Yes, we know that this is taking a while!
As many of you know, we at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the top 50 of each major North American sports team. That being said, we have existing Top 50 lists and consistently look to update them when necessary and based on necessity. As such, we are delighted to present our post-2023 revision of our top 50 Cincinnati Bengals.
As for all of our top 50 players in football, we look at the following:
1. Advanced Statistics.
2. Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National Football League.
3. Playoff accomplishments.
4. Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles that are not reflected in a stat sheet.
Last year, the Bengals were unable to make the playoffs, though did have a winning record (9-8). 2023 still saw four new names enter the Top 50 with two elevations.
As always, we present our top five, which saw no changes:
1. Anthony Munoz
2. Ken Anderson
3. Geno Atkins
4. Ken Riley
5. Boomer Esiason
You can find the entire list here.
Running Back Joe Mixon, now with the Houston Texans, moved up from #35 to #30.
Quarterback Joe Burrow advanced to #36 from #48.
The four new entries are:
Wide Receiver Tyler Boyd, now a Tennessee Titan, enters at #43.
Linebacker Germaine Pratt debuts at #44.
Three-time Pro Bowler (in only three years) Wide Receiver Ja’Marr Chase comes in at #49.
The last entry is defensive end Trey Hendrickson, another three-time Pro Bowler (again, in only three seasons).
Offensive Lineman Rich Braham, Wide Receiver Darnay Scott, Defensive End Michael Johnson, and Defensive Tackle Mike Reid fell off the Top 50.
We thank you for your continued support of our lists on Notinhalloffame.com.
Drafted 55th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft from Pittsburgh, Tyler Boyd joined Cincinnati with a reputation as a polished and highly dependable route runner. Over eight seasons in Southern Ohio, Boyd developed into the team's go-to slot receiver, becoming one of the franchise's most reliable third-down converters.
Boyd's initial years demanded patience, as he accumulated 76 receptions over his first two seasons behind A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell. His defining moment came at the end of his sophomore year in 2017: on 4th-and-12 against the Baltimore Ravens, Boyd caught a 49-yard touchdown pass with 44 seconds left, securing the victory and leaving Cincinnati's locker room in shock.
That clutch play acted as a catalyst for a complete breakout. Gradually, Boyd became a key part of the offense, achieving consecutive 1,000-yard seasons. In 2018, he had 76 receptions for 1,028 yards and seven touchdowns, then in 2019, he improved to a career-high 90 catches for 1,046 yards and five touchdowns.
As the Bengals restructured their core around Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, Boyd gladly took on a specialized role as the leading slot receiver in a potent receiving group. He stayed an essential intermediate target in Cincinnati's 2021 AFC Championship journey, grabbing 67 passes for 828 yards and five touchdowns, contributing to the team's advancement to Super Bowl LVI.
Following the 2023 season, Boyd departed Cincinnati in free agency to join the Tennessee Titans, concluding an eight-year tenure built on steady hands and selfless execution. As a Bengal, Boyd played in 120 regular-season games (77 starts) and seven playoff contests. He compiled exactly 513 receptions, 6,000 receiving yards, and 31 receiving touchdowns.