How Cincinnati Bengals Can Win 2015 NFL Free Agency

For the Cincinnati Bengals, 2015 free agency is different. 

A slight sense of urgency seems to surround the organization this time after a fourth consecutive playoff effort fell short upon arrival.

While there are no major impending departures to deal with this year, a closing playoff window necessitates the Bengals carefully walk the tightrope between outside additions and managing their own players before the market opens.

When it does, it sounds as if Mike Brown is ready to make more changes than in years past, as coach Marvin Lewis told Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com:

"

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. 

"

Cincinnati still has a young, high-upside core in place through smart drafting and player retention over the course of the past four years and change.

Should the front office supplement that core with a win of a free-agency period, the Bengals may be able to leap over the proverbial hump.

Trim the Fat

USA TODAY Sports

As Brown and his organization's approach continues to evolve with the ebbs and flows of the modern NFL, wishes of fans in past years may become realities this offseason.

Generally, Brown is an advocate of allowing a contract to run its course. As comments by Lewis above contradict, though, he also tends not to splurge on the open market.

At least the former needs to change if the Bengals are to have a successful free-agency period.

There are a few players on the current roster who the front office should consider parting ways with, and none of it truthfully concerns the almighty dollar.

Defensive tackle Domata Peko is the first player who comes to mind. While he only has one year left on his contract, which is a $3.75 million cap hit, per Spotrac, his disappearing act in 2014 suggests a changing of the guard is necessary on the interior of the defensive line.

USA TODAY Sports

Geno Atkins was a shell of his former self last season as he struggled to bounce back from knee surgery, but Peko was a blatant weakness and wound up ranked as the No. 80 overall defensive tackle in the NFL at Pro Football Focus (subscription required).

Considering the Bengals prefer to front-load contracts, the extra cash couldn't hurt either.

The same thought process applies to defensive end Robert Geathers. Lewis loves veterans such as Geathers, but the young core is maturing, and other leaders such as Leon Hall and Andrew Whitworth will stick around. The 10-year pro ranked as the worst 4-3 end in football last year at PFF and represents a $3.05 million cap hit in the final year of his deal next season, per Spotrac.

Again, Cincinnati does not need cash, but transition periods at key positions are something the best teams excel at more often than not.

Take Care of Their Own

Now, this is something the Bengals will have no issue with. Recent extensions for Andrew Whitworth, Leon Hall, Geno Atkins, Carlos Dunlap and more can attest to this.

How it happens is something to monitor, though.

USA TODAY Sports

Much conversation is inbound concerning A.J. Green's contract, but after the team exercised his fifth-year option, he is under contract for another season before the franchise tag becomes a real possibility.

The front office only has two restricted free agents to concern itself with, too. If healthy, the Bengals figure to bring back Emmanuel Lamur for another season, if for nothing else than his special teams contributions.

Devon Still also figures to be back in the fold at least to function as a cost-effective rotational player.

When it comes to unrestricted players, tackle Eric Winston and tight end Jermaine Gresham come to mind. The former already figures to make a return after Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com reported that the two sides are interested in working something out.

Along with continually improving Clint Boling, Winston is critical depth on a line that lost right tackle Andre Smith for the season to injury. Continuity is the theme for the organization as a whole, which is no better exemplified than in the offensive trenches, which protects Andy Dalton.

Perhaps also key to Dalton's success is the return of Gresham. There is controversy on this matter, though, as Dehner noted recently:

"

There are many coaches within the building who want zero to do with Gresham at this point. Not all, but some. A mantra of this organization has for a long time been about acquiring players you can trust. I don't know that this team can trust Gresham anymore. His low tolerance for pain and a career peppered with games missed when he probably could have played through the pain while others, in fact, did play through their pain doesn't help. His inconsistency with fumbles, penalties, etc., only adds to the lack of trust.

"

The almighty dollar does come into play with Gresham, though—as it should. He touted the highest cap number of any impending free agent this past season at $4.832 million, per Spotrac, a number the Bengals are not likely to hit again.

Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson clearly favored Tyler Eifert over Gresham in last year's opener, anyway, until an injury put an end to the Notre Dame product's season.

In fact, Gresham and linebacker Rey Maualuga tend to go hand-in-hand from a monetary standpoint. Unless the Bengals can work out incentive-laden deals with a front-slanted structure, it would not be a shock to see either move on to new teams.

Really, the task in this regard is much easier than last year, when marquee names such as Michael Johnson and Anthony Collins hit the block. The Bengals can afford to move on from any number of names this year, including Brandon Tate, Dane Sanzenbacher, Marshall Newhouse and others.

The key is to smartly keep players such as Winston and draft or grab similar players on the market to fill other voids and send the playoff window back in the other direction.

Dip Toes Into the Market in Cost-Effective Manner

Gail Burton/Associated Press/Associated Press

Now to disappoint fans around the globe—don't expect a major splash in free agency.

There is a major difference between talk and action. Action speaks louder than words, or something cliche like that.

This is not to suggest the Bengals front office is indifferent to change—quite the contrary, actually—but there seems to be a tendency to overreact to Lewis' quote and hope for the pursuit of someone such as Ndamukong Suh.

Not happening.

When Lewis says, "identify players that will make us a better football team," it means just that. Not "spend all $30 million or more on big names and pray for the best." Ask Washington how that approach has paid off over the years.

USA TODAY Sports

The Bengals need to be smart with money. They're building through the draft and doing a fine job. Heck, they have $8.6 million in rollover money to play with, too, per Spotrac.

This means go out and throw a cap-friendly deal at someone such as Denver's Terrance Knighton. A veteran tackle added through the market means the possibility with the first-round pick expands back to best-available territory rather than addressing-needs territory.

The same approach should apply to departing players. Gresham leaves? Target underrated elements such as Cleveland's Jordan Cameron or Miami's Charles Clay.

The point is, the Bengals don't need a splash on the market to win free agency. The best teams use savvy free-agency dealings to complement stellar drafting. The latter is in place already in the Queen City. Look at Seattle—draft a Bruce Irvin, complement with a cost-effective veteran such as Cliff Avril.

Cincinnati does need to be more active in free agency than usual this offseason. Call March 10 the appetizer to the draft, the meat of the Bengals' continued success.

In free agency, look for the Bengals to be more Seattle than Washington.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of Feb. 5 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.