5 free agents the Cincinnati Bengals need to avoid signing despite their positions of need
The Bengals should look at other options when free agency begins.
It’s a foregone conclusion the Cincinnati Bengals will add players in free agency. They have the salary cap space, as always, and glaring needs on the defensive side of the ball to justify the incoming spending.
Free agency can be a risky venture. For as many quality signings the club has made this decade, there have been just as many whiffs that have contributed to Cincinnati coming off a 6-11 season in 2025.
We’ve gone through a few ideal signings the Bengals can make, now it’s time to put up the warning flags for a few free agents they should look to avoid from A t0 Z Sports’ top-100 free agents.
S Coby Bryant
A to Z Sports Top-100 ranking: 32
This hurts my heart as an alum of the University of Cincinnati, but Coby Bryant is a bit too risky of a projection at the safety position. The former cornerback has tremendous ball skills and showed them off during the Seattle Seahawks’ run to a victory in Super Bowl LX, but his tackling is erratic (18.7% missed tackle rate) and the Bengals can’t afford to take on a safety with that issue in his scouting report. Geno Stone originally came to Cincinnati after playing in Mike Macdonald’s scheme with the Baltimore Ravens, and Bryant would be doing the same from Seattle. The red flags would counter the excitement of a homecoming for Bryant.
LB Quay Walker
A to Z Sports Top-100 ranking: 42
Quay Walker knows Bengals defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery from their time together with the Green Bay Packers. He’s an explosive athlete and a solid tackler, but has been a liability in coverage and doesn’t have much experience lining up on the ball. Cincinnati wants a backer who can fill that role, and would be best to not spend lucrative money on one who’s a liability against the pass.
EDGE Kwity Paye
A to Z Sports Top-100 ranking: 47
Think about Trey Hendrickson signing with the Indianapolis Colts while Kwity Paye leaves the Colts for the Bengals. One team would be upgrading, and the other would be downgrading for a cheaper option. Paye is younger than Hendrickson, but is significantly less refined of a pass rusher. His win rate against true pass sets has never risen above the 13.5% clip he posted in 2025. He’s still young and therefore may command a decent price. Cincinnati should look for better value.
EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
A to Z Sports Top-100 ranking: 58
The New England Patriots certainly got their money’s worth with K’Lavon Chaisson this year after only paying him $3 million for his 7.5 regular season sacks and three postseason sacks, but his pass rush win rate of 12.9% against true pass sets is worrisome for that production to be replicated this year and beyond. He’s also an unreliable player against the run, so it’s really just hustle and athleticism he’s relying on as an EDGE. The Bengals need better pass rushing consistency in their search to replace Trey Hendrickson.
EDGE A.J. Epenesa
A to Z Sports Top-100 ranking: 98
A.J. Epenesa’s concerns are similar to Chaisson’s. His win rates against the pass are lower (7.3% overall, 12.4% against true pass sets) and he very rarely nets tackles for loss. He’s a fine asset in run defense for the most part, but again, pass rush is what Cincinnati should be after. The former second-round pick of the Buffalo Bills can’t be their main answer to that problem.
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