One of the more unexpected losses for the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency was running back Samaje Perine.
Perine seemed like a shoo-in to return to the Bengals when looking at the projected cost and what could be an expanding role next season, depending on the unknown status of Joe Mixon.
And it sounds like the team felt the same way.
During an episode of “Hear That Podcast Growlin'” The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. outlined how the team viewed the situation.
“Now Samaje Perine, they made an aggressive play for and I think they were surprised that he opted to go to Denver,” Dehner said. “I think they felt like that was one they were going to get done. They were willing to go just about anywhere within reason.”
Compared to Hayden Hurst and Vonn Bell, the Bengals were comfortably willing to strike within Perine’s price range, to the point it sounds like the veteran’s desire for a change of scenery or the smallest contract details swung things when he signed with the Denver Broncos.
It’s a notable loss for the Bengals and a clear sign that if Mixon is gone, they will seek a similar veteran and likely attack the position pretty aggressively during the draft.
