With the offseason arriving for the Cincinnati Bengals, we’re taking a quick look at five free agents the team should be working to re-sign ASAP.
1. RG Dalton Risner
This is the best offensive line the Bengals have had in at least a decade. Even if you go back to the Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler days, they frequently had problems at left tackle and center. With the addition of Dylan Fairchild and Risner at guard, this unit had a solid starting five.
Risner’s strength is pass protection, which is perfect for Cincinnati. He is on the record saying that he loves it and wants to be here. Risner has had trouble finding a permanent home in the NFL, but this looks like a perfect fit for both Risner and the Bengals.
Get it done.
2. CB Jalen Davis
When the Bengals called up Jalen Davis, it stabilized the defense, allowing Dax Hill to move permanently outside.
Beyond that, Davis played very well. He was one of the best players on the defense over the last several weeks of the season.
When you luck out and find an unheralded veteran who can get the job done, you can’t let them out of the building. Davis wants to be here and should be cheap to extend.
Extending Davis puts you in a very good position at cornerback, where all you really need to add is depth at outside cornerback.
Davis has done enough to prove that he should be a part of the defensive turnaround in Cincinnati.
3. DE Joseph Ossai
The defense saw a definite drop-off when Ossai got hurt at the end of the season.
In spite of his injury history, Ossai has had 5 sacks in each of the last two seasons and is only 25 years old. That is hard to find on the open market, and expensive too.
I don’t care who his agent is. The Bengals need to be able to negotiate with anyone, and an agent who can’t work with every team does not have their client’s best interests in mind.
Give him 3 years with two years of guaranteed money.
The team can let him play out that contract, and he can still have a chance at the open market again when he is still only 28.
4. QB Joe Flacco
Ideally, you don’t need your backup quarterback to play, but they are another set of eyes in the room.
Flacco has seen a lot of football and played in a lot of big games, most of which were in the AFC North.
The Bengals’ offense looked very good when Joe Burrow came back, and they were running more of a Flacco, under-center offense.
He can be a great resource for Burrow in the meeting room and on the sidelines.
If he doesn’t have the ambition of being a seat-holder for another team’s future QB1, then staying in Cincinnati and chasing another ring makes sense.
5. S Tycen Anderson
While the Bengals have been reluctant to give Tycen Anderson a chance on defense, even with the state of play at free safety, he has been exceptional on special teams.
It makes sense to bring Anderson back for defensive depth and as a core special-teamer.
See More:
