Tag: Bengals free agency

Bengals signing Geno Stone tabbed ‘steal of free agent class’

One expert loves the Bengals signing Geno Stone.

The Cincinnati Bengals got one of the steals of free agency by signing Geno Stone away from the Baltimore Ravens.

So says ESPN, where Matt Miller graded the move as an “A+” while pointing out that a weak safety class could mean one doesn’t get drafted over the opening two rounds:

This is the steal of the free agent class so far. Stone will be tied for the 11th-highest-paid safety in the game. Stone, who was drafted in the seventh round of the 2020 draft, gets rewarded after four years of league minimum pay. The 24-year-old has eight career interceptions … but notched seven in 2023 alone, playing in new defensive coordinator Mike MacDonald’s scheme.

The Bengals desperately needed to find safety help after a disastrous year following the loss of Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates.

So arrives Stone, a rangy playmaker who can be on the field with Dax Hill and Jordan Battle. Or, he can play that deep Bates-styled role and Hill can move to the slot.

Plus, given the contract details we now know, it’s a savvy deal along the same lines as Chidobe Awuzie the front office has pulled off in recent years.

So good value at the right time, hitting a major need and taking from a divisional rival — it certainly feels like one of the better moves of free agency.

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Another former Bengals player joins the Panthers in free agency

Another Bengals player has joined the Panthers.

Yet another former Cincinnati Bengals player has landed with the Carolina Panthers.

One offseason removed from Hayden Hurst and Vonn Bell leaving the Bengals to sign with the Panthers, former safety Nick Scott has done the same.

Scott signed with the Bengals last year, coming over from the Los Angeles Rams as the team searched for help after the losses of Bell and Jessie Bates. But the secondary as a whole struggled and the Bengals cut Scott recently after encouraging play from rookie Jordan Battle.

Now Scott goes to Carolina, where he’ll reunite with Panthers defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

To complete the cycle, the Bengals got Bell back via free agency after his release from the Panthers, plus the Bengals picked up a compensatory draft pick due to his one season with the Panthers.

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Mike Hilton recruits major free agent name to Bengals

Mike Hilton does his part to help the Bengals in free agency.

Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Mike Hilton has acted as a recruit for big names in free agency in the past, though he hasn’t been seen doing it much this year.

Until now, that is.

Friday, Hilton popped up on social media and sent a recruiting message to free-agent cornerback Xavien Howard.

Howard, going on 31 years old, only played in 13 games last year while battling injuries and ultimately getting released by Miami. He’s a former All-Pro, though, and the type of possible prove-it deal the Bengals might like. He notably has a link to current defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo after their days with the Dolphins together.

Hilton’s pitch comes on the heels of earlier news that the Bengals submitted an offer to another free agent who chose to sign elsewhere as they seek depth options after Chidobe Awuzie’s departure.

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Bengals offered free agent Kristian Fulton contract before CB signed with Chargers

The Bengals were in on free agent CB Kristian Fulton.

It turns out the Cincinnati Bengals were in a free-agency race for a cornerback.

After news broke that the Los Angeles Chargers signed cornerback Kristian Fulton, ESPN’s Turron Davenport reported that the veteran turned down a contract offer from the Bengals.

The Bengals were one of several teams Fulton turned down while opting to sign with the Chargers.

Cincinnati’s interest speaks to the team’s desire to find more depth in the secondary before the draft after losing a veteran like Chidobe Awuzie to the open market.

With Fulton landing a one-year deal with the Chargers, it’s reasonable to expect the Bengals to offer veterans similar short-term deals before the draft.

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Tyler Boyd, Steelers don’t sound close to deal in free agency yet

An update on Tyler Boyd and the Steelers in free agency.

It would appear that things have cooled between former Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Tyler Boyd and the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Around the time free agency started, a report said there was serious interest for both parties in a free-agency link. No shock there — Boyd appears on his way out the door with the Bengals and is from the greater Pittsburgh area.

But fast forward to now, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly wrote the following: “Some people (not all) inside Steelers not 100% on board with signing Tyler Boyd. There is still time to work things and everything is still on the table but it doesn’t appear anywhere close to a sure thing like it appeared to be a week ago at this time.”

This isn’t all that shocking, either. It’s no secret the Bengals want to get faster and more versatile on offense, so Boyd is likely gone as he goes into his age-30 season.

There’s no rush for a team like the Steelers to get something done given just how slow the wideout market has moved — and that’s a direct result of how fantastic the draft’s wideout class looks, too.

Boyd will find a new home eventually, and the Steelers should still be considered favorites, but that doesn’t mean it has to happen soon.

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New details on Bengals wanting DJ Reader and Sheldon Rankins, interest in Arik Armstead

An insider details how the Bengals played the free agency market.

