Cincinnati Bengals’ Remaining Options as Free Agency Heads Into Week 3

CINCINNATI – As the second week of free agency comes to a close, the Cincinnati Bengals still have cap space to spend and holes to fill.

According to a report from ESPN’s Turron Davenport, Cincinnati made a one-year contract offer to cornerback Kristian Fulton, who was Ja’Marr Chase and Joe Burrow’s teammate on the 2019 LSU national championship team and one of Chase’s best friends since childhood.

The Bengals were one of four teams to make an offer to Fulton, who signed with the Los Angeles Chargers.

Bengals Still Have Cap Space To Spend in Free Agency

No position has as much remaining talent available as cornerback. The list includes four players with a combined 18 Pro Bowls and six All-Pro honors in Xavien Howard, J.C. Jackson, Stephon Gilmore, and Patrick Peterson.

Gilmore and Peterson are both 33 and likely not an option, while Howard wouldn’t seem to be a fit in terms of salary. However, Howard is quoted as saying, “I’d rather take a pay cut to go to a team that’s going to go further in the playoffs,” in a story on NFL.com.

Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton retweeted a link to that story and told Howard to come to Cincinnati.

@Iamxavienhoward come on to Cincy!! Perfect spot for ya 🤷🏾‍♂️ https://t.co/nZTXyugNyC

— Mike Hilton (@MikeHilton_28) March 22, 2024

Still, even Howard’s idea of a pay cut isn’t likely to jibe with what the Bengals are looking to spend.

A more realistic target could be 2019 first-round pick Rock Ya-Sin, whom PFN’s Dallas Robinson paired with Cincinnati in his list of remaining moves each team should make.

Inexpensive depth options also are available at running back and wide receiver.

In the Zac Taylor era, the Bengals have signed (or claimed on waivers) 11 players after the second week of free agency ended. Most of them were inexpensive flyers on guys they thought could provide depth or, as was the case last year, be a starter in Week 1.

While Cincinnati has been active after the first two weeks of free agency, the list doesn’t inspire great confidence.

2023

• March 27 – Cornerback Sidney Jones IV: He spent most of the season on the practice squad, appearing in just three games.
• March 30 – Tight end Irv Smith Jr.: A drop on the first third down of the season and a fumble near the goal line in San Francisco were the most memorable plays of Smith’s one season in Cincinnati.
• April 5 – Defensive end Tarell Basham: He arrived with 18 career starts and 11 sacks to his credit, but an injury early in camp derailed any chance he had of earning a spot on the 53.

2022

April 5 – Tight end Nick Eubanks: The Bengals cut him at the end of training camp.

2021

• March 28 – Safety Ricardo Allen: He appeared in 14 games with one start and played in all four postseason games.
• April 11 – Tight end Thad Moss (waivers): Moss spent time on the practice squad but never appeared in a game.
• May 25 – Linebacker Joe Bachie (waivers): A key special-teams performer since he arrived, Bachie has played in 35 games for the Bengals. He currently is a free agent.
• May 26 – Safety Kavon Frazier: The Bengals released Frazier two weeks before the end of training camp.

2020

• March 30 – Cornerback LeShaun Sims: He played in 13 games with 10 starts in 2020, but he struggled in all of them.
• April 16 – Running back Jacques Patrick: The star of Joe Burrow’s first intra-squad scrimmage, Patrick appeared in a game for the Bengals. He’s also the answer to the trivia question, “Who was the last player the Bengals signed before drafting Burrow?”
• March 26 – Defensive end Kerry Wynn: Lou Anarumo’s connection with Wynn from their time with the New York Giants led to a reunion in Cincinnati, but he only played in two games with three tackles.

KEEP READING: Who Could Be Some Early Round CB Targets for Cincinnati?

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