Eight pending free agents the Cincinnati Bengals should re-sign before free agency begins
Before making the most expensive decisions of the offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals will be focused on retaining the unheralded players on their roster. These players aren't likely to see much interest on the open market, and either have an established fit with the Bengals, or are in line to take on a larger role. Ensuring […]
Before making the most expensive decisions of the offseason, the Cincinnati Bengals will be focused on retaining the unheralded players on their roster.
These players aren't likely to see much interest on the open market, and either have an established fit with the Bengals, or are in line to take on a larger role. Ensuring they stick around is equally important as finding the correct new pieces to raise the talent level.
Outside of the likes of Tyler Boyd, Jonah Williams, DJ Reader, and Chidobe Awuzie, who are all expected to test the market, the following eight names should be hearing from the Bengals before free agency begins.
Bengals Who Should Be Re-Signed
Jake Browning, quarterback (ERFA)
Perhaps the biggest no-brainer of the offseason, Browning isn't going anywhere. Cincinnati discovered how capable its backup QB really was after adjusting the offense for him following Joe Burrow's wrist injury.
The Bengals could see if Browning wants to negotiate a multi-year deal to remain behind Burrow, but there's no real need to do that this year. He's an exclusive rights free agent, which means if the Bengals hand him a "qualifying offer," which is a minimum one-year deal based on his experience, he has to sign it. Problem solved.
Cal Adomitis, long snapper (ERFA)
The other exclusive rights free agent to take care of is Adomitis. There's no reason why the Bengals would want to move on from their long snapper after a picture perfect season.
Adomitis will get a qualifying offer a little bit more expensive than Browning's, as he has one more accrued season of experience under his belt.
Tanner Hudson, tight end
A humble futures deal recipient at the very start of last offseason, Hudson emerged as the Bengals' most reliable receiver at the tight end. That's not even a dig at whom they had at the position; he finished ninth in the league in yards per route run at 1.56.
Hudson was more than adequate, but is also entering his age 30 season and just found an offense willing to use him. It shouldn't take much to extend this partnership one more year.
Drew Sample, tight end
While Hudson found a role catching the ball, Sample thrived doing just about everything else. Cincinnati had him doing inline blocking and pass protecting in the backfield on passing downs like a supersized running back.
Long gone are the days of forcing Sample to be an all-around weapon at the position; he's a blocking specialist through and through, and he deserves credit for going all in on his niche role. Even if it happens in the beginning hours of free agency, I wouldn't be surprised if the Bengals lock him in with a cheap two-year deal.
Trenton Irwin, wide receiver
Tee Higgins is all but certain to get the franchise tag, but Tyler Boyd is likely looking for opportunities elsewhere. It'd be wise to keep Irwin in the building for at least the offseason while all of this commotion goes down around him.
Irwin disappeared for most of Browning's run at the end of the season, but his connection with Burrow was still evident when Burrow was playing at his usual level. Another near-minimum one-year deal to compete with the younglings under Chase, Higgins feels right.
Markus Bailey, linebacker
Bailey and fellow 2020 draftee Akeem Davis-Gaither have almost been linked to the hip since coming to Cincinnati four years ago, but Davis-Gaither has had more of a taste of action on defense and may want to pursue that on the open market.
Bailey won't see much interest from other teams, and the Bengals have retained core special teamers prior to free agency periods in the past. Only Mitchell Wilcox had more special teams snaps than Bailey's 309 last year.
Joe Bachie, linebacker
Bachie wasn't too far behind Bailey with 283 special teams snaps of his own, and while Bailey could take Davis-Gaither's spot in the linebacker hierarchy, Bachie could take Bailey's.
Bachie has kept a roster spot for the better part of three years now, and if continuity can be kept for minimal cost, that should be the expectation.
Cody Ford, offensive tackle/guard
The end of the 2024 offseason could see shakeups near the bottom of Cincinnati's offensive line, where Ford came in last year ahead of pretty much everyone else. Jackson Carman, D'Ante Smith, and Trey Hill are all entering the final year of their contract, and none of them are exactly warranting a second deal. It wouldn't be shocking in the slightest if one or two get cut after training camp.
Ford did his job as the sixth lineman last season and can come back to try and do it again for about the same price.
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