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One would think alongside the praise for free-agency aggressiveness would come a rise in the power rankings for the Cincinnati Bengals.
But not yet.
In ESPN’s latest set of power rankings, described as “where each team stands after free agency,” the Bengals still slot 32nd with the following blurb:
“Three words: Shifting spending patterns. Cincinnati’s conservative approach to free agency went out of the window this year after the Bengals spent more than $112 million on three players — defensive tackle D.J. Reader, cornerbacker Trae Waynes and wide receiver A.J. Green. The aggressiveness is needed for a franchise in the middle of a rebuild. It also prepares for the arrival of quarterback Joe Burrow, the projected No. 1 overall pick in the upcoming draft. The spending spree is imperative for a roster that needs a slew of upgrades. — Ben Baby”
The blurb is spot on but the ranking is…interesting.
In a little over two weeks, Cincinnati managed to retain A.J. Green and add the mentioned D.J. Reader and Trae Waynes. They also got a steal in corner Mackensie Alexander, upgraded at linebacker with Josh Bynes and upgraded at safety with Vonn Bell.
Factor in Joe Burrow, a potentially returning Jonah Williams to play left tackle and the rest of the draft class too.
It creates an interesting debate. Should the Bengals be behind the rebuilding Redskins? Or the tanking Jaguars? Or oddly-spending Giants? Or the just-lost-a-former-MVP-while-rebuilding Panthers?
Maybe not — but offseason moves aren’t marks in the win column and only the win column will force those in charge of power rankings to move the team up the board.
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