Joe Burrow and several other Cincinnati Bengals expressed their frustration after a 6-11 campaign. The undertone was clear: the club needed a quick solution in defense.
The front office dealt, signing Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook and Jonathan Allen in free agency, then signing Dexter Lawrence, a star difference-maker in the middle. Cincy later drafted cornerback Cashus Howell in the second round and added corner Tacario Davis in the third.
Borrow seems happy with the off-season moves.
“They’re going to continue to get great players to come and play for the Bengals, and when they do, it’s my job and Zac and the leaders of this team to bring the locker room together and then execute on the field,” Burrow said via the team’s official website. “We have everything we need.
“We made a big trade for a big player. Signed a free agent who is the top safety on the market, and other additions. We’ll see how the rookies end up… But the first impression, we have guys who love the game, care about their job and want to be great. When you have young guys like us and veterans like us, that’s a recipe for success.”
It’s early in the offseason to know how the pieces will fit, but Burrow can already tell the atmosphere in the locker room has changed with the veteran additions on defense.
“You can feel the atmosphere and the leadership has changed a little bit in the locker room,” Burrow said. “It’s exciting for everyone.
“B. Cook, in the limited time he’s been here, you feel his presence early. Dexter, too. A lot of guys on the D-line now. You’ve got Jonathan Allen. Myles (Murphy) is walking around with a little more pep in his step this year. It’s exciting to see. I think he’s grown in confidence over the last five, six games. We’ll have to see.”
Cincinnati begins its season with seven straight starts at 1:00 PM ET, with a bye in Week 6, giving Burrows’ gang plenty of time to make a run before hitting the national stage.
The key to the Bengals ending their streak of three straight seasons missing the playoffs, aside from the defensive upgrades, will remain Burrow’s health. If he goes down again, no amount of offseason additions are likely to matter