I think Bengals fans are happy now that WR Ja'Marr Chase and WR Tee Higgins are under contract for several more seasons.

But there are still holes that need to be filled as well as DE Trey Hendrickson getting signed long-term. As of this writing, Hendrickson is under contract for the 2025 season but it appears both parties want a deal that will keep the NFL 2024 sack leader on the team for 2 seasons beyond 2025.

Here is a recap of what the Bengals have done thus far, then what they will need to do from now until the draft.

The team has signed DT B.J. Hill, TE Cam Grandy, OG Jaxson Kirkland, LS Cal Adomitis, P Ryan Rehkow, TE Tanner Hudson, OL Cody Ford, TE Mike Gesicki, DT T.J. Slaton, LB Oren Burks, RB Samaje Perine and DB Marco Wilson.

Keeping Chase and Higgins together was a given, in my opinion, it was just a matter of how long they would be in stripes. Needless to say that keeps each receiver and QB Joe Burrow at the top of the fantasy football landscape.

TE Mike Gesicki is another fantasy worthy signing. He is more like the Bengals wide receiver three than an inline tight end but he is good for dart throw if you miss out on one of the big-dog tight ends.

The rest of the signings are all good for the Bengals but maybe not so much for fantasy football with one exception.

LB Oren Burks is an interesting signing. He has been a midling linebacker since being drafted by the Packers in 2018. But he started for the Eagles in the Super Bowl and played well with five total tackles against the Chiefs. He seemed to create turnovers whenever he was on the field.

His place in the defense coordinated by new coach Al Golden may be key to the defense and the success it has in 2025.

There are still holes for this team to fill. The thought is the signings of Higgins and Chase to long-term deals make available money now for Hendrickson and other free agents. Then the draft will fill out the roster.

With the long-term deals, Cincinnati must make the draft this season and in future seasons count, acquiring several impact players in each class.

For now, the team needs to upgrade the guard spots on the offensive line. There are a few in free agency that can help for sure but that pool is dwindling.

Then improving the pass rush, even beyond Hendrickson, is necessary. Now maybe that improvement comes from Golden and his style of play. The defense was much better late in the 2024 season, good enough in fact to say if it had played that way all season, the results would have been much different.

So the fans need to see improvement on the pass rush but maybe Golden and the new position coaches can do what previous regimes could not do. Only time will tell but it would feel much better if an interior lineman who can collapse the pocket, and a defensive end with pass-rush skills would be welcomed additions.

One signing to keep an eye on is DB Chidobe Awuzie, a former Bengal who was released by Tennessee.

For me, adding a guard on offense and a lineman who gets to the passer in free agency allows the team to concentrate on best player available in the draft.

For now, the general thought with who will be available in the first round aligns with Bengal needs. LB Jihaad Campbell, DE James Pearce Jr., DB Malaki Starks, DE Mykel Williams, DT Kenneth Grant, DE Nic Scourton, DB Jahdae Barron, DT Walter Nolan, DE Mike Green, DT Derrick Harmon.

Not all of these players are going to be there when the Bengals are on the clock at 17 but there should be a few. My picks would be Nolan or Harmon first but then Campbell could be the best option.

The forming defensive coaching staff utilized just two linebackers on the field with a 4-2-5 set. Will Golden go with three linebackers? If so, this team needs an impact player at that position and Campbell would fill that bill. He is versatile.

Starks and Barron might be picks and would be upgrades but I think DB Xavier Watts from Notre Dame is the target in the second round and therefore the team can roll the dice by passing on the secondary with the first round pick.

But the draft is several weeks away and the team has plenty to do before that time, all of which will shape not only the draft plan but the next few years of this franchise as it keeps its eyes on the Super Bowl.

End.