Bengals have signed G Jaxson Kirkland to a one-year contract extension through the 2025 season. Could be in the mix for starting guard spot this season. Bengals have held him in high regard since signing him in 2023 as a UDFA. Kirkland spent the first five games of the 2024…

— Mike Petraglia (@Trags) March 5, 2025

Jaxson looked good last preseason and I wanted us to draft the guy. Good move.

Didn’t he come out of college hurt? Got hurt his first year? Then hurt his second year?

He looked good. But I feel like if we are relying on him for anything more than end of roster depth we are in trouble.

(03-05-2025, 08:01 PM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Didn’t he come out of college hurt? Got hurt his first year? Then hurt his second year?

He looked good. But I feel like if we are relying on him for anything more than end of roster depth we are in trouble.

Yeah, that was why he went undrafted. Injuries are definitely a concern with Kirkland. I still like what I saw of him last preseason tho.

-Peters really liked Volson and thinks he can fix him.
-Kirkland could be in the mix for a starting job.

Uh oh. This better be a depth move or it’s more of the same issues in 2025

We extended a guy who has missed virtually the last 2 years and has never started an NFL game.

The Bears got the best pass protecting G in the league for a Day 3 pick. And another starting G.

Not saying the Chiefs eould have traded Thuney to us, but one team is clearly prioritizing IOL and the other is not.

(03-06-2025, 12:45 PM)Isaac Curtis: The Real #85 Wrote: We extended a guy who has missed virtually the last 2 years and has never started an NFL game.

The Bears got the best pass protecting G in the league for a Day 3 pick. And another starting G.

Not saying the Chiefs eould have traded Thuney to us, but one team is clearly prioritizing IOL and the other is not.

“Why should I pay a guard?”- Mike Brown, probably…

(03-05-2025, 10:07 PM)Clark W Griswold Wrote: Uh oh. This better be a depth move or it’s more of the same issues in 2025

Of course it is a depth move. People are honestly thinking our starters will be Volson and Kirkland at Guard now?

Some people might of already jumped off the ledge. We will bring in at least 1 Guard in FA and Draft another I am sure of it.

(03-06-2025, 03:09 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Of course it is a depth move. People are honestly thinking our starters will be Volson and Kirkland at Guard now?

Some people might of already jumped off the ledge. We will bring in at least 1 Guard in FA and Draft another I am sure of it.

Has to be a depth move, and starter talk to muddy the waters for the draft and free agency so hey do not seem as desperate as they should be.

If the front office thought Kirkland was the answer, they would have inked him to something longer than a one year deal.

I want to see two vet guards signed in free agency, preferable Zeitler on a two year deal (11M total), and Bechton on a four year deal (16-20M total?) 

Let it be a dog fight for the first guard off the bench, because Burrow deserves proven players protecting him. Plus the vet leadership would be invaluable if something happened and Lee was forced to start at center.

(03-06-2025, 04:23 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: Has to be a depth move, and starter talk to muddy the waters for the draft and free agency so hey do not seem as desperate as they should be.

If the front office thought Kirkland was the answer, they would have inked him to something longer than a one year deal.

I want to see two vet guards signed in free agency, preferable Zeitler on a two year deal (11M total), and Bechton on a four year deal (16-20M total?) 

Let it be a dog fight for the first guard off the bench, because Burrow deserves proven players protecting him. Plus the vet leadership would be invaluable if something happened and Lee was forced to start at center.

I agree Rugby. Just throwing others off our intentions is all the coaches are doing. Cutting Cappa means we are going to get a FA Guard
and there are about 6 or 7 of them that should be available that fit our needs. Like you say, Zeit, Becton and Fries, Daniels, Tevin Jenkins, 
Risner, Scherff etc.

We will get at least 1. No way Kirkland is starting unless he wins the job. He has enough trouble staying healthy. I like him when he does
play though, especially at Washington and last year in the Preseason where he shown growth before getting hurt.

(03-06-2025, 04:23 PM)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: Has to be a depth move, and starter talk to muddy the waters for the draft and free agency so hey do not seem as desperate as they should be.

If the front office thought Kirkland was the answer, they would have inked him to something longer than a one year deal.

I want to see two vet guards signed in free agency, preferable Zeitler on a two year deal (11M total), and Bechton on a four year deal (16-20M total?) 

Let it be a dog fight for the first guard off the bench, because Burrow deserves proven players protecting him. Plus the vet leadership would be invaluable if something happened and Lee was forced to start at center.

Yeah, there's no way you're signing a guy for only one year if that's your plan at guard. 

The extension we were all waiting for!