![\"Cincinnati](\"http:\/\/res.cloudinary.com\/ybmedia\/image\/upload\/c_crop,e_improve,h_513,w_912,x_0,y_0\/c_fill,f_auto,h_900,q_auto,w_1600\/v1\/m\/e\/d\/ed69656b321bb1a1a3b1ef10ae73c30d5d376ea1\/01k2cp3bjwr0ebf4pb21.jpg\")
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Multiple ESPN talents took a stab at projecting the NFL’s future power rankings this week. The window is 2025 to 2027, and\u00a0Cincinnati\u00a0checked in at\u00a0No. 15 in the NFL\u00a0with a score of 79.1\/100.<\/p>\n
The Bengals’ coaching (21st) and front office (28th) dragged them down in the projection.<\/p>\n
“I have written about the offensive line for the past two seasons, and I’m going to write about it again,”\u00a0Louis Riddick noted. “Nothing has changed with this unit regarding its mediocre play. As a unit, it finished 32nd in pass block win rate (50.1%) and 30th in run block win rate (68.2%). The Bengals are spending $86.5 million in 2025 on the WR room, $20 million more than the next closest team, but it won’t mean anything if they can’t get this OL situation figured out.”<\/p>\n
The Bengals’ offensive weaponry was the\u00a0obvious\u00a0reason for being in the top half of the league.<\/p>\n
“Quarterback\u00a0Joe Burrow\u00a0and receivers\u00a0Ja’Marr Chase\u00a0and\u00a0Tee Higgins\u00a0are obvious reasons for optimism,”\u00a0Ben Solak wrote. “The Bengals’ offense has benefited from the emergence of quality secondary options (running back\u00a0Chase Brown, tight end\u00a0Mike Gesicki) and the defense has plenty of young players who can hopefully emerge into franchise cornerstones.”<\/p>\n
It’s hard to put Cincinnati too far down this list as long as Burrow and Chase are dialed in on contracts together.<\/p>\n
Getting a few unlikely hits from young players around them is crucial to finding a Super Bowl-winning ceiling for this team. That\u00a0may be loading for Dylan Fairchild, but he isn’t helping the defense with his blocking.<\/p>\n
A few young players from that side of the ball need to work out to win the ultimate team championship.<\/p>\n