There’s also Lucas Krull, who gained some notoriety during the offseason.
Denver might decide to part ways with Dulcich following a nonexistent 2023 campaign. Cincinnati should be the first team to try to acquire him if they do. He might be Burrow’s and the Bengals’ ideal weapon.
