Three offseason moves the Bengals must make

The Bengals filled most of their needs via free agency and through the 2024 NFL Draft, but there is still some work to be done to make sure the team is ready to compete for a Super Bowl once again.

With that in mind, here are three more moves Cincinnati should make this offseason to return to being true contenders.

Extend wide receiver Tee Higgins

Higgins requested to be traded by the Bengals in March. He hoped to stay in Cincinnati but revealed the team has not had any talks about a long-term contract extension in about a year.

It seems Higgins has since come to terms that he'll be playing for the Bengals in 2024 after they were not interested in entertaining his request.

"I do anticipate it," Higgins told WLWT.

However, that doesn't mean the 25-year-old is happy with how Cincinnati is handling the situation. If the team wants to get the most out of Higgins in 2024, giving him the payday he deserves would be a good start.

Since 2020, Higgins has 257 catches for 3,684 yards and 24 touchdowns.

Extend edge-rusher Trey Hendrickson

Higgins isn't the only Bengal who is unhappy with his current contract. Hendrickson also requested a trade in April intending to get a long-term commitment from Cincinnati.

Hendrickson has two years left on his current deal, but he is looking for security as neither year has guaranteed money attached to it.

The team said it was not willing to fulfill his trade request either, but it should give him the insurance he's looking for.

Hendrickson has proved to be worth every penny, making the Pro Bowl every season as a Bengal and coming off a career-high 17.5 sacks and three forced fumbles in 2023.

Sign a free-agent running back

Cincinnati made the head-scratching decision to trade Joe Mixon, the franchise's third all-time leading rusher, to the Houston Texans this offseason.

The move would have made more sense if the Bengals did more than just sign veteran running back Zack Moss in free agency, but that's not the case.

Moss proved to be a reliable ball-carrier last season with the Colts, rushing for 794 yards and five touchdowns, but there's more to be desired.

Adding a veteran who could further bolster the room via free agency makes a ton of sense. Free agents such as Cam Akers, Kareem Hunt and Dalvin Cook are all still available.