Did the Cincinnati Bengals Get It Right With Their Seven Captains?

With the regular season now less than a week away, the Cincinnati Bengals officially released the players who will lead the team on Sundays. They announced seven captains Monday, but were they the correct choices?

Of the seven names picked, three are on offense, three are on defense and one is on special teams.

Offensively, it’s no surprise that Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Ted Karras were selected, each returning as captains from last season. This marks Burrow’s seventh consecutive nomination, Chase’s second and Karras’ fifth with the Bengals.

I don’t think there is any question whether these three guys should have been named captains. They all possess the leadership qualities necessary to be a captain, and each represents a different group of the offense. There isn’t a better choice out there to replace any of Burrow, Chase or Karras, so I think the Bengals got it right with them.

On the other side of the ball, it was newcomers Dexter Lawrence and Bryan Cook and returner D.J. Turner who got the nod. I think pretty much everyone knew Lawrence would practically be a shoo-in barring any offseason issues, and he was the most obvious choice on defense.

But I do think the other two names leave room for debate.

Cook, like Lawrence, is entering his first season with the Bengals, but I don’t think he brings the prominent leadership background Lawrence does. He wasn’t named a captain during his four years in Kansas City, but multiple reports show how much he’s grown in his short time in Cincinnati.

The same goes for Turner, who has not been a captain during his tenure with the Bengals but has shown his ability to lead throughout training camp and the preseason. Primed to have a great season, I think his selection is deserved.

Overall, I think the three names from defense were the right choices, despite there being some subtle questions. If it weren’t Lawrence, Cook or Turner, I think Jonathan Allen is a player who would fill the spot nicely.

Then there’s the special teams representative, Evan McPherson. I also think he is a deserving pick who returns to being a captain after being one in 2024 but not last season.

Ultimately, I think the Bengals made the right choices with their seven captains. There are certainly some players who could have made a case for a spot, especially on the defensive side of the ball, but the group Cincinnati selected represents a strong mix of veteran leadership, new voices and players who have earned the respect of their teammates. 

With the season just days away, these seven players will have the responsibility of setting the tone for the Bengals both on and off the field. Now, it’s up to them to prove the team made the right call.