Best, worst offseason moves for Cincinnati Bengals

The four-time Pro Bowl tackle and Super Bowl champion stands at a massive 6-foot-8, 345 pounds and allowed just four sacks in 2022, according to Pro Football Focus. The addition of Brown Jr. is all the more important as Cincinnati takes the left tackle from the Chiefs who they've met in the AFC Championship Game in back-to-back years. 

BEST | Adding Irv Smith Jr.

The Bengals lost TE Hayden Hurst to the Panthers in free agency, so they responded by signing 24-year-old Smith Jr. to a cheap, one-year deal. Only time will tell if the move was an upgrade or downgrade, but Smith Jr. certainly has upside.

The 24-year-old has struggled to stay healthy, playing in just eight games in 2022 and missing all of the 2021 season. However, when healthy, he has shown just why the Vikings selected him with their second-round pick in 2019, totaling 91 catches for 858 yards and nine touchdowns in his career.

Smith Jr.'s arrival in Cincinnati provides the team with insurance at tight end heading into the 2023 NFL Draft as well. It seems likely the Bengals will add to the room in the draft but they can now address other needs earlier on.

WORST | Losing Jessie Bates III & Vonn Bell

The "dark day" defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo didn't want to think about arrived in Cincinnati after losing both starting safeties from 2022. The Bengals did sign safety Nick Scott to a three-year, $12 million contract to play alongside safety Daxton Hill but their secondary certainly took a hit.

Bates III and Bell leave big shoes to fill as they combined for 148 tackles, three forced fumbles, eight interceptions and 16 passes defensed in 2022. Scott does bring a lot of experience, helping the Rams defeat Cincinnati in Super Bowl LVI, but the team shouldn't feel fully confident in its new safety duo quite yet.

WORST | Jonah Williams' trade request

After the Bengals signed Brown Jr. to be their new starting left tackle, Williams was clearly the odd man out and knew it. He requested a trade on March 17, and although Cincinnati has its answer at left tackle, the team is still in need of a right tackle since right tackle La'el Collins tore his ACL and MCL late in the season.

Williams is not interested in switching sides and the Bengals will likely entertain his trade request. He would have solved Cincinnati's problem at right tackle but the team is now forced to address the position elsewhere, likely in the draft.