The Cincinnati Bengals have an opening at guard after Lucas Patrick’s recent injury, and that could lead them to target Will Hernandez.
According to USA Today Bengals writer Chris Roling, Cincinnati would be wise to sign the free agent offensive lineman who was recently cleared after missing all but five games in 2024 due to a catastrophic knee injury.
Who Is Will Hernandez?
Hernandez, the 34th overall pick of the New York Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft, has played 97 games in his seven-season NFL career with the Giants and Arizona Cardinals.
He has solely been a guard since joining the NFL out of UTEP, and he played all 280 snaps with the Cardinals last season at right guard, which is something of a black hole for the Bengals right now.
But aside from being just a warm body, the 6-3, 332-pound guard is very good at his position, especially while pass blocking. He earned a 69.3 grade from Pro Football Focus, which was good for 33rd out of 136 qualifying guards last year and was ranked 22nd in pass blocking with a grade of 74.2.
He is no slouch at run blocking though, since he was 50th-ranked among guards, with a 66.0 grade by PFF.
Why Should The Bengals Sign Will Hernandez?
The Bengals finished tied for 11th-most in sacks allowed, so protecting Joe Burrow’s face on middle rushes is integral. Yet, with Hernandez as highly skilled at pass blocking at he is, that would be a huge boon for Burrow and the Bengals.
Cincinnati did sign guard Lucas Patrick to a one-year, $2.1 million contract, but he recently sustained an apparent leg injury in training camp, which could open the door for the Bengals to add an offensive lineman.
“The Bengals just so happen to have a need at guard after underwhelming at the position this offseason,” Roling wrote. “That came before free-agent signee Lucas Patrick suffered an injury in training camp that will keep him out for an unknown period of time.”
With Patrick out, the Bengals offensive line is somewhat in flux too, since tackle Cody Ford — Cincinnati’s primary left tackle the past two seasons — is filling in at right guard. Hernandez would have the highest PFF rating of any Bengals offensive lineman if they signed him.
Plus, the Bengals have a history of financial stinginess, yet they have broken that pattern with their contract for All-Pro wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase and their willingness to try out free agent Noah Fant recently.
“The Bengals have seemed content with the addition of Patrick, alongside rookie Dylan Fairchild, to compete with returning names like Cordell Volson and Cody Ford,” Roling wrote. “But at the same time, they also showed some rather unexpected aggressiveness in going after free-agent tight end Noah Fant as soon as he became available.”
Upgrading around the margins is how good teams become great, especially one that has cap space and is in win-now mode.
“If nothing else, the 29-year-old Hernandez is someone to keep in mind as an option, especially if Patrick is out for a while,” Roling wrote.
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