Two potential Bengals targets likely won’t be hitting NFL free agency.
While the Cincinnati Bengals may have a dynamic offense, they have arguably the worst pair of starting guards in the entire NFL. It just so happens that one of the best in the NFL — Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl guard Trey Smith — was set to hit free agency this offseason…until he wasn’t.
According to Fox Sports reporter Jordan Schultz, the Chiefs are using the franchise tag on Smith. That ends any hope Bengals fans had of seeing Smith upgrade an offensive line that once again ranked near the bottom of the NFL in 2024.
Alas, that pipe dream is now a distant memory.
Elsewhere, the Bengals need some major help on the other side of the trenches, namely at defensive tackle. Dallas Cowboys standout Osa Odighizuwa was someone who’s been mentioned as a potential Bengals target, but he too appears to be coming off the market before free agency begins.
According to Mike Fisher of Cowboys Country, Dallas is close to hammering out a long-term deal for Odighizuwa that could average $21+ million annually.
With that, two players who were set to be at or near the top of the free agency rankings are now likely off the board.
