The Bengals wasted no time in upgrading their offensive line, charging out of the gate at the start of Monday’s legal tampering window by agreeing to terms with former Buccaneers right guard Alex Cappa, according to reports.
The deal is for a reported four years and $40 million, which obliterates the franchise’s glass ceiling on paying interior linemen. The highest average annual salary the Bengals had ever paid a guard was $5.2 million to Clint Boling in 2015.
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But after quarterback Joe Burrow absorbed 70 sacks and 133 hits between the regular season and the team’s run to Super Bowl LVI, the needed fix was evident, and the resources available. The most problematic pressure for Burrow came not off the edge, but via collapsing pockets. Cappa is the first step toward improving that.
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How he fits
Cappa immediately slides into the starting role at right guard, where the Bengals used four players in 2021 — Hakeem Adeniji (nine games), rookie Jackson Carman (five), Xavier Su’a-Filo (two games) and rookie Trey Hill (one).
Cappa, who won’t turn 28 until January, started his last 36 games in Tampa Bay and 46 of 49 overall from 2019-21. He played all 1,183 offensive snaps in 2021 and 1,070 of 1,073 (99.7 percent) in 2020.
He’s more of a downhill blocker than a perfect fit for the wide-zone scheme, but he provides a significant upgrade where the Bengals need it most.
2022 impact
The arrival of Cappa, who has never played anywhere but right guard, means 2021 first-round pick Jackson Carman will be changing positions again this year. The Bengals could move Carman to left guard, returning him to the side where he made his mark in college as a left tackle at Clemson, or they could take a look at him at right tackle. A big part of that decision will be dependent on whether the team re-signs left guard Quinton Spain, who started 16 games in 2021.
History
Cappa famously attempted to play on a fractured ankle in the 2020 wild-card game against the Washington Football Team before missing the rest of the team’s run to a Super Bowl championship. Blocking for Tom Brady that year, Cappa didn’t give up a single sack. He did, however, allow 27 pressures in 2020 and 32 last year.
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Cap update
Cappa’s title as highest-paid interior linemen in Bengals history may not last long. The Bengals still have about $27 million in cap space they intend to spend, and that number will climb by at least $10.9 million with the expected release of cornerback Trae Waynes. Cutting center Trey Hopkins would clear another $6 million, so look for the team to continue to be aggressive in targeting help on the interior of the offensive line, and other positions of need such as defensive tackle and cornerback.
Outlook
It’s not a stretch at all to think that if Cappa had started Super Bowl LVI against the Rams, the Bengals would be world champions right now. Adding him to the mix this year obviously comes with no guarantees, but fixing the most glaring hole on a quality roster certainly improves the team’s chances of making another deep postseason run.
(Photo: Mark J. Rebilas / USA Today)