Weighing the Pros and Cons of Cincinnati Bengals' Top Free-Agent Targets

Once again, the Cincinnati Bengals hit NFL free agency with some of the most cap space in the league. 

Once again, the team doesn't figure to pursue that high-profile player who commands a large chunk of said cap space.

Marvin Lewis and the front office in the Queen City have plenty of cap space, a whopping $39,883,842, per ESPN.com's Coley Harvey. Not only did the releases of defensive end Robert Geathers and wideout Greg Little free up more space, keep in mind the team rolled over $8.7 million from last year.

The needs in Cincinnati are obvious. Tight end is a major one with Jermaine Gresham on his way to market, as is linebacker with Rey Maualuga doing the same thing.

So far, how the Bengals will act once the market opens is pretty obvious given their rumored interests and scheduled visits. Within, let's take a look at a few of their top targets—or players they may eventually target—and break down whether it is worth the organization's time to put ink to paper.

Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB

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The Cincinnati Bengals need help when it comes to rushing the passer one year removed from a putrid 20 sacks.

Now, the team has yet to have a rumored interest in any big-name rusher set to hit the market, but Washington's Brian Orakpo is certainly one to watch.

ESPN.com's John Keim believes Jay Gruden and Co. will go a different direction at the position one year removed from slapping Orakpo with the franchise tag, which makes sense given the talent of the 2015 draft class and the fact Washington holds the No. 5 overall pick.

Orakpo is a routine Bengals signing, which isn't necessarily a bad thing.

If the market for Orakpo is soft, the 28-year-old veteran would be a quality signing. The lack of flashy plays and his injury history may drive his market price down, but keep in mind he ranked as the No. 22 overall 3-4 outside linebacker in the league last year at Pro Football Focus with a strong grade as a run defender.

The negative, of course, is that Orakpo continues to fade and comes nowhere close to his 10.0 sacks in 2013.

In this case, the pros outweigh the cons if the market is soft. Cincinnati knows a thing or two about putting linebackers in a position to succeed, and if Orakpo is healthy, he may outplay anything Cincinnati gives him on something of a one-year “prove-it” deal.

A.J. Hawk, ILB

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Football fans know the old cliche about one man's trash, and for the Cincinnati Bengals, A.J. Hawk may very well be a treasure.

The Green Bay Packers parted ways with Hawk recently in order to free up cap space and improve on the inside of the linebacking corps, a move that may only help Cincinnati if it decides to go that route.

MMQB's Peter King was the first to bring up the connection, writing, "Green Bay cut linebacker A.J. Hawk, who is a pro’s pro. Could the Bengals try to get one last year out of him? Great influence."

It makes too much sense not to consider, especially if Rey Maualuga hits the open market and demands more money than the Bengals are willing to spend.

Hawk's price won't be all that demanding. The former No. 5 overall pick is now 31 years old and ranked as the No. 52 overall inside linebacker in the league last year at PFF. 

It sounds ridiculous, but those are good things for the Bengals. The team doesn't need to spend a boatload of cash on a two-down linebacker who religiously leaves the field on passing downs. Hawk will be cheap, plays the run well, leads by example and is a rock who in nine seasons has missed all of two games.

If the Bengals want to go cheap on the inside without downgrading, Hawk is a strong way to go.

James Casey, TE

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James Casey is very, very indicative of how the Cincinnati Bengals will address the tight end position this offseason. 

It was quite clear at the beginning of last year that Tyler Eifert was the No. 1 tight end in the passing game before his season-ending injury, meaning the No. 2 tight end will need to be a strong contributor as a run-blocker. 

Casey certainly fits the bill, which explains why he has a visit lined up with the Bengals, per ESPN's Adam Caplan:

"

Next stops on the James Casey free agency tour visits express: #Bengals, #Redskins, #Jaguars.

— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) February 26, 2015"

Despite spending the past two seasons in Chip Kelly's high-flying offense, the Rice product was targeted a total of nine times. Three seasons ago was his most productive campaign in which he caught 34 passes for 330 yards and three scores in Houston.

There's a lot of untapped potential in Casey as a pass-catcher, but he makes his money as a blocker. His high grade in this regard at PFF last season meshes well with the film.

The only real negative in adding Casey is that the Bengals already have a versatile hybrid player who is strong as a blocker in Ryan Hewitt. But if the staff wants more versatile depth and strong leadership, Casey is a strong add.

Anthony Fasano, TE

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Now 30 years old, tight end Anthony Fasano was a cap casualty in Kansas City recently.

As a nine-year veteran with stops at three different locales, Fasano makes sense for the Cincinnati Bengals in an Alex Smith role. As Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com pointed out recently, the Bengals-Fasano connection is noteworthy:

"

One intriguing name is former Cowboys and Chiefs tight end Anthony Fasano, cut by Kansas City this week. The Bengals coveted Fasano coming out of Notre Dame in 2006 and it would have been an interesting call if he was there at No. 55 in the second round. But the Cowboys grabbed him at No. 53 and the Bengals went with Whitworth, a linchpin since that draft.

"

Despite four touchdowns last year, Fasano is fading from his prime quickly. At PFF, he ranked as the No. 61 tight end in the league last season on a list that ranked 67 players. With Cincinnati's goal being a tight end who can run block, it's worth noting that was one of Fasano's biggest weak points.

There are positives, though. Fasano won't demand a lot of money. He has sure hands and can obviously produce in the red zone. Perhaps most important of all, he's only fumbled twice over the course of those nine seasons, something that has been a weakness in Cincinnati at the position in recent years.

This one all comes down to price. Fasano is a strong add in the sense he can be leaned on in certain packages, but struggles as a run-blocker may limit his role.

Jacoby Jones, WR

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The Cincinnati Bengals clearly want to upgrade in the return game, hence a Monday visit with former Baltimore Ravens standout Jacoby Jones.

ESPN's Josina Anderson revealed some info on the meeting:

"

Source on Jacoby Jones updating visit with the #Bengals when I reached out: "Going good. Neat man."

— Josina Anderson (@JosinaAnderson) March 2, 2015"

After, Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com noted that the two sides did not agree to a contract and Jones would make visits elsewhere.

Still, an interest in Jones shows the team is ready to upgrade on Brandon Tate in the return game and possibly reduce Adam Jones' role, as the team needs him healthy to help along a crop of mostly young defensive backs.

Jones is not a contributor in the passing game one season removed from receiving all of 18 targets. As ESPN.com's Coley Harvey helps to point out, Jones is an upgrade on special teams:

"

Kick return comparison, 2014: Brandon Tate (18 returns, 22.1 yards per return), Jacoby Jones (32 returns, 30.6 yards per return, 1 TD)

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) March 2, 2015"

Over the course of the past three seasons alone, Jones has four touchdowns as a kick returner.

There's no real negative to adding Jones. Provided wideouts stay healthy, the top three on the depth chart are already set in stone, with James Wright showing strong flashes last year as a rookie and a rookie this year almost assuredly set to join the fold.

Jones is a smart add to improve one of the few areas that actually need an upgrade this offseason.

Note: Stats courtesy of NFL.com as of March 3 at 9 p.m. ET. All advanced metrics via Pro Football Focus.