Bengals free agency: Grades for every move thus far

One week of NFL free agency is in the books, and there's still work to be done for the Cincinnati Bengals.

There are spots that need new names at tight end and running back. Hayden Hurst joined the Carolina Panthers, and Samaje Perine went to the Denver Broncos. The Bengals expected to lose the former, but not so much the latter. 

They also didn't expect to land the biggest (literally) offensive lineman available. It's a give and take business.

More moves are to come shortly, specifically at tight end with both Foster Moreau and Cethan Carter visiting late last week. A defensive lineman could also be added in the near future, or even another one-year deal for Eli Apple. 

Whatever moves are on the horizon, the current roster of just 63 players is expected to grow a little more before about 20 rookies are added during and after the NFL Draft. 

Until then, the initial free agency grades are in for every move. Here's how they came out.

Pre-Legal Tampering Moves

Re-signed: 
LS Cal Adomitis (one year, $870,000)
LB Joe Bachie (one year, $1,160,000)
CB Jalen Daivs (two years, $2,430,000)
S Michael Thomas (one year, $1,165,000m)

These can all be grouped under the same grade. Coming before free agency starts, the Bengals re-signed depth pieces in the secondary, linebacker, and their long snapper of the future. The commonality they all share is value on special teams, and they don't really impact the salary cap right now. Nothing to complain at here.

Grade: B

Post-Legal Tampering Moves

Re-signed LB Germaine Pratt
Three years, $20,250,000 ($6,750,000 AAV)
2023 cap spend: $5,403,921
2023 cash spend: $10,100,000

Cincinnati's first real move of free agency was a surprising one, at least from the outside looking in. Pratt always wanted to come back and play for a contender over cashing in as much as possible elsewhere. And even if tried maximizing his earnings, this year's linebacker market wouldn't have done him much favors. 

The Bengals got a very solid deal for a very solid player, whom they hope is still ascending as a three-down linebacker. 

Grade: A- 

Re-signed RB Trayveon Williams
One year, $1,232,500
2023 cap spend: $1,092,500
2023 cash spend: $1,232,500

For the better part of four years, Williams has lived in the shadows of Joe Mixon and Perine. Mixon isn't long for staying on the team, and Perine's aforementioned departure created space in the running back room.

This does not mean Williams will see an expanded role on such a minor deal, as the Bengals will still invest at running back in the Draft, but it does increase the chances. Williams remains a solid reserve player who now carries experience at kickoff returner. 

Grade: B-

Signed LT Orlando Brown Jr. 
Four years, $64,092,000 ($16,023,000 AAV)
2023 cap spend: $10,398,000
2023 cash spend: $33,723,000

To say this came out of left field isn't doing it justice. Brown was the prized offensive lineman of this free agency class, projected to reel in a multi-year contract of $20 million per year or more. That price tag not only had the Bengals originally uninterested, it wouldn't been as good of a move to reset the tackle market entirely. The NFL's stance on Brown being a right tackle created a window for the Bengals to swoop in and better the immediate future of their offensive line.

Brown's deal may not have guarantees beyond the signing bonus as initially reported, but the uncharacteristic leap the franchise took here is as huge as Joe Burrow's new left tackle stands. 

Grade: A

Re-signed WR Trent Taylor
One year, $TBA

Taylor has earned his third one-year deal with the Bengals. His main role has been the team's punt returner, a position he's held ever since Darius Phillips fumbled it away late in the 2021 season. He also provides backend depth at receiver behind Tyler Boyd and Trenton Irwin in the slot. 

2023 will be the third-straight year Taylor will look to stick around through the offseason and compete for one of the final roster spots, maybe against another receiver with returning abilities. 

Grade: B-

Signed T Cody Ford
One year, $TBA 

The second former Oklahoma o-lineman signed by the Bengals last week, Ford does not come into Cincinnati with expectations that match what's on Brown's shoulders. This is his third team in the last year, after all. Ford will enter the offseason with an outside chance at earning the right tackle job, and will have to play all over the line in order to stick around if that doesn't work out. 

Cincinnati sees something in Ford, otherwise they wouldn't have signed him so early in free agency, but there's not much that moves the needle here. He just isn't the guy the Buffalo Bills thought they were drafting 38th overall back in 2019.   

Grade: C

Signed S Nick Scott
Three years, $12,000,000
2023 cap spend: $2,388,235
2023 cash spent: $4,400,000

If you were to ask Bengals fans who Scott was before this week, you would've received crickets in response. Having your one season as a starter come during a 5-12 year has its disadvantages, but the play Scott put on tape for the Rams caught Lou Anarumo's eye in all the right ways. On top of his leadership experience, the former seventh-round pick comes to Cincinnati with high-level athleticism and processing speed to play either safety spot.  

You won't find anyone claiming Scott is an upgrade right now over either Jessie Bates III or Vonn Bell, but pairing him with Dax Hill gives the Bengals two safeties who can switch off roles no matter what the coverage is. His best days very well could be ahead of him in a talented Bengals defense. If that's the case, the Bengals got admirable value with this signing. 

Grade: B+