Cincinnati Bengals' Top Free-Agency Targets at Defensive Tackle
Mike Brown, owner of the Cincinnati Bengals, sounds prepared to address his roster's issues in an aggressive manner on the open market.
After a fourth consecutive postseason loss, coach Marvin Lewis told Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com that his staff has been instructed to make a free-agency push:
"Oh yeah, (Mike Brown) is the one leading the charge. He doesn't want to hear, "We will be better when we get these guys back." No, we need to get better. He knows we need to get better. He's pushing people to identify players that will make us a better football team in free agency.
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One of the team's top priorities this offseason figures to come in the defensive trenches. Solidifying the future at offensive tackle or grabbing another wideout would be nice. Increasing linebacker and secondary depth and adding another pass-rusher are other things on the checklist.
But no need is more important than the interior. Inefficiency there creates a negative ripple effect. Just look at the 2014 season as a whole, when Domata Peko ranked as the No. 80 overall defensive tackle in the league at Pro Football Focus and Geno Atkins failed to live up to his pre-ACL injury production.
Luckily for Cincinnati, there are plenty of productive free agents at the position who may hit the open market. If the Bengals want to make a splash with a player who improves the unit, the following are names to remember.
Honorable Mentions
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Dan Williams, Arizona Cardinals
At 6'2" and 327 pounds, Dan Williams knows a thing or two about clogging running lanes. He ranked as the No. 14 overall nose tackle in the league last year at PFF and was a large part of the reason the Cardinals finished 13th against the rush.
While a bit of a schematic change would be in order for Williams, the Bengals would love to have his talent on the interior next to Geno Atkins.
Pat Sims, Oakland Raiders
Remember Pat Sims?
While 29 years old, Sims knows the Cincinnati system and has proved productive in a rotational capacity in the Queen City before.
If the Bengals want experience and reliability from a rotational piece, a reunion will be in order.
Corey Peters, Atlanta Falcons
At just 26 years old, Corey Peters is one of the league's quickest-improving interior lineman after ranking 34th at PFF last year.
Peters will not shock the world as a pass-rusher, but his steady play against the run would serve as a strong complement to Atkins on the interior, as well as make the lives of the linebackers behind him easier.
Da'Quan Bowers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
While he's a major risk, Da'Quan Bowers is a former second-round pick and going on just 25 years old.
He certainly fits the current mold of versatile linemen the Cincinnati staff enjoys, as he rushes from an end spot or the interior. He played enough snaps on the inside to qualify as a tackle at PFF.
Bowers needs a second chance and would fit well in Cincinnati as a rotational piece.
C.J. Mosley, Detroit Lions
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No, not the Baltimore Ravens rookie linebacker who took the league by storm last year.
C.J. Mosley is a journeyman tackle at the age of 31 who is a bit older than Cincinnati would likely prefer, but his production as a rotational piece in Detroit speaks for itself.
Over at PFF, Mosley ranked as the No. 26 tackle in the league while playing behind Ndamukong Suh and Nick Fairley (one of those names makes this list, the other is too costly—feel free to place bets).
The Missouri product is not a long-term answer by any means, but if the Bengals want a veteran who can push Domata Peko and wreak havoc as a rotational piece, Mosley is the guy.
Much of it will come down to numbers, though, as Mosley is likely to get looks as an every-down starter on the open market. Alas, the fit makes sense.
Jared Odrick, Miami Dolphins
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While he's a tweener who might be a better fit as a 3-4 end, the Cincinnati Bengals would likely take a look at former Miami Dolphins tackle Jared Odrick if he makes it to market.
As ESPN's James Walker captures, Odrick seems dialed in on the on-field aspect of the game:
"#Dolphins DT Jared Odrick on whether he will return in free agency: "I'm not a decision-maker. I'm a football player."
— James Walker (@JamesWalkerNFL) December 28, 2014"
The 27-year-old Penn State product played tackle in Miami's 4-3 last season and ranked as the No. 19 overall interior player in the league at PFF—with a noticeably strong mark as a rusher.
Similar to other names on the list, Odrick would give defensive coordinator Paul Guenther options on each down based on the situation.
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Stephen Paea, Chicago Bears
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Stephen Paea manned the nose tackle slot in Chicago to great effect and now hits the market as he gets ready to turn 27 years old.
Based on last year's production, when he ranked as the No. 11 tackle in the league at PFF and recorded six sacks, Paea is in for a major payday if he reaches the market.
That said, the Oregon State product does sound as if he wants to re-up with the Bears:
"#Bears free agent-to-be DT Stephen Paea: "I want to come back to Chicago. It’s home for me, so I’d love to come back."
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) December 29, 2014"
Things change, though, and if Cincinnati is feeling the need to spend money on another rusher from the middle who can influence run gaps at the same time, Paea may be high on the wish list.
Nick Fairley, Detroit Lions
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Nick Fairley is the biggest name you can expect Cincinnati to chase this offseason at the position.
An explosive rusher who continues to get better at anticipating blocks and making himself small, Fairley makes the list because of his game-changing ability and the fact that off-field concerns may allow teams to be reserved in their contract offers.
It takes only one team to offer Fairley a contract to ruin the fun for other suitors, but the Bengals coaching staff knows defensive talent when it sees it and will not shy away from such a disruptive presence in the trenches if the price is right.
Fairley is not a space eater. He won't consume gaps on his lonesome and shut down running plays with frequency, but he does have 13.5 sacks in 46 career games.
After an injury that ruined the rest of his season, it is hard to say which Fairley shows up to play next year. The gamble may make other teams shy away, whereas the Bengals can use this possibly to etch out a short-term deal with one of the league's rising stars.
Besides, the Bengals are fans of "prove-it deals" as of late.
Terrance Knighton, Denver Broncos
6 of 6The man they call "Pot Roast" may be on the way out of Denver, but he can still don orange if the Bengals elect to pony up the cash this offseason.
In the video above, Jason Cole of Bleacher Report notes that the Broncos are willing to allow Terrance Knighton to hit the open market in favor of keeping around others such as tight end Julius Thomas.
The No. 12 defensive tackle at PFF, Knighton controls the interior trenches unlike many at the professional level can do on an every-down basis.
Make no mistake, he will prove costly, and Cincinnati must decide how much money it wants to invest in one unit.
Knighton next to Atkins, though, would go a long way in freeing up edge-rushers and linebackers to go to work.
In order to halt the steadily closing championship window, a space-eating tackle such as Knighton, something Marvin Lewis has yet to have in Cincinnati, would go a long way.
Stats courtesy of NFL.com. Advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus. List of impending free agents via Spotrac.
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