Cincinnati Bengals Free Agency: Grading Their Offseason Moves so Far

The Cincinnati Bengals have been the most active team in free agency in the AFC North, thanks to having a great deal of in-house free agents to attend to, and the most salary cap space in the division.

In the past week and a half, there have been a number of comings and goings in Cincinnati. Let's take a look at all the offseason roster moves the Bengals have made, and figure out what grades they deserve as a result.

Additions: RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, CB Jason Allen, OG Travelle Wharton, DE Derrick Harvey

The biggest area of need for the Cincinnati Bengals this offseason was running back, and they filled that hole (at least as far as bringing in a veteran is concerned) by signing former New England Patriot BenJarvus Green-Ellis.

Green-Ellis wasn't the biggest presence in the Patriots' pass-heavy offense during his tenure with the team, but his reliability (no fumbles in his professional career) and proven scoring skills (11 rushing touchdowns last season) make him a perfect addition as the Bengals' third-down and goal-line back.

Bringing in veteran cornerback Jason Allen was also a smart move for the Bengals, a team that needed upgrades and depth in their secondary. The Bengals generally carry six corners and four safeties on their active roster, and Allen came in as the right player at the right price.

Former Carolina Panthers offensive guard Travelle Wharton was brought on to assist the team in run blocking, and defensive end Derrick Harvey, signed by the team on Friday, helps to fill the hole left by Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker, who moved on in free agency.

All were need-based additions made slowly and deliberately, rather than as part of a spending spree. That bodes well for the Bengals to approach the remainder of the offseason with the same type of measured intelligence.

Final Grade: A-

The Bengals had the cash to make a huge free-agency splash, but instead chose to take a conservative, need-based approach that will pay off in the end; the minus is for their seeming reluctance to pull in a free-agent receiver.

Re-Signings: CB Adam Jones, S Reggie Nelson, RB Chris Pressley, OT Anthony Collins

Consider these four re-signings just the tip of the iceberg for the Bengals, who appear poised to bring back a number of their own free agents rather than do much shopping on the open market.

Cornerback Adam Jones was brought back into the fold for the same reason Jason Allen was added—to provide veteran depth in a secondary that usually holds onto six cornerbacks in the regular season.

Reggie Nelson was easily the biggest free-agent priority for the Bengals, and they nearly lost him to the New York Jets before offering him a four-year deal to stick around. Nelson's 85 tackles, two forced fumbles and four interceptions in 2011 show just how valuable a player he is, one that cannot be replaced easily by another free agent, let alone a draft pick.

Running back Chris Pressley received a new contract simply to keep him around as depth in the backfield.

Offensive tackle Anthony Collins generally takes the field in a situational role; he does have solid pass protection skills, however, and started in two games in December while right tackle Andre Smith sat out with injuries.

Again, these are routine, almost mundane, re-signings for the Bengals that are indicative of their overall conservative approach to free agency. Their primary priority appears to be keeping certain in-house free agents rather than exploring the open market, with the intention of having as consistent a roster as possible.

Final Grade: A-

The minus is a placeholder in case they wait too long on certain priority free agents and thus don't end up retaining as many players as they would have liked.

Cuts and Free Agents Signed Elsewhere: Cut—None; Signed Elsewhere—DE Frostee Rucker (Browns), DE Jonathan Fanene (Patriots), WR Andre Caldwell (Broncos), OG Nate Livings (Cowboys); OT Mike McGlynn (Colts);

When both defensive ends Jonathan Fanene and Frostee Rucker joined new teams last week, it looked like that might have been the beginning of a wholesale free-agent exodus out of Cincinnati.

Instead, it was just a quick burst of activity that has since dropped off, with only free-agent wide receiver Andre Caldwell moving on this week.

It's a blow to the Bengals' defense to lose both Rucker and Fanene, one they responded to this week by bringing in former first-round pick Derrick Harvey. But with nine draft picks this year, it doesn't sting as much as it could have.

It wasn't much of a surprise that wide receiver Andre Caldwell is no longer a Bengal; it was nearly a foregone conclusion that neither he nor fellow free agent (and soon-to-be inmate) Jerome Simpson would be with the team in 2012.

Receiver is a high priority for the team in the draft, considering they made no moves in free agency, but losing Caldwell (and probably, by attrition, Simpson) are issues they were likely prepared to face.

Losing two offensive linemen doesn't help matters much, especially one as reliable as guard Nate Livings; Georgia's Cordy Glenn is likely very much on the Bengals' draft radar after that free-agency loss.

Without a glut of their free agents still floating around the open market, the Bengals can easily re-sign whoever they'd like and maintain as much or as little continuity from 2011 into 2012.

Final Grade: B

The Bengals didn't lose a lot of players considering their high number of free agents, but I don't know that they were prepared for both Rucker and Fanene to get snapped up.

Remaining Free Agents on the Open Market: Restricted Free Agents—TE Clark Harris, LB Dan Skruta; Exclusive Rights Free Agents—S Jeromy Miles, DT Nick Hayden, LB Vincent Rey, RB Cedric Peerman; Unrestricted Free Agents—TE Donald Lee, LB Brandon Johnson, CB Kelly Jennings, DT Pat Sims, WR Jerome Simpson, TE Bo Scaife, OT Dennis Roland, TE Clark Harris, S Gibril Wilson, OG Bobbie Williams

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