Former Cincinnati Bengals safety Vonn Bell will be back on the open market after his impending release from the Carolina Panthers just one season after signing with the team.
And the Bengals should be more than interested in a reunion.
Yes, the Bengals added Geno Stone on the same day the Bell news went public.
But Stone is a rangy type of player who permits the Bengals to move around Dax Hill and still use Jordan Battle.
A conversation about a Bell return isn’t so much about him starting as it is the concerning state of safety depth on the roster. After all, the Bengals love three-safety sets, yet Nick Scott is a possible cut for cap savings now and Tycen Anderson hasn’t been able to stay healthy.
And more important than depth is the cultural factor. Coaches and players have said what was obvious to fans — Bell was a big factor in turning around the culture (heck, remember that hit on JuJu Smith-Schuster after the Steelers wideout danced on the logo?).
Bell, now 29, was unremarkable in Carolnia last year (who wouldn’t be?). But there’s a huge value in his already understanding Lou Anarumo’s scheme and being able to fix the communication issues that plagued the secondary last year while serving as a mentor to young guys. There’s a built-in advantage he has over any draft pick or veteran free-agent arrival — and the team needs to be in the safety market still because of that shaky depth.
Provided Bell is willing to play a rotational role, he’s got a lot to offer the Bengals and vice versa through a reunion. If the Bengals are smart, they’ll make it happen.
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