Grading the Cincinnati Bengals Off-Season So Far

The Cincinnati Bengals have no doubt lost the past two seasons in free agency, but this year has been different and today we will take a look at how it has been different.

Biggest additions

Russell Bodine is gone – We will call this addition by subtraction, as Bodine was the worst center in the NFL and somehow the Buffalo Bills went out and took him off the Bengals’ hands. Maybe they were just thanking the Bengals for getting them to the playoffs last year. The one thing I can be sure of is that if Bodine is the starting center for the Bills in the upcoming season, the Bills will not make the playoffs in 2018.

Paul Alexander is gone – Once again addition by subtraction. Alexander has been given multiple offensive linemen to develop in his tenure with the Bengals and in the last decade, he has failed miserably.

Preston Brown, LB, Bills – Brown is a local guy who had been a tackle accumulating machine for the Buffalo Bills and the Bengals, outside of Vontaze Burfict, have been weak at linebacker. Brown and Burfict together should be a deadly combination for the Bengals.

Cordy Glenn, OT, Buffalo Bills – Glenn was hurt last season, but when he is healthy he has proven to be an above-average tackle in the NFL. Let’s face it, he has to be better than Cedric Ogbuehi, who has been a complete bust for the Bengals.

Chris Baker, DT – Baker is a run-stuffing tackle who will come out in passing situations.

Re-signed Kevin Huber, Punter – I am okay with this as Huber is an above-average punter.

A.J. McCarron is gone – Once again addition by subtraction. A.J. was 2-3 in his 5 games as a starter at the end of the 2015 season, including a playoff loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers where the Bengals were shutout for the first three-quarters of the game. McCarron will never prove to be anything other than an average backup quarterback.

Jeremy Hill, RB – Hill had some great seasons in Cincinnati but every time I see him I think about that fumble!

Tyler Eifert re-signed – Eifert is a great talent who is always hurt. I like the signing because not much is at risk for the Bengals with just a one year contract that is incentive laden.

Overall

The Bengals did more than normal in free agency and it seems they let the right guys walk this off-season. I would have liked to have seen a wide receiver added but hopefully, that means that they plan on utilizing Jon Ross. Overall I think they are a good draft from becoming a contender again in the 2018 season. Since I am a Bengals fan though I will not hold my breath for that.

Overall grade-B