March 12, 2026, 8:11 p.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bengals signed offensive tackle Orlando Brown Jr. to a two-year extension through the 2028 season. That includes $32 million in new money with $23 million coming in the first 12 months, per the Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kelsey Conway.
Brown turns 30 years old in May. He’s been one of the better tackles throughout his career, but he did struggle in the eyes of Pro Football Focus in 2025. He allowed 10 penalties (which ranked 76th out of 89 tackles), nine sacks (86th), 10 hits (85th) and 46 total pressures (82nd).
Even with this signing, could the Bengals look at the offensive tackle position in the first round of the draft?
That depends how the draft falls in the first nine picks. Francis Mauigoa of Miami and Utah’s Spencer Fano could both land in the first six picks. Mauigoa could go as high as No. 3 to the Arizona Cardinals. Then there’s Georgia’s Monroe Freeling, who has been moving up boards across the media.
Freeling brings a lot of potential but not a lot of experience. He only has one year of full-time starter experience at tackle but has very good quickness and athleticism and room to build on his body frame. He would be a good fit in terms of adding depth and being able to develop behind Brown and Amarius Mims.
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But is that worth the No. 10 pick, when the chances of a pass-rusher or linebacker could be on the board? That’s the debate the Bengals would have to weigh. What if Arvell Reese, David Bailey, Rueben Bain, Caleb Downs and Sonny Styles are all off the board? Cornerback should be the pivot point here, with LSU’s Mansoor Delane or Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy likely the best options. Could the Bengals take a gamble on Auburn’s Keldric Faulk?
Offensive tackle would be a very interesting debate, but probably a tough sell with both of their starting tackles locked in through 2028 (assuming the Bengals pick up the 5th-year option for Mims or extend him before then).