Orlando Brown Jr. backs Bengals’ pass protection, saying unit is “as good as it gets”

Cincinnati Bengals left tackle Orlando Brown Jr. believes the team’s pass protection has reached a level that can stand up to the NFL’s most aggressive pass rushers. Speaking during an appearance on the Locked on Bengals podcast, Brown said he feels the Bengals have the best pass protection unit in the league, framing the offensive line as a difference-maker as the team tries to reassert itself on both sides of the ball.

The Bengals’ offseason has been shaped largely by defensive upgrades, but the path back to postseason relevance depends on more than stopping opponents. In the team’s current title picture, protecting quarterback Joe Burrow is an immediate need, and Brown positioned the offensive line as the group responsible for giving Burrow enough time and clean lanes to operate in the passing game.

Brown’s comments also reflect internal continuity. He described himself as one of five returning starters on the Bengals’ offensive line, suggesting a core of players will enter the next phase of the season with shared experience and recent live-game habits. That continuity matters in pass protection, where timing, slide decisions, and recognition of blitz looks are built through repetition.

To Brown, the standard is not simply “good enough” protection. He characterized the Bengals’ unit as “as good as it gets” for slowing down opposing pass rushers. While that is a player’s assessment and not a league-wide measurement, it indicates confidence in how Cincinnati’s frontline protection schemes are coming together and how the group expects to communicate under pressure.

The Bengals’ recent postseason gap adds urgency to the offense’s performance. Cincinnati has not reached the playoffs since 2022, and returning would require the team to win games even when defensive improvements alone do not solve every opponent’s matchup. If the Bengals’ offensive line can consistently limit breakdowns in pass protection, it gives the entire offense a steadier baseline, particularly for a quarterback whose effectiveness relies on the ability to navigate pressure.

At the same time, offseason praise is only the opening chapter. Whether Cincinnati can translate its protection plans into game-day results will be tested by pass-rush quality, coverage disguise, and the randomness of in-game adjustments. The Bengals’ ability to keep Burrow upright will be watched closely not just in highlight moments, but in the full sequence of plays that decide field position, third-down efficiency, and scoring drives.