The Cincinnati Bengals’ running back room is looking a little thin.

Samaje Perine, who was one of the team’s most valuable backups in 2022, is now headed out west to join the Denver Broncos. That leaves Joe Mixon and Chris Evans as the only Bengals’ running backs under contract. With Trayveon Williams set to hit free agency, running back is now a position of concern for the Bengals.

With a bevy of options available in both free agency and the upcoming NFL Draft next month, the Bengals have different ways to fill Perine’s shoes. If they want to go the free agency route, they must act soon to replace the efficiency that Perine provided in 2022.

Beyond that, the Bengals haven’t made any external free agent signings. Who should the Bengals sign externally, regardless of position? And how soon should they act on any potential players that could fit in head coach Zac Taylor’s system?

The Strictly Stripes crew breaks down what the departure of Perine means and how the Bengals move forward without him. They look at names that could replace him and other free options the Bengals have across the board.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s “dark day” is a reality.

After losing both Jessie Bates and Vonn Bell in free agency, the Bengals will now have to plan for a world without them. Both players departed for the NFC South and the team only has Michael Thomas, Tycen Anderson and Dax Hill.

On the upside, they retained linebacker Germaine Pratt whose departure almost seemed inevitable. Beyond that though, the Bengals now have more questions than answers as they have a bigger hole to fill in free agency.

The Strictly Stripes Podcast lays out what happens from here for the Bengals, how they respond to the big losses and what options they have in front of them.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many free agents will the Bengals resign? Will there be any surprise departures? Will Jessie Bates or Germaine Pratt have a better career outside Cincinnati? What's one move the Bengals could make that will win over fans? That and more on today's podcast featuring Michael Niziolek and Andrew Gillis.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Don't expect a big spending spree from the Bengals in free agency.

Unlike last year's shopping spree, the Bengals will focus on building from within their core pieces and retaining some of those soon-to-be free agent pieces.

But that doesn't mean there aren't solid fits on the market that could be matches made in heaven with the Bengals.

Should the Bengals lose both Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates, there's a special name that could fit right in for either of those two. On top of trying to add a key piece of depth on the offensive line, there's a tight end out there who's all too familar with quarterback Joe Burrow.

With the sixth-most cap space in the league, the Bengals have some room to shop and look around for more critical players who will fit the team's needs and match the culture that Zac Taylor has set in Cincinnati.

Who are these big names? The Strictly Stripes crew fills you in on some of the most interesting names and players that the Bengals should pursue in free agency in the coming days. They also look at which underrated players the team should retain when they hit the market.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallmanm

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The focus for the Bengals now shifts to free agency.

Joe Burrow's looming contract extension will play a large role in how free agency is shaped out for Cincinnati. While they'd certainly like to keep the biggest pending free agents from last year's AFC Championship game run, they've acknowledged that's likely not going to happen.

However, there's a lot of key pieces the Bengals can and should keep. But their free agent options will be broad in several areas once the period opens up.

Running back Joe Mixon's time in Cincinnati could be contingent on what happens in the period along with another recent legal incident tied to his residence. What does that mean with the period coming up so soon?

The Strictly Stripes crew looks at what the Lamar Jackson saga means in terms of not just a Burrow extension, but the rest of the Bengals' cap decisions in free agency. They start to look at the biggest areas where the Bengals can make some noise with potential signings.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another NFL Scouting Combine is in the books for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The focus for the franchise this offseason will be retaining key free agents and hitting the NFL Draft boards hard next month. Aside from locking down Joe Burrow and possibly Tee Higgins, all other decisions for the Bengals will be focused on getting over the hump in the here and now to win an elusive Super Bowl.

Now that's there more clarity entering free agency, there's a better sense of who and where the Bengals will place their priorities with the No. 28 overall pick. Free agency will give even more definitive clarity, but with the combine said and done, there's names that now look like a better fit for the Bengals.

Which names would fit well with Cincinnati? And how much should the Bengals prioritize those names?

The Strictly Stripes podcast breaks down the most important takeaways for the Bengals as they shift focus from the combine to free agency with a month to go before the NFL Draft. Speaking of free agency, they look at some of the biggest questions across the NFL and the AFC North, including Lamar Jackson's contract situation, and assess what that means for the Bengals.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad and Andrew Gillis.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Cincinnati Bengals have a plethora of options with the 28th overall pick.

Having such a late pick gives them the ability to be flexible in the first round. Where the Bengals go with that pick will become clearer once the dust settles on free agency later this month.

