Quote: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.


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

(06-18-2024, 10:31 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I just don’t see it with Volson. He is going into his age 26 season, and you usually are what you are by that point.

(06-18-2024, 10:31 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I just don’t see it with Volson. He is going into his age 26 season, and you usually are what you are by that point.

(06-18-2024, 10:38 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: As the article stated, his game took a big step forward during the second half of last season. With that in mind, I'll be looking forward to his performance this season changing your opinion of him. 

(06-18-2024, 10:38 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: As the article stated, his game took a big step forward during the second half of last season. With that in mind, I'll be looking forward to his performance this season changing your opinion of him. 

(06-18-2024, 11:07 AM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: Volsen being the iron man is the way of the Bengals o-line.

The worst players on the o-line never go down or miss games due to injury.

It's magical.

Love to see him get better, but do not see him making the jump. But a second year between Karras and Brown has to help...

(06-18-2024, 11:27 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Often times, it can take a mid-round pick 2-3 years to really develop.
We prefer players that need development are learning on the bench rather than thrust into a starting role, and we can be quick to call for their head if they are not up to par like we want.

This could be the case with Volson, who did play better the second half of last season and might finally be coming into his own.
With that said, the Bengals have Cappa, Karras, and Volson all going into their final year under contract in 2025, so it wouldn't surprise me to see an IOL (or two) drafted early in the 2025 draft to be groomed for a year or even push one of them for a starting spot in 2025 if they are good enough.

(06-18-2024, 10:38 AM)SunsetBengal Wrote: As the article stated, his game took a big step forward during the second half of last season. With that in mind, I'll be looking forward to his performance this season changing your opinion of him. 

(06-18-2024, 10:31 AM)Nicomo Cosca Wrote: I just don’t see it with Volson. He is going into his age 26 season, and you usually are what you are by that point.

(06-18-2024, 12:41 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: If it is true 26-year-old or players in year 3 in the NFL never develop, then why does any team have a practice squad full of these players? Why waste money on these guys? Why do coaches waste time attempting to make them better? 

I guess guys like former WR TJ Houshmandzadeh should have been cut in your eyes.

(06-18-2024, 11:27 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Often times, it can take a mid-round pick 2-3 years to really develop.
We prefer players that need development are learning on the bench rather than thrust into a starting role, and we can be quick to call for their head if they are not up to par like we want.

This could be the case with Volson, who did play better the second half of last season and might finally be coming into his own.
With that said, the Bengals have Cappa, Karras, and Volson all going into their final year under contract in 2025, so it wouldn't surprise me to see an IOL (or two) drafted early in the 2025 draft to be groomed for a year or even push one of them for a starting spot in 2025 if they are good enough.

(06-18-2024, 12:41 PM)Luvnit2 Wrote: If it is true 26-year-old or players in year 3 in the NFL never develop, then why does any team have a practice squad full of these players? Why waste money on these guys? Why do coaches waste time attempting to make them better? 

I guess guys like former WR TJ Houshmandzadeh should have been cut in your eyes.