The Cincinnati Bengals are no-doubt Super Bowl contenders in 2023. Everyone knows about the talent of their core, but there are some less highly-touted players on the team that could have a big impact on the season. Here are four Bengals that are flying under the radar.
Dax Hill
Hill was the first round draft selection for Cincinnati in 2022. The versatile defensive back can play both safety positions as well as slot cornerback. Hill was asked to do a lot of different things last season. The team mostly used him at corner while on defense and as a gunner while on special teams. Despite being a true swiss army knife, he is at his best when playing free safety.
The second year player enters 2023 ready to make an impact after star free safety, Jessie Bates signed with the Atlanta Falcons this offseason. Hill will be an important piece to the Bengals defense with the responsibilities defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo asks out of his starting safeties. The video below displays Hill making an impressive play in the Bengals first preseason game last Friday against the Packers.
Hopefully, Bengals fans can expect to see more plays like this all season long from the free safety position.
Cam Taylor-Britt
The Bengals staff saw everything they needed to last season to believe that they might have a future number one cornerback on their hands with Cam Taylor-Britt. Taylor-Britt became one of the team’s starting corners along with Eli Apple when fellow CB, Chidobe Awuzie went down with an injury last season. The second year player is hoping to have a breakout season now playing alongside Awuzie as the CB2.
Taylor-Britt may not even be an under the radar player before the season is over with the Bengals. Having to guard talents like Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins everyday in practice and dominating this offseason have many to believe Taylor-Britt has upped his game to another level. Last season, Taylor-Britt displayed tremendous effort as well as great tackling abilities. His best game came against the Bills in the playoffs where he earned his first INT of his career that can be seen below. CTB will be an integral part to the Bengals defense this season if they want to get back to the AFC championship.
Irv Smith, Jr.
The Bengals found themselves needing a new starting tight end this offseason after Hayden Hurst departed to the Carolina Panthers in free agency. The team ended up signing former Viking, Irv Smith Jr. to a one year deal to fill the void that Hurst left. His price tag came relatively cheap too as he has only played in 37 regular-season games since entering the league in 2019 due to various injuries. Despite his durability issues, Smith Jr. has the talent to be a viable asset in the Bengals passing game.
Back at Alabama, Smith Jr. set the school record for receiving TDs in a single season by a tight end with seven. In the NFL, he has shown flashes of what he could be as a goal line TE. The play below displays just that.
In each of the last two seasons, Bengals starting tight ends, Hurst and C.J. Uzomah have eclipsed 400 receiving yards for the year. Both, also signed lucrative contracts with other teams after benefiting from Joe Burrow being their quarterback. Though, Smith Jr. has yet to reach the 400 receiving yard mark in the league, he is in line to set new career highs if he is able to stay healthy this season.
If he does that, look for Irv to also get a lucrative contract either with the Bengals or another team too. After all, there will be plenty of targets available with Burrow throwing him the ball this season.
Joseph Ossai
Many other Bengals could make big impacts this year, but the last player I am going to talk about is Joseph Ossai. Last season was essentially Ossai’s rookie season in the NFL after missing all of his first year. He compiled 3.5 sacks and 10 QB hits on the year and showed flashes of what he could potentially be as a pass rusher. In the AFC championship game against the Chiefs, Ossai was one of the Bengals most impactful players on defense. Sadly, his successful first season will be tainted by his late hit on Patrick Mahomes at the end of the game simultaneously ending the Bengals season.
Ossai has told Bengals reporters all offseason that he has a chip on his shoulder for this upcoming season. Ossai, along with Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, and Myles Murphy come into the season as a deep pass rushing unit. Look for more sacks like the one below from Ossai this season.
Go to our NFL page for more articles and updates like Under the Radar Bengals Who Could Make Impacts in 2023.
Featured Image courtesy of Bengals.com
You can ‘Like’ The Game Haus on Facebook and ‘Follow’ us on Twitter for more sports and Esports articles from other TGH writers along with Jeremy.
“From Our Haus to Yours”