“I was one-on-one more often last year than any other tackle in the NFL,” Brown said in an interview. “When you break that down and look at other tackles with a similar number of games in one-on-one pass protection, you’d see the reality: the system I play in makes my mistakes more noticeable.” Brown emphasized that Cincinnati’s scheme put him in a more vulnerable position by handling a high volume of passing snaps without help. “There isn’t a guy in the NFL who’s been in a more vulnerable position than myself at the left tackle,” he stated. “I’m not really worried about ‘regression.’ I’m only getting better.”
The numbers surrounding Brown’s 2025 season are not favorable, which makes it easy to dispute his case. Nevertheless, his central argument warrants consideration: a tackle asked to survive on an island repeatedly will accumulate more opportunities for negative plays, and those plays can be memorable.
Protection and performance have been a focal point for the Bengals. Pro Football Focus assigned Brown a 60.3 overall grade in 2025, ranking 66th among 89 qualifying tackles. His 62.0 pass-blocking grade ranked 64th, with 46 pressures, nine sacks, and 10 quarterback hits attributed to him. While these statistics invite scrutiny, they don’t tell the full story of the protection plan and context.
No NFL tackle logged more pass-blocking snaps or more one-on-one pass-blocking snaps than Brown last season, according to Bengals coverage. He played 733 pass-blocking snaps, the most among tackles tracked by PFF. There is some positive context: Brown reportedly improved as the season progressed. Through the first 10 games, he allowed seven sacks, but over the final seven games, he allowed two sacks and five hits. Brown described the last five games as some of the best football he has played since joining the Bengals.
The team’s commitment to Brown continued with a contract extension. He negotiated a two-year, $32 million extension, keeping him under contract through 2028.
Despite Brown’s defense of his performance, there remains a broader question about the Bengals’ offensive line. Analysts have pointed to overall line performance as an area needing improvement. One ranking placed Cincinnati’s offensive line No. 28 entering 2026, and ESPN’s metrics showed the unit finishing No. 28 in pass-block win rate last season. The group allowed a high number of pressures, including pressures without the benefit of a blitz, suggesting that the line’s efficiency could be improved with continuity and a stronger finish to the previous season.
Cincinnati’s line is notable for returning all five starters, including right tackle Amarius Mims and center Ted Karras. Even quarterback Joe Burrow has expressed optimism about the cohesion and strength of the line, calling it the best unit he has had with the Bengals.
Amid the praise for protection, Brown remains the focal point of attention due to his substantial contract and his responsibility for protecting Burrow’s blind side. A single negative rep can overshadow multiple positive ones, underscoring the pressure on Brown to deliver consistently.
If the Bengals want to maximize their offensive potential in 2026, reducing the frequency of extended one-on-one pass protection for Brown could be a key step. If the team can maintain solid protection with fewer isolated pressures, Brown’s impact should align with the high standards set by his contract and the franchise’s aspirations for a productive, durable offense.
Bottom line: Brown argues that the difficulty of his role explains some of the perception of regression. The Bengals’ challenge remains to bolster the protection scheme so that Brown can continue to grow while the offense as a whole becomes more efficient. With all five linemen returning and a presumable emphasis on a stronger finish, the path to a cohesive and productive offensive line appears clear, and Brown’s development will be a central piece of that effort.
