The Cincinnati Bengals’ disastrous season went from bad to worse, and their latest injury means they could turn to free agent Charles Leno. Starting right tackle Trent Brown injured his knee during the Week 3 loss to the Washington Commanders and did not return to the game. After the contest, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the veteran offensive tackle tore his patellar tendon and will miss the remainder of the 2024 season.
This is a devastating blow for Cincinnati, as they now have no choice but to start first-round pick Amarius Mims. Widely viewed as a high-ceiling player who could use a year to develop, Brown was supposed to hold down the fort while the Georgia product improved his fundamentals on the sideline. Perhaps Mims is ready for the spotlight, but if he’s not, the team could fight the Kansas City Chiefs and New Orleans Saints for the right to sign Charles Leno as a free agent.
Bengals Could Fight Chiefs, Saints For Free Agent Charles Leno After Trent Brown Injury
The Kansas City Chiefs selected offensive tackle Kingsley Suamataia with the belief they could turn him into the next great blindside protector. While the BYU product could have a long and successful career, it’s clear that he’s not quite ready for NFL action. Through three games, the rookie ranks 73rd out of 74 eligible players in PFF grade. Wanya Morris hasn’t been much better, as the veteran tackle ranks 55th in the same metric. Protecting Patrick Mahomes is vital to the success of the Kansas City Chiefs, so they should consider signing free agent Charles Leno to a one-year deal.
Kansas City is 3-0, but their offense isn’t the unstoppable unit we’re used to watching. With Marquise Brown sidelined indefinitely and age catching up to Travis Kelce, Mahomes has to make do with the ascending Rashee Rice and first-round pick Xavier Worthy. A quarterback like Mahomes can easily power this duo to the playoffs, but he’ll need better blocking if he wants to hoist yet another Lombardi in February. That starts with signing Charles Leno as a free agent, as the current offensive line won’t be able to slow down elite pass rushers.
The Surprisingly Surging Saints
Nobody knows exactly how good the New Orleans Saints will be in 2024. They looked like the best team in football through the first two weeks of the season but came crashing back to Earth in Week 3 against the Philadelphia Eagles. Despite the sluggish performance, New Orleans still has a great shot of winning the NFC South and returning to the playoffs for the first time since Drew Brees called it a career. However, if they want to maximize their odds of postseason play, they should consider signing Charles Leno as a free agent.
After a promising Week 1, first-round bust Trevor Penning has had a rough go of it over the past two weeks. Derek Carr is one of the NFL’s worst quarterbacks against pressure, and Penning’s subpar play could singlehandedly ruin any shot the Saints have of making the postseason. Charles Leno is no Trent Williams, but the free agent would be a clear upgrade on Penning. With Leno and first-round pick Taliese Fuaga at tackle, the Saints should be able to keep Carr upright throughout the season.
Main Photo: Brad Mills – USA Today Sports
