Cincinnati Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have surrounded Andy Dalton with a limited supply of competent offensive playmakers and pass protectors. A.J. Green is a future Hall of Famer, but Cincinnati’s offensive line is abhorrent and its running game proves a team can have too much depth.
Dalton was an MVP candidate in 2015 before he broke his thumb, but the Bengals need to change the culture—and that may require changing the quarterback.
Dalton has encountered his fair share of issues with interceptions, but he’s also experienced his moments of glory. Over the course of the past three seasons, he’s thrown for 68 touchdowns to 27 interceptions, including his 25 touchdowns to just seven picks in 2015.
Unfortunately, Dalton is playing in an unequivocally fractured culture that’s accepted mediocrity as a sufficient result—an unforgivable truth given the talent on the roster.
At No. 12 overall, Cincinnati could potentially land Oklahoma Sooners star Baker Mayfield. It could also be in a position to elect one of Josh Allen, Sam Darnold, or Josh Rosen if they happen to fall down the board—and crazier things have happened.
I’m not entirely sold on the belief that Dalton is the problem, but if Cincinnati wants to change the culture, then drafting a quarterback could be the answer.