The Cincinnati Bengals are currently in vacation mode with training camp a little over a month away. This doesn’t mean the coaches and front office aren’t hard at work evaluating players they think can help them get back to the top of the AFC North. The orange and black kept all 10 of their 2024 draft picks so competition will be at an all-time high to make this year’s squad. Let’s examine three breakout candidates that can help the Bengals return to the postseason for the third time in four seasons.
3 Breakout Candidates for the Cincinnati Bengals
Myles Murphy
The Bengals’ EDGE is an intriguing 6’5″, 275-pound player who ramped up his production as the season progressed. Murphy played in all 17 games and his long arms, bend, and initial push seemed to be his calling cards en route to three sacks and 10 solo tackles in his first season in stripes. This is a solid start, and Murphy still has some untapped potential that defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will build on. The hope is he will move from being a rotational piece to a starter. The Bengals won’t be afraid to kick him inside the defensive line to get a more favorable matchup if the situation dictates it this season. Murphy has also transformed his physique this offseason and has been a standout performer in workouts thus far. He is still only 22 years old and his fantastic RAS score should give Bengals fans hope about his future along the defensive line.
Andrei Iosivas
Another player who has shined thus far in early sessions is second-year player Andrei Iosivas. The connection between quarterback Joe Burrow and Iosivas in the red zone last season was beautiful to watch. The former Princeton product is looking to become a more well-rounded wide receiver and that’s exactly what he’s on pace to do. Coaches have been raving about his progress with an updated playbook under the watchful eye of the new offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher. With Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins not participating in on-air throws, Iosivas has taken full advantage of his reps and looked like the best receiver on the field. The Bengals hope he continues to excel throughout training camp to help make their offense even more dynamic in the regular season.
Cordell Volson
Possibly a surprise pick in the breakout player category is the much-maligned Cordell Volson. The third-year left guard is occasionally noted as the weak link on the Bengals offensive line. The biggest feather in Volson’s cap is how durable he’s been. He’s started 36 consecutive games (including postseason) to begin his career and is the only player on the team to line up for every offensive snap in the 2022 regular season, ’22 postseason, and ’23 regular season.
Volson was starting to find his footing in the last half of 2023 and was playing some excellent football.
Cordell Volson has strung together some good performances now.
Film Review Link: https://t.co/IanB24o1DU pic.twitter.com/cQfHxGiMri
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) December 9, 2023
With the recent additions of Trent Brown and Amarius Mims, Volson will stay motivated to continue his torrid play that bookended his 2023. If he does, Burrow will have the best offensive line he’s had since he arrived in 2020 and that might mean bad news for the rest of the NFL.
Main Photo: Albert Cesare/The Enquirer-USA TODAY NETWORK