The Cincinnati Bengals would’ve liked to pair DJ Reader with new arrival Sheldon Rankins on the defensive line in 2024.

But as fans know, Reader went on to sign with the Detroit Lions in free agency, revealing that he was a little surprised with how things worked out with the Bengals.

Thanks to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com linking up with the likes of director of pro scouting Steven Radicevic and senior personnel executive Trey Brown, we now have a little more information about how the market developed and another player the team liked:

But then it got hard for Radicevic and Trey Brown as they focused on re-signing nose tackle DJ Reader. The frustration grew with the escalating deals for the defensive tackles. They were talking to players like Reader and the just-released Arik Armstead, among others. Others didn’t have passing grades or weren’t locker-room fits.

One of the other reported players that presumably didn’t fit for one reason or another was Teair Tart. With Armstead, Jacksonville giving him $51 million over three years probably pushed the Bengals out of their comfort zone.

If nothing else, the interest in other guys shows the front office still views the area as a massive need, properly thinking of the schematic hole they now have at the nose.

Comments from the organization back this up, too.

“It was a good market for D-Tackles. I think a lot of teams saw what was coming in the draft and felt the need to spend there,” Radicevic said, per Hobson. “We were hopeful to try and keep DJ. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out. I think Rankins is going to do a great job filling a different type of void.”

While many fans understandably focus on offensive tackle even after the addition of Trent Brown, the way the Bengals played the market and comments suggest that interior of the defensive line is right there as a priority as early as Round 1, too.

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Instant analysis after Bengals sign OT Trent Brown in free agency

What the Trent Brown signing means for the Bengals.

The Cincinnati Bengals pivot out of the Jonah Williams era with free agent Trent Brown.

Cincinnati signed Brown to a one-year deal on Tuesday, locking down a veteran who has made a Pro Bowl (2019) and won a Super Bowl (LIII).

Brown, who turns 31 next month, arrives as the likely starter at right tackle for the Bengals next season, though his doing so is a nice short-term value because it doesn’t stop the team from selecting an offensive lineman in the opening round of the draft.

That’s a good angle for the team to take because while Brown is a quality starter, availability has been an issue. He appeared in just 11 games last year, starting eight. The year before that, 16 starts. From 2019-2021, he played no more than 11 games each season.

Still, that’s the type of give-and-take stuff a team will find at this stage of free agency at a premium position. The fact Brown has experience at both tackle spots is a bonus, though his struggles to stay on the field are a big reason one can’t rule out a Round 1 tackle.

If the main priority is to protect Joe Burrow, Brown should do it nicely:

There’s an obvious gamble with Brown, but it does follow the mold of recent prove-it deals that worked out at places like tight end.

In a perfect world, Brown can stay on the field and productive next season while the Bengals contend — and a rookie learns from the sideline.

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Bengals to sign OT Trent Brown to one-year deal

The Bengals sign an OT in free agency.

The Cincinnati Bengals have their Jonah Williams replacement via free agency, agreeing to a deal with offensive tackle Trent Brown.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported the news as a one-year deal.

Late Monday night, a report revealed that Brown would be in town Tuesday to visit with the team. That on the heels of a confirmed visit from Mekhi Becton.

The Bengals were on a hunt to find a starting right tackle after Williams left to sign with the Cardinals and do so with Brown, the former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion. He’s had attendance issues over the last few years but been very good in pass protection.

Brown’s arrival doesn’t prevent the team from adding another tackle as early as Round 1 of the draft next month.

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Bengals make Sheldon Rankins signing official

Sheldon Rankins dons the Bengals stripes.

The Cincinnati Bengals made the signing of defneive lineman Sheldon Rankins official on Monday after a quiet stretch for the team in free agency.

Cincinnati signing Rankins to the big contract was reported last week.

Rankins was the subject of a reported bidding war the Bengals won as the team was losing DJ Reader to the open market and the Detroit Lions.

The new star defensive lineman will pair with B.J. Hill as an interior pass-rusher and alongside whoever the team elects to bring in via free agency or the draft as a nose tackle.

An obvious fit and solution to the team’s lack of pass-rush last year, Rankins’  reported deal worth $26 million over two years speaks to the way he fits into Lou Anarumo’s plans for the defense.

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Bengals to host free agent OT Trent Brown on visit

The Bengals will host the biggest offensive lineman left in free agency on a visit.

The Cincinnati Bengals will get a visit from one of the bet offensive tackles left on the board in free agency.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Trent Brown will visit with the  Bengals on Tuesday.

Brown spent the last two years playing left tackle for the New England Patriots but has more career reps on the right side. Turning 31 next month, Brown is a former Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion who has played 16 games in a season just once since the 2018 season.

The Bengals are on the hunt for a possible starter after losing Jonah Williams in free agency to the Arizona Cardinals.

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