4 Bengals players and coaches who won’t return in 2024

4 Bengals players and coaches who won’t return in 2024

The Cincinnati Bengals are suddenly on a roll,

having won three straight games. Unbelievably,

the 8-6 Bengals are currently ranked as the sixth seed in the AFC playoff standings.

Who would have thought that after watching Joe Burrow suffer a season-ending injury,

such a streak would start? Cincinnati is currently in the postseason. It is taking place.

But what does this franchise’s future hold after the regular season?

A run at the playoffs? Major off-season changes?

Not to spoil the Bengals’ fun entirely, but occasionally we like to look ahead.

In the process, let’s examine a few prominent figures that,

regardless of how this season plays out,

probably won’t return in 2024.

1. The defensive coordinator, Lou Anarumo

This Cincinnati defence has established itself as a formidable force over the past few years,

particularly in the latter stages of the season.

However, in the majority of significant categories this season,

the Bengals’ defence has been near the bottom of the league.

The Bengals rank sixth in terms of passing yards per game (average of 254.1),

while they rank fifth in terms of running yards allowed (128.3) and third down % (42.6).

All of the league’s top teams currently field defences that are on par with or better than the best.

Prolific defensive teams include the San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys,

Kansas City Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens.

Lou Anarumo, the defensive coordinator, may not have much longer in Cincinnati.

This team requires some improvements at a few critical positions

in addition to new leadership on that side of the ball.

2. WR Tee Higgins

One of the more intriguing stories in Cincinnati this summer

will be the team’s decision about free agent wide receiver Tee Higgins.

Higgins won’t be traded due to subpar play,

in contrast to certain other Bengals on this list. Instead,

he’ll probably take a big-time contract with another team that the Bengals won’t want to match or surpass.

Cincinnati has previously extended Joe Burrow’s contract by a whopping $275 million over five years.

Here, too, they will soon have to give up a record-breaking contract to Ja’Marr Chase.

Even though Higgins is having a poor season (mostly because of injuries),

it is quite doubtful that the Bengals can afford to have both Higgins and Chase around at their value.

But you never know. Before deciding,

Cincy may decide to give Higgins the franchise tag and bear the cap impact for just one season.

Additionally, that assumes Higgins chooses to play on the tag.

Higgins may be a lock to start as a wide receiver on another team in 2024 after

posting two seasons of 1,000 yards or more during his first four years of play.

While we’ll see how the offseason plays out,

I wouldn’t put money on him coming back.

3. TE Irv Smith

Though the Bengals don’t really use tight ends in the passing game,

if they lose Higgins, that might change, depending on how the remainder of the offseason plays out.

In any case, despite being a former second-round pick,

Irv Smith hasn’t performed as well in the NFL as many had anticipated.

In his first season in Cincinnati, Smith has not finished with more than 36 receptions,

and he has only totaled 18 on 26 targets.

With five targets in the first week of the season,

Smith actually had the most in a single game this year.

We had some hope after that first outing that Smith may be included, but so far this season,

he hasn’t finished with more than four targets in a single game.

Smith hasn’t actually had four targets in a game for the past seven weeks.

To be honest, the Bengals need to decide what to do with Smith at this position,

therefore let him depart without hesitation. Tanner Hudson is most likely not the player,

and Drew Sample is a good TE2 or TE3.

In the passing game, though, Smith hasn’t been this team’s go-to tight end and he could have been.

4. Dan Pitcher, Coach of Quarterbacks

I know this seems like a wild card and a daring forecast, but bear with me.

Dan Pitcher, the quarterbacks coach, may, in contrast to Anarumo,

leave Cincinnati on a high note by being hired someplace as an offensive coordinator.

Jake Browning has been a terrific addition to Pitcher,

even though the Bengals’ offence hasn’t always been at its best this season.

The unexpected tale coming out of Cincinnati this season might not be understood by those

who aren’t as familiar with the Bengals.

Browning was a practice squad member for the Minnesota Vikings from 2019 to 2021 after going undrafted in 2019.

After missing out on four years of NFL action,

this player is back in his fifth season and has shown to be a valuable addition.

Naturally, after being selected by the Bengals in the 2020 draft out of LSU,

the pitcher has collaborated with Joe Burrow.

He should be commended for the incredible work this offence is producing in the absence of their franchise quarterback.

Pitcher, an underappreciated player who has the potential to become an offensive coordinator,

might not return to the Bengals in 2024,

which would be a heartbreaking but well-earned situation for the 36-year-old.

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