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 discuss the youngest starter (at this moment) on the Bengals' offensive line. Cordell Volson is entering his third season in the NFL, and third season as Cincinnati's left guard. He's come a long way from the small town of Balfour, N.D., and he still has more to prove in the season ahead.
Cordell Volson
- Age: 26
- Year: 3rd
- Position: Left guard
- College: North Dakota State
- Previous Teams: None
- Jersey Number: 67
Volson drafted by the Bengals with the 136th overall pick in the fourth round of the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent six years (played five) in college at FCS powerhouse North Dakota State. Following a redshirt freshman season in 2016 and two years coming off the bench from 2017-18, Volson became the starting right tackle for the Bison in 2019 and earned HERO Sports Second Team All-American honors. He improved to First Team All-American in the shortened COVID-19 2020 season despite starting six games at right tackle, two at right guard, and two at left tackle. He was named Phil Steele's FCS Offensive Lineman of the Year for his efforts that year. Volson capped off his career in 2021 with 15 more starts back at right tackle, more First Team All-American honors, and became NDSU's all-time leader in games played with 65.
That's right, Volson didn't take a snap at left guard in college before being drafted by the Bengals. With the o-line needing a replacement for Quinton Spain following their run to Super Bowl LVI, Volson was thrusted into an offseason battle with 2021 second-round pick Jackson Carman, a battle that Volson took control over in training camp. By the end of the preseason, a rookie with hardly any experience against elite athletes had beaten a top-50 selection from a major college program.
Volson's rookie year was filled with ups and downs, but he never lost his spot from Week 1 all the way to the AFC Championship game. He was the only offensive player to play every snap of the entire season, which helped him earn a nice bonus from the NFL's performance-based pay system. Cincinnati felt comfortable with letting his development continued uninterrupted by competition in 2023, and Volson responded with a very similar year filled with equal parts promise and inadequacy against quality competition. His pass blocking efficiency rating from Pro Football Focus ranked 42nd out of 54 starters in 2022, and made a jump to 34th out of 54 in 2023.
The Bengals have gotten average guard play at best from Volson when looking at it from 30,000 foot view, but there's reason to believe he's on track to showing legitimate improvements as a third-year starter. When the offense made alterations with Jake Browning at quarterback to end the 2023 season, Volson's production became notably better as the increase in under center calls and play action made his job, and everyone’s around him, a lot easier. As that part of the playbook is being implemented more often with Joe Burrow under center again, Volson may be set up for his best season yet.
Contract details
Volson is in the third year of his four-year, $4,316,880 rookie contract. He will earn a base salary of $985,000 for the 2024 season.
When adding on the $656,880 signing bonus that's been prorated throughout the entirety of his deal, Volson's cap hit for the season will be $1,149,220.
Roster chances
As this series reaches the top end of the roster, this section doesn't need to be filled out too much. Volson is the undisputed starter at left guard like he was this time last year. The Bengals have invested two years in developing Volson at this spot, and their not drafting a guard for the second-straight year is all the proof needed to know he's locked in for another year.
If Volson does make the jump and reduces the subpar performances, the Bengals' o-line as a whole can become better equipped to protect Burrow for another playoff run. It would also set up for Volson to be an extension candidate next summer.
If he doesn't, he might have some competition to fend off in a contract year. The importance of 2024 for Volson cannot go understated.
Chances of making the roster: 100%
Previous player breakdowns
Related: Bengals Roster Breakdown: Jaxson Kirkland has more to prove as towering offensive lineman
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