WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. – Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor discussed several topics during his 50-minute media session at the NFL’s annual meetings, including the state of the guard position.
One of the biggest areas of need for the Bengals this offseason is at guard after the team cut Alex Cappa. Cincinnati has openings at starting left and right guard, which is why the lack of activity in the first few days of free agency at those positions came as a bit of a surprise.
The team re-signed Cody Ford and he is expected to compete for the either of the jobs, but the Bengals improvement at both spots. Cordell Volson returns and will be in the mix after losing his starting spot last season. Veteran guard Lucas Patrick was signed in the second week of free agency to a one-year deal and is the only player the Bengals brought in from another team at that spot.
Bengals offensive guard depth
Taylor addressed the state of the position and hinted the draft is where the Bengals are looking to target this need.
“I think right now at guard we will get to the draft and then evaluate where we're at from there,” Taylor said.
"I think right now at guard we will get to the draft and then evaluate where we're at from there."
— Kelsey Conway (@KelseyLConway) March 31, 2025
Zac Taylor on the state of the #Bengals guard situation
The Bengals had one of the best passing attacks in the NFL last season despite Joe Burrow taking 48 sacks. Burrow was pressured a career-high 240 times last season, according to Pro Football Focus.
Given the style Burrow likes to play and the design of the pass-heavy offense the Bengals run, Burrow will always likely be one of the most sacked quarterbacks. His 652 pass attempts last year topped the NFL.
And while numbers don’t necessarily tell the whole story of the performance of the Bengals’ interior line play from a season ago, it’s an area the team must improve to take the next step. Taylor was reluctant to say if the starter for either guard spot was on the roster right now.
Who starts for Bengals at guard?
“I think we've got competition there,” he said. “It'd be foolish for me to speak ...
