2012 NFL Free Agency: 3 Players the Bengals Should Have on Speed Dial

The hour is ever-creeping closer to the start of NFL free agency, and there's nary a team who doesn't have at least one player, marginal or marquee, on their radar today.

A team likely to have a longer shopping list than most is the Cincinnati Bengals, who have at least $39 million and as much as $50 million in cap space to work with.

The Bengals are in a great situation to build a roster that can compete with the top teams in the league for years to come, as long as they approach free agency intelligently. One way they can do that is make sure the following three players get calls the minute the clock strikes 4 p.m. Eastern.

CB Cortland Finnegan

The Cincinnati Bengals need an upgrade at cornerback, and who would be a better add than the effective and volatile Cortland Finnegan? Finnegan's got just the right amount of to-the-whistle (or just after) fight in him to light a fire under the entire Bengals secondary.

Finnegan is likely to be one of the highest-priced defensive free agents of the season, and though the Bengals have a lot of cash to work with, they aren't likely to go into free agency with a "price no object" mentality.

However, it would behoove the Bengals to make an inquiry to Finnegan's camp to find out just how much he will cost this year. Cincinnati needs to address their issues in the secondary, and the draft isn't going to be the most fruit-bearing option for them this year, despite their glut of picks.

OG Carl Nicks

To say things haven't gone in the New Orleans Saints' favor this offseason would be an understatement, but their loss could be the Bengals' gain. The Bengals need improvement on their offensive line and a Pro Bowl veteran guard who's not yet over the hill is hard to come by in free agency.

That's why Cincinnati needs to place a call to Carl Nicks (or rather, his people) once free agency starts today and try to make a deal.

Sure, Cincinnati has a good shot to get a talented guard in the first round of the draft, but a proven talent like Nicks has a clear upside. If the price is right, the Bengals should make an offer.

WR Mario Manningham

There are a number of elite-level wide receivers set to hit free agency today, and while Mario Manningham doesn't seem to be on the same company as the top free agent wideout, Vincent Jackson, he's got a skill set that matches perfectly with the Bengals' offense.

Manningham is reportedly looking for as much as $8 million per year and has already been linked to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. But that's quite a high asking price, and if the market drives it down, the Bengals could be the team that benefits.

Manningham spent 2011 as the New York Giants' No. 3 receiver after the emergence of Victor Cruz but would easily be the Bengals' No. 2 behind A.J. Green. Manningham wants the contract of a No. 1 receiver, but when teams decline to pay that price, the Bengals should swoop in and make a serious inquiry.

More weapons for quarterback Andy Dalton are necessary for the team to leap into the top of the league. Manningham's addition would provide them with that boost.

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