The Cincinnati Bengals are one of three preferred destinations for free agent running back Ezekiel Elliott.
Besides Cincinnati’s obvious status as contenders, there are a few specific personal connections that might have the Bengals sitting as finalists, regardless of whether the team has actually contacted Elliott at all.
For one, Elliott was right there alongside Joe Burrow and Sam Hubbard on the Ohio State Buckeyes. Burrow would go on to LSU and Hubbard would get drafted in the 2018 draft, but the connection is there.
Also noteworthy is current offensive line coach Frank Pollack served in the same capacity with the Dallas Cowboys during some of Elliott’s most productive years (2015-2017).
There are other connections on the current Cincinnati roster, but those are the most notable. Whether they swing things in Elliott’s favor and land him a deal is hard to say, but the connections are there.
For whatever else it’s worth, Elliott’s preferred number is vacant on the current Bengals roster and head coach Zac Taylor just commented on the whole situation.