Bengals camp is closing and the first preseason game is approaching. With this Zac Taylor released the first depth chart and along with a lot of info coming out there are a lot of takeaways to be had. Biggest observation has been the defense has been clearly better than the offense at all levels. DL beats the OL, secondary ebats the receivers, and they cover the RBs well. 

Big news is MJ is currently starting after being terrible last year, 2nd rounder Jackson Carman is behind 5th rounder D'Ante Smith. Both are moving from OT to OG but Smith was seen as a project due to his lower weight. Early returns are Carman could be a bust. 

Breakdown of depth chart:

• QB-Burrow and Brandon Allen. Burrow seems to be physically healthy but isn't quite back to where he was before his injury. It may take some time for him to get back to being sharp
• RB-Mixon then Samaje Perrine. Chris Evans wasn't able to take the #2 spot despite have a very strong camp as a receiver. The #2 spot will continue to be something to watch alongside the potential for Mixon to have a career year.
• WR-Higgins, Boyd, Chase are of course the starters. The only notes from this group are Higgins seems to have had a huge physical transofrmation in the offseason and could be a legit #1, he was one of the youngest players in the NFL last year. Chase also may take some time to come along but he will be a pretty good #3 this year.
• TE-Uzomah starting over Sample is interesting. 
• OL(predicted)-LT/C/RT are the same as expected with Riley Reiff, Jonah Williams, and Trey Hopkins. Only surprise here is Hopkins is somehow fully healthy. Should be a solid 3. 
• Guards-This is where the controversy is. Quinton Spain and MJ are the starters, D'ante Smith is in the 2 deep and Jackson Carman is 3rd string. Carman was seen as a reach and to not even be in the 2-deep as a guard is scary. 

Defense is chalk with Hubbard-Reader-Ogunjobi-Hendrickson on the line, Wilson-Pratt at LB, Waynes-Awuze-Hilton at corner, Bell-Bates at S and Ossai in the 2 deep. 

At kicker Austin McPherson isnt going to be a repeat of the last kicker drafted, he is starting and has been incredible so far. Early reports are he is going to be close to the top of the league at his position. 

PFN network also released their initial 2022 draft simulation. The Bengals are picking 5th based on vegas odds and if Burrow continues to take time to return from his injury, Chase struggles after sitting out a year, and the OL remains terrible this is quite possible. Here is a draft simulation(Needs RT/IOL/DT/CB):

1st-Derrick Stingley CB LSU-Getting the top corner will set up the Bengals to have nearly the best secondary in the league with Stingley-Bates-Bell-Hilton-Waynes. This is lower on the term of needs but having an elite corner is always nice. Stingley is about as good as it gets for corner prospects and the LSU train keeps rolling along. 
2nd-Tyler Linderbaum IOL Iowa-All American last year and preseason All American this year. In a position to be the best interior lineman in the country and could fill right in for one of the starting spots with Carman potentially being a miss.
3rd-Haskell Garrett DT OSU-The Bengals have nothing at 3Tech and grabbing a high floor player like Garrett would be fantastic in the 3rd round. He isn't going to be incredible at anything in the NFL but wont be bad at anything either. Will come in as an NFL ready body and should be an average to above average starter.