The Cincinnati Bengals enter one of the most important offseasons in franchise history with the task of keeping the contention window open as wide as possible.
Easier said than done when the team has some urgency to get Joe Burrow’s contract extension done and a massive list of important free agents.
Armed with roughly $35.7 million in cap space (before any potential moves that could free up more), the front office has to carefully navigate an impending free agents list that includes several starters and one of the best players in the league at his position.
Here’s a rundown of all the team’s free agents and predictions for how we see things playing out.
TE Mitchell Wilcox (ERFA)
Wilcox is exclusive rights, so there’s little chance he goes. Quality backup and on special teams, so a sensible investment.
Prediction: STAY
LB Clay Johnston (ERFA)
Same story for Johnston, who is critical depth at a position that could experience some turnover.
Prediction: STAY
LS Cal Adomitis (ERFA)
This is tricky. Clark Harris has said he wants to come back and not have his career end on an injury. But Adomitis now has a year of experience with the core group and is the long-term solution.
Prediction: STAY
RB Trayveon Williams
Quality running back depth isn’t hard to find these days and yet Williams stands out for consistency and work as a returner — especially when it’s clear the coaching staff doesn’t seem to trust youngster Chris Evans.
Prediction: STAY
LB Joe Bachie (RFA)
Bachie is quality depth and a presence on special teams, making for an easy decision on a restricted free agent.
Prediction: STAY
LB Germaine Pratt
Ideally, the Bengals would keep Pratt. But the market is probably going to put him outside of the range the team wants to pay, which makes sense — he’s a very quality player. He’s also spoken of wanting to play all three downs, which he isn’t going to get in Cincinnati. The defense will have to move forward with the likes of Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey if they don’t make further additions and use the cap space elsewhere.
Prediction: GO
CB Jalen Davis
Corner depth is scary thin right now, so Davis sticks to battle it out in training camp.
Prediction: STAY
WR Trent Taylor
Taylor has looked good when actually given the chance, which might lead to him seeking out more playing time elsewhere. With Trenton Irwin called up and playing so well, the Bengals can add to depth at the spot later.
Prediction: GO
S Michael Thomas
Thomas is criminally underrated as a presence on special teams and it’s near-impossible to imagine the team letting him get away.
Prediction: STAY
G Max Scharping
Scharping is a quality backup who got demolished by one of the best in the game, Chris Jones. He’s probably out simply because of the numbers game, though, as it seems likely the team will completely rebuild the depth behind the starters this offseason.
Prediction: GO
LS Clark Harris
Harris had said he doesn’t want his career to end on an injury, but there’s a chance he would consider retirement anyway. The Bengals might not want to re-shuffle the special teams again after Evan McPherson’s early struggles and needing to upgrade at punter as it is.
Prediction: GO
TE Drew Sample
Sample was a quality blocker but never matched the hype of a second-round pick. It’s safe to presume the team drafts at least one tight end and already has Wilcox for depth.
Prediction: GO
QB Brandon Allen
No need to change the backup situation unless a clear upgrade presents itself or Allen doesn’t want the role anymore.
Prediction: STAY
RB Samaje Perine
A no-brainer. Perine showed out when Joe Mixon couldn’t go and with the way the running back market is, he’ll probably get a low deal that he easily outperforms. Expect the team to draft a rookie who rotates with him, at the least.
Prediction: STAY
CB Tre Flowers
A superb tight-end stopper and chess piece for coaches, Flowers is another underrated guy like Michael Thomas that it’s hard to see coaches letting get away.
Prediction: STAY
TE Hayden Hurst
Is the market going to dramatically over-inflate tight end paydays again? If not, Hurst should stick. The idea this is a very strong draft class for tight ends might actually help the Bengals keep Hurst. It needs to be a short deal because he’s turning 30 this summer, but Hurst is a former first-rounder who brought a big threat and energy to the offense and he’s been adamant in his love for the team. Bringing him back and potentially drafting a mid-round long-term replacement might be the move.
Prediction: STAY
CB Eli Apple
Not everyone is going to love Apple’s jabs on social media and whatnot, but there’s no arguing he hasn’t been a key player for the Bengals since joining the team. His numbers have been fantastic despite effectively serving as the No. 1 corner at times. He’s said he wants to come back, too, and teammates sing his praises. So long as Apple’s willing to get paid like the No. 3 or No. 4 corner behind Chidobe Awuzie and Cam Taylor-Britt, not many teams have a third or fourth guy as good as he is and it would solve many concerns before the draft.
Prediction: STAY
S Vonn Bell
A no-brainer. Bell has been a big driver of the culture and super productive o the field. With the team likely losing Jessie Bates, it needs a veteran presence back there to help bring along guys like Taylor-Britt and first-round product Dax Hill.
Prediction: STAY
S Jessie Bates
In a perfect world, the Bengals can get Bates back. Fans remember some of the bad-looking plays, but he’s still one of the very best safeties in the game and a team can’t just up and replace the range he covers on the field — it’s nearly impossible. Losing him shifts the scheme in a bad way. He’s also been like Bell as a culture-driver and leader. Even so, the market will balloon his price to near-unreasonable levels because so-so teams with ample cap space will go wild. This is the sort of brutal decision a contender has to make and the hope has to be Dax Hill can step in and in time at least make up some of Bates’ absence. The front office probably can’t justify pouring so much cap into the secondary at the expense of other spots. Unless Bates takes a surprise discount, the ride ends here.
Prediction: GO
