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Bengals Roster Breakdown: Jackson Carman's availability might become his saving grace

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By John Sheeran | Last updated Aug 16, 2024 3:06 PM ET

Throughout the summer leading up to the regular season, we will go through the entire 2024 Cincinnati Bengals roster. Every single day until the season opener against the New England Patriots, we will break down a player on the roster including his background, contract status, and path towards making the team.

Today, we get real about Jackson Carman. One of the Bengals' most questionable draft picks in recent memory is fighting just to stay on the roster for one final season. His most recent preseason performance was ugly to witness, but with injuries piling up at his position, does he have a path to stick around?

Jackson Carman

Age: 24
Year: 4th
Position: Offensive tackle
College: Clemson
Previous Teams: None
Jersey Number: 79

Carman was drafted by the Bengals with the 46th overall pick in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. He spent three years at Clemson and played every single season including 13 appearances off the bench as a true freshman in 2018 when the Tigers won the National Championship. He emerged as the starting left tackle in 2019, playing the entire 15-game slate and earning Third Team All-ACC honors. He took a step forward in the shortened COVID-19 season of 2020, starting all 12 games and being named Second Team All-ACC.

Despite his starting experience at a major program, there were serious questions about Carman's NFL prospects long before he was drafted. Experts didn't think he'd be drafted until the third round at the earliest. The Bengals had their eyes locked in on him after trading back 10 spots in the second round. The original plan was to develop him at right guard, a position Carman never played before, and fill the last remaining hole on the 2021 offensive line. He failed to win the starting gig, but was thrusted into the role for six weeks in the middle of the season due to injuries. He eventually found the bench and came on during emergency situations to close out the year. He started the final regular season game as the team rested its starters.

Losing playing time to the likes of Xavier Su'a-Filo and Hakeem Adeniji does not bode well for any second-round draft pick, but Carman's struggles weren't over entering his second season. He battled fourth-round pick Cordell Voslon for the left guard job in 2022, and the rookie beat him out weeks before the regular season began. He didn't see the field on offense until the regular season finale. When the playoffs arrived, he filled in at left tackle after Jonah Williams suffered an injury during the Wild Card round. Carman started the next two games, including the Divisional Round in which he arguably had his best career game. The Bengals' offense rolled in the snow against the Buffalo Bills as Carman fit that week's game plan well. The dream was short-lived as next week's loss to the Kansas City Chiefs revealed the weaknesses of an embattled o-line.

By the time 2023 came around, Carman had experience at three different spots on the line and wasn't trusted to start at any of them. He made the team as a reserve, but once again failed to get on the field until the very end of the season.

Contract details

Carman is entering the last year of his four-year, $7,449,960 rookie contract. He will earn a base salary of $1,675,904 for the 2024 season.

When adding on the $2,778,152 signing bonus that has been prorated throughout the entirety of his deal, Carman's cap hit for the season will be $2,370,442. The Bengals would save the equivalent of his base salary in cap space if he were to be cut.

Roster chances

In terms of cap spending, Carman is the most costly player on the Bengals' roster who isn't guaranteed a spot on the initial 53. That's the reality when you're on track to being a total bust of a second-round selection.

One would think Carman could last as a quality backup left tackle. He was a five-star recruit and Power 5 starter at the position, after all. But even that task appears too much for him. He stuck up the field last Saturday in the preseason opener with four penalties thanks to sloppy play.

At a certain point, you have to question if he even wants to be here. The tape suggests his head's not in it anymore. Losing multiple starting battles in three years may have that effect.

Carman's saving grace ultimately has nothing to do with what he's done. Injuries at the tackle position are piling up for Cincinnati. If Trent Brown, Amarius Mims, and D'Ante Smith aren't fully healthy for the start of the regular season, the team may feel compelled to hold onto a healthy and available Carman for longer than they should.

It's for this reason that Carman actually has a chance of playing out the last year of his deal.

Chances of making the roster: 40%