The Bengals will retain nine offensive starters from the 2015 season in 2016, and a couple of young players will aspire to fill the voids left from Cincinnati's offseason losses. We're taking an early look at who the projected starters are, starting with the offense.
This one's obvious. Though AJ McCarron admirably filled in for Dalton after the starter fractured his thumb late in the 2015 season, Dalton is the clear starter. Dalton was in the MVP conversation before sustaining the injury, and for good reason. Last season, he ranked second in the NFL in passer rating.