The 2024 NFL season represents a fresh start for the Cincinnati Bengals. After missing out on the playoffs last season, the Bengals will be looking to bounce back and rejoin the contender conversation.
In order for that to happen, the Bengals will need stellar seasons from some key contributors. Stellar campaigns in the NFL are often recognized with some end-of-season hardware, so it’s not a stretch to think that some members of the Bengals could be recognized by the league if the season goes well.
Here’s a look at three Bengals who could win major NFL awards in 2024.
Zac Taylor, Coach of the Year
Let’s start at the top. It will be up to Zac Taylor to maximize the talent on the team and lead the Bengals back to the playoffs in 2024. If he’s able to do that, there’s no reason that he shouldn’t be in the Coach of the Year conversation.
Taylor is entering his sixth season as the head coach in Cincinnati. He led the team all the way to the AFC Championship in two of his first five seasons, but he missed the postseason entirely in the other three campaigns. 2024 will provide an opportunity for Taylor to truly cement himself as one of the league’s elite. With an extremely talented offense and a revamped defense, there will be high expectations in Cincy. If the Bengals can live up to them, perhaps Taylor will end the season with some new hardware for his mantle.
Jermaine Burton, Offensive Rookie of the Year
This might be setting the bar a bit high for the rookie, but Burton could find himself in position to be a major contributor for the Bengals in 2024 after the team selected him in the third round.
There’s a vacancy at the third starting wide receiver spot following the departure of Tyler Boyd in free agency, and Burton could potentially lay claim to it with an excellent offseason. Even if he’s not a starter right away, Burton should still see plenty of opportunity to make an impact.
Lining up alongside Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins should help to open things up for Burton as a rookie, and with his speed and athleticism, he has the potential to put up some serious numbers right from the jump.
Joe Burrow, MVP
2024 has a chance to be Joe Burrow’s best year yet. He’s healthy following the season-ending wrist injury he suffered last season. Plus, he has a ton of weapons around him with Chase, Higgins and Burton at the receiver spots, Mike Gesicki at tight end and Zack Moss and Chase Brown in the backfield.
Plus, Burrow is wiser and more experienced than ever before. He has four seasons under his belt now, and at 27 years old, we’ve probably only seen some of how good Burrow can truly be. As long as he can stay healthy and continue to produce numbers — and wins — like he has throughout his career, Burrow should definitely find himself in the MVP conversation at the end of the year.
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