There's one hometown kid who has his eyes on the Bengals though.

Notre Dame tight end Michael Mayer, who grew up just outside of Cincinnati, has marveled at the idea of playing with quarterback Joe Burrow and his hometown Bengals. Seeing Mayer in orange and black stripes isn't out of the realm of possibility. But that will have to come down to him being available on top of the Bengals having an interest in him.

But the Bengals might not have as pressing of a need at tight end if they re-sign Hayden Hurst and Mitchell Wilcox this offseason. The opposite would be true if Eli Apple and Tre Flowers walk in free agency. There's plenty of names the Bengals could entertain at cornerback early in the draft.

The Strictly Stripes crew talks about Mayer, what he brings, how impressive other tight ends are in the draft and where they all fit in the grand scheme of things heading into April. A conversation that isn't going anywhere soon, they also talk about what the Bengals have to do to finally rebuild at right tackle.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad and Andrew Gillis.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The 2023 NFL Draft class has one of the deepest cornerback classes in recent memory.

Experts like Daniel Jeremiah have acknowledged this and there's no shortage of talented, feisty pass defenders to watch at this week's NFL Combine.

That's a position that could become an area of need this offseason if the Bengals not only lose Eli Apple and Tre Flowers in free agency, but if they decide not to pursue any cornerbacks in free agency. While that likely wouldn't be the highest area of need for Cincinnati, it will become an area of need, nonetheless.

Thankfully for the Bengals and any other potentially cornerback-needy teams, there should be swath of cornerbacks across the board from Day 1 to Day 3. From top-tier names like Devon Witherspoon and Joey Porter Jr. to sleeper picks like Clark Phillips III and Emmanuel Forbes, the range is almost limitless.

Should the Bengals focus on the combine and bringing in fresh talent, rather than hit the free agent market for cornerbacks? And how soon should they plan for the inevitable departure of Germaine Pratt and possibility of a future without Logan Wilson?

The Strictly Stripes podcast talks about some of the most intriguing cornerbacks who could fit in well in Cincinnati along with other prospective players at linebacker and defensive line, along with where the Bengals can open up more cap space.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Consistency is one trait that binds the Bengals' defensive line and offensive line together.

But, maybe not for the right reasons.

The Bengals pass rush struggled to utilize Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard as effectively as possible in 2022. On the flip side, run blocking wasn't the strongest hallmark of the Bengals' offensive last year either. Both are areas the Bengals have acknowledged they want to work on going into 2023.

Coordinators Lou Anarumo and Brian Callahan are both back for their fifth season together in Cincinnati after they were both finalists for respective coaching positions. They each want to build on those categories as they look to finally get the Bengals over the hump of winning a Super Bowl.

There's no fitting time to discuss building on consistency than the NFL Scouting Combine. The Bengals will certainly have their eyes on possible "glass eaters," as coined by offensive line coach Frank Pollack, and juiced up defensive linemen who will look to get to the quarterback.

Punter is another area that will see competition this coming offseason in Cincinnati as the Bengals have acknowledged that Drue Chrisman isn't guaranteed the starting role next season. That's not an area to overlook.

The Strictly Stripes crew talks about how the trenches can and should be shaped together in 2023 for the Bengals and how the NFL Combine can assist with that. They break down how Anarumo and Callahan can add to what they built on in 2022.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link: https://www.epidemicsound.com/track/nQ9ldbVF7D/

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As expected, Bengals QB Joe Burrow was front and center at the NFL Combine.

Well, not literally.

Burrow wasn't physically present but his name came up frequently as Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin and Bengals head coach Zac Taylor talked about what a future extension looks like for Burrow. Tobin didn't get into specifics but assured that locking down Burrow long-term is a priority for Cincinnati.

On top of Burrow's looming extension, Tobin made clear that he does not intend on trading wide receiver Tee Higgins. Nothing was made on an extension for him or linebacker Logan Wilson but he didn't rule those things off the table for this offseason.

Where do things move from here for Burrow and the Bengals? And what does that mean for potential cap casualties and other unrestricted free agents?

The Strictly Stripes crew makes sense of Tobin's comments and where that steers the tide for the Bengals this offseason. With prospect interviews and workouts set to kick off this week, the crew talks about where the Bengals could and should focus their attention.

This podcast features Mohammad Ahmad, Andrew Gillis and Michael Niziolek.

Music: Starfields by Hallman

Music Link:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices