Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl 56 roster

The Cincinnati Bengals made it to Super Bowl 56 by building a roster around strong draft picks and savvy free agent signings.

The Cincinnati Bengals went from the worst record in the NFL to the Super Bowl in the span of two seasons.

Now, the team that struggled to string to together two wins in 2019 is one victory away from notching the ultimate win.

How did they do it? By hitting all the right notes in their personnel decisions.

The Cincinnati Bengals Super Bowl 56 roster was built quickly

The complete Bengals roster for the Super Bowl can be found here.

It’s fitting that the numerical roster begins with Ja’Marr Chase, because the rookie receiver is proof of how getting first round draft picks right can make all the difference.

Of course, pairing Chase with his college quarterback Joe Burow meant recreating a match made in heaven.

Burrow commanded the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and he’s been worth the struggle it took to land in that position. He’s taken the same cool that helped him win a national title at LSU and used to it put Cincinnati on the verge of a Super Bowl.

The Bengals roster is littered with important additions who haven’t been around very long. Second-leading receiver Tee Higgins was also a 2020 draft pick. Safety Jessie Bates was a 2018 pick. Kicker Evan McPherson was drafted in 2021. Offensive linemen Jonah Williams and Hakeem Adeniji were added in 2019 and 2020

Free agency has shaped the lineup as well. In recent years, Cincinnati picked up Eli Apple, Chidobe Awuzie and Mike Hilton at cornerback and Von Bell at safety. Defensive lineman Trey Henrickson arrived from New Orleans.

Trades played a role too. That’s how defensive tackle B.J. Hill entered the picture.

When you make the right personnel decisions, good things follow. The Bengals are proof of that.