After losing the Super Bowl in 2021 largely due to poor offensive line play, the Cincinnati Bengals set their sights on veteran offensive linemen with a history of winning. That same offseason, they signed Alex Cappa away from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers as soon as free agency opened. Cappa won a Super Bowl in Tampa during the Tom Brady era.
A few hours later, the team signed Ted Karras, who had also won Super Bowls with Brady in New England. Karras played guard and center in his career, but the Bengals brought him in specifically to anchor the middle of their offensive line.
After a few viral clips and the wildly successful Cincy Hat project, Karras quickly became a fan favorite in Cincinnati. Not only has he been a hit with the fans, he has been at the top of his game and been a constant in an ever-changing Bengals offensive line.
CBS Sports recently ranked interior offensive lineman ahead of the 2024 season. The list breaks down the top centers and guards in the league separately.
Karras ranked inside the Top 5, which is a great sign for the Bengals, as he just extended his contract and will be in stripes for at least two more years.
“One of the bright spots on the Bengals’ ever-shifting offensive line, Karras has allowed a 2.6% pressure rate in his two years in Cincinnati. His six sacks allowed don’t tell the whole story, as Karras allowed 20 pressures and a 2.9% pressure rate allowed per dropback in 2023.
With Joe Burrow healthy, those numbers should improve for Karras. He’s been a very good center for several organizations and systems in his career.”
Karras isn’t showing any signs of slowing down. His presence in the middle should help lead arguably the best offensive line Joe Burrow has had in his entire professional career.