Bengals Depth Chart 2024 Explained (simply)

Honestly, trying to track the Bengals roster last year felt like trying to solve a Rubik’s Cube while riding a roller coaster. You had Joe Burrow coming back from that wrist injury, a literal giant rookie joining the offensive line, and a secondary that looked more like a science experiment than a football unit.

The bengals depth chart 2024 wasn't just a list of names; it was a blueprint for a team trying to pry its Super Bowl window back open.

People kept asking if the defense would hold up after losing DJ Reader. Or if the "Big Three" at receiver was really over. It was. Tyler Boyd left for Tennessee, leaving a massive void in the slot that Andrei Iosivas and a handful of rookies had to scramble to fill.

The Burrow Factor and the Rest of the Offense

Everything starts and ends with #9. Period. Behind Joe Burrow, the backup spot was firmly held by Jake Browning, who really proved he belonged in the league the year prior. But the real shakeup was in the backfield. No more Joe Mixon. That felt weird, right? Zack Moss came over from Indy to handle the "heavy lifting," but it was Chase Brown who provided that lightning-bolt speed everyone was buzzing about during camp.

The receiving corps was a bit of a drama. Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins were the clear 1 and 2, but the depth behind them was basically a "prove it" party. Andrei Iosivas—the Ivy League track star—was the guy the coaches trusted to take over the slot. Then you had Jermaine Burton, the third-round pick with all the talent in the world but some "character" questions that kept him lower on the initial wire.

Down in the trenches, it was all about the rookies. Amarius Mims, the first-rounder out of Georgia, is a massive human being. Like, scary big. He was drafted to eventually take over, but with Trent Brown brought in as a veteran bridge, the bengals depth chart 2024 actually had some decent insurance for once.

A Quick Look at the Offensive Starters

• QB: Joe Burrow (Jake Browning as the primary backup)
• RB: Zack Moss / Chase Brown (A true committee approach)
• WR: Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Andrei Iosivas
• TE: Mike Gesicki (The pass-catcher) and Drew Sample (The blocker)
• LT: Orlando Brown Jr.
• LG: Cordell Volson
• C: Ted Karras
• RG: Alex Cappa
• RT: Trent Brown / Amarius Mims

Lou Anarumo’s Defensive Puzzle

Defense was where things got kind of messy. Lou Anarumo is a genius, but even geniuses struggle when the middle of the line is a revolving door. Losing Reader was huge. The team brought in Sheldon Rankins to provide some pass rush from the interior, but nobody really expected him to be the same kind of "run-stuffer" Reader was.

The edge was solid. Trey Hendrickson is a machine—17.5 sacks doesn't happen by accident. Sam Hubbard stayed the reliable "glue guy" on the other side. But the depth? That was young. Myles Murphy, the 2023 first-rounder, was supposed to take a leap, but injuries slowed him down early.

In the secondary, the Bengals basically hit the "reset" button. They brought back Vonn Bell (thank God) to bring some veteran leadership. They also snagged Geno Stone from the Ravens, which was a brilliant move because he led the AFC in picks the year before. But they moved Dax Hill from safety to cornerback. That was the wild card. Honestly, it worked better than most people expected, but it made the bengals depth chart 2024 look very different from the year before.

Breaking Down the Defensive Rotation

The Interior Defensive Line
B.J. Hill was the iron man here. He plays way more snaps than a man his size should. Rankins was the flashy addition, but keep an eye on the rookies like Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson. The Bengals were clearly drafting for the future here, even if the immediate results were a bit "bend-don't-break."

The Linebacker Duo
Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt are arguably the most underrated duo in the AFC. They're both under contract, they both fly to the ball, and they both rarely come off the field. Akeem Davis-Gaither was the third guy, mostly used in specific packages or when someone needed a breather.

The Secondary

1. Cornerbacks: Cam Taylor-Britt (the energizer bunny), DJ Turner II, and Dax Hill.
2. Safeties: Vonn Bell, Geno Stone, and Jordan Battle.

Special Teams: The "Money" Unit

Evan McPherson is still "Money Mac." He’s the guy you want with the game on the line. But the punting situation was a bit of a saga. Brad Robbins and rookie Ryan Rehkow battled it out. Rehkow actually ended up having a monster leg, which helped a defense that was struggling to get off the field.

Charlie Jones remained the primary return man. He’s got that "don't blink or you'll miss him" speed that makes every punt return feel like it could go for six.

What We Learned from the 2024 Roster

Basically, the Bengals tried to get younger and faster. They leaned heavily on their 2023 and 2024 draft classes to fill out the middle of the depth chart. It’s a risky move when you’re in a "win now" window with Joe Burrow, but with the salary cap tightening up, you've gotta find cheap labor somewhere.

One thing that surprised a lot of people was the tight end room. Mike Gesicki was basically a big wide receiver, while Tanner Hudson stayed around because he just has this weird chemistry with Burrow. It wasn't a traditional room, but it gave the offense a lot of different looks.

If you’re looking to track how this roster evolves for the upcoming season, you should focus on the contract situations of Tee Higgins and the development of the young defensive tackles. Those two areas will define the next iteration of this team.

Actionable Next Steps:

• Review the Cap Space: Check out OverTheCap to see how the 2024 contracts impact the team's ability to retain Tee Higgins.
• Watch the Tape: Go back and look at Dax Hill's snaps at cornerback; his transition is the biggest key to the secondary's future.
• Monitor the Draft: Keep an eye on interior defensive line prospects, as the Bengals still need a true successor to the nose tackle position.