There’s still work to be done.
The NFL Draft is over, and the Cincinnati Bengals have added two offensive linemen, two linebackers, a running back, and an edge rusher to their roster. However, one position they didn’t address in the draft or in free agency so far is safety.
The position has been a mess since the team lost Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell 1.0 after the 2022 season. They were replaced by Dax Hill and Nick Scott, and that combo didn’t work out at all. On the bright side, Jordan Battle emerged, but Hill was moved to the corner, and Scott was cut.
Then the Bengals brought in Geno Stone and Vonn Bell 2.0 (a downgraded version from 1.0), and they were a little better but still not good. Stone got his legs under him late in the season, and Battle got on the field more often. Still, the Bengals’ inability to stop opposing quarterbacks from throwing the ball down the field directly led to the team’s elimination from the playoffs.
Having said all that, the Bengals would have some options, including a couple that make sense, in free agency if they were so inclined.
Justin Simmons
This is the one that makes the most sense for the Bengals. He’s 31, and he’s coming off a down year, but he’s just one season removed from an All-Pro (second-team) year in 2023. He was on “Up & Adams” before the draft and discussed some teams he’d like to sign with, and one of them was the Bengals.
The former second-round pick out of Boston College in 2016 stayed with the Broncos through the 2023 season and then signed a one-year deal with the Falcons, where he started alongside Bates.
If he’s looking to add a Super Bowl ring to his trophy case, he could find a lot of teams with worse chances.
Marcus Williams
Williams was selected by the Saints in the second round of the 2017 draft out of Utah and immediately took over as the team’s starting free safety. He remained in New Orleans through the 2021 season and then proceeded to sign with the Ravens on a five-year, $70 million deal.
He played well, though he played injured in 2023, over his first two seasons with the Ravens, but he regressed in 2024 and was benched multiple times. He was a healthy scratch over the last few weeks of the Ravens’ season and then he was released.
He’s likely looking for a one-year, prove-it deal that wouldn’t cost the Bengals too much.
Jordan Whitehead
Whitehead was selected by the Bucs in the fourth round in 2018. He quickly worked his way into a starting role and continued to develop in Tampa Bay’s defense. He forced two fumbles in Super Bowl LV, helping the Bucs bring another Lombardi back to Tampa.
He signed with the Jets before the 2022 season and spent the next two seasons in New York before he returned to the Buccaneers for the 2024 season. He was involved in a serious car crash in January of this year and missed the team’s season finale against the Saints. The Bucs declined his option, sending him to free agency.
If healthy, he could help the secondary and likely wouldn’t be too expensive.
Julian Blackmon
Blackmon came into the NFL with an ACL injury in 2020 but got up to speed and earned a starting role with the Colts. Despite some injuries in the 2021 and 2022 seasons, he flashed playmaking ability, picking off multiple passes and scored a defensive touchdown.
He started every game at free safety for the Colts in 2023 and signed a one-year deal to stay in Indianapolis for the 2024 season. He started every game last season as well and picked off three more passes before hitting free agency.
He could, like Whitehead, join the Bengals and add another veteran to the room, even if he doesn’t earn a starting job.
Jordan Poyer
This one’s a bit of a reach.
Poyer came into the NFL in 2013 as a seventh-round pick out of Oregon State by the Eagles, but he was released halfway through his rookie season. He signed with the Browns and became a full-time starter in Cleveland’s secondary.
Poyer signed with the Bills in 2017 and became one-half of one of the league’s best safety duos along with Micah Hyde. He earned All-Pro honors in 2021 and was elected to the Pro Bowl in 2022. He signed a one-year deal with the Dolphins in March of 2024 and started 16 games for Miami.
He’s slowed down a bit, but he could join as a veteran leader in hopes of going on a deep playoff run.
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There are several safeties still available, but only a couple would represent a real upgrade over who the Bengals have on the roster right now. Everyone else would just be an extra guy in the room, but they could represent more quality depth in the defensive backfield.
Who do you like or dislike?
