In addition to Cincinnati Bengals fans clamoring for the team to sign another starting-caliber guard in free agency before next season, another thing fans have been longing for for years is offensive line depth.
Here’s the deal, though: This season, they have it. Whether or not it’s great depth, it’s there. There are bodies in that room that can help adequately navigate the war of attrition the NFL season is.
One of those depth pieces is fifth-round draft pick Jalen Rivers out of Miami (FL). After
blocking for No. 1 overall pick Cam Ward last season with the Hurricanes, the Bengals drafted Rivers 153rd overall this past April.
Veteran Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. was one of many Bengals impressed by Rivers’s performance throughout the offseason program.
“He’s ready-made,” Orlando Brown Jr. told Dan Hoard. “He’s worked his tail off and done a great job of learning the new techniques and developing his game.”
The #Bengals open camp in 34 days. I’m counting down with a daily observation.
— Dan Hoard (@Dan_Hoard) June 20, 2025
Fifth-round pick Jalen Rivers (#74) is a fast learner.
“He’s ready-made,” said Orlando Brown Jr. “He’s worked his tail off and done a great job of learning the new techniques and developing his game.” pic.twitter.com/px5sW3n2xf
Although Rivers has worked solely at tackle, he could be an intriguing guard option for the Bengals moving forward. Right now, rookie Dylan Fairchild is projected to start at left guard. Lucas Patrick and Cody Ford are competing for the starting right guard position.
Rivers is also adequate to serve as Brown’s and right tackle Amarius Mims’s backup.
Once again, though, the offensive line will be an area of concern, and one to watch, in training Ccamp and the preseason.
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