Cincinnati Bengals Free Agency Tracker: Updated Signings, Rumors and Grades
The 2015 NFL year officially began at 4 p.m. on March 10. With the start of the new league year comes free agency.
For a team like the Cincinnati Bengals, free agency should provide a prime opportunity to improve a playoff-caliber roster. The Bengals have reached the postseason in each of the past four years, but have lost in the opening round each time. According to Spotrac.com, Cincinnati began the new year with nearly $30 million in salary-cap space.
Perhaps a few key signings will be enough to get this team over the hump.
Since NFL teams were permitted to contact and enter contract negotiations with free agents beginning on March 7, moves have come at a fast pace. Be sure to check back here for all the updated news and rumors surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals' foray into free agency.
Signed: LB Rey Maualuga
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Cincinnati prevented middle linebacker Rey Maualuga from ever sniffing free agency, inking him to a new three-year, $15 million deal last Thursday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter:
"One potential free agent off market: Bengals and MLB Rey Maualuga reached agreement on a 3-year deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 5, 2015"
Maualuga ranked 27th overall among inside linebackers last season, according to Pro Football Focus. He excels as a run-stopper and would have easily been one of the more desirable free-agent linebackers had he reached the open market.
Despite missing four games, Maualuga finished the 2014 season with 59 combined tackles, four passes defended and an interception.
Grade: B+
Signed: K Mike Nugent
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Signing a kicker isn't going to generate much excitement from the fanbase, especially when that kicker has been on the roster for the past five seasons.
However, locking up kicker Mike Nugent for another two years was an important move for the Bengals to make. The Ohio State product connected on 78.8 percent of his field-goal attempts last season, and was a perfect 39-of-39 on extra-point attempts.
"He brings a level of professionalism to the kicker position and is somebody who we can count on," Bengals special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said of Nugent, via Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com.
Having a reliable kicker is a lot, lot better than having a question mark at the position.
According to Spotrac.com, Nugent's new deal is for two years and $3.5 million.
Grade: C
Signed: LB A.J. Hawk
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Former Green Bay Packers inside linebacker A.J. Hawk visited with the Cincinnati Bengals on Monday, per a report from NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport (via NFL.com's Conor Orr).
Hawk was released by the Packers in late February after a relatively down season in 2014. According to Pro Football Focus, Hawk ranked just 52nd overall among inside linebackers for the season.
According to Hawk's agent, Mike McCartney, the linebacker agreed to a two-year deal with Cincinnati on Tuesday.
"Excited for @OfficialAJHawk agreeing to terms with his hometown team, the @Bengals on a 2 year deal
— Mike McCartney (@MikeMcCartney7) March 10, 2015"
Though the 31-year-old linebacker may no longer be a legitimate NFL starter, he would bring both experience and depth to the Bengals linebacker corps. Hawk has nine years worth of pro experience and finished his Packers career as the franchise's all-time tackles leader with 1,118 career stops.
Grade: B-
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Signed: G Clint Boling
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Guard Clint Boling started 47 games for Cincinnati in his first four NFL seasons. He spent his first three years practicing against a defense coached by then-coordinator Mike Zimmer.
This is why it made sense when early indications that the Minnesota Vikings, now coached by Zimmer, had interest in Boling.
"The Vikings are making a push to sign guard Clint Boling in free agency and he is said to be strongly considering them." Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press wrote on Monday.
It appears, however, that the Vikings will have to look elsewhere for guard help, as the Bengals and Boling agreed on a new deal Tuesday night.
According to ESPN's Adam Schefter, the deal is for five years and worth $26 million.
"Bengals and OL Clint Boling reached agreement on a five-year, $26 million deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2015"
Boling was ranked 19th overall among guards in 2014, according to Pro Football Focus. Due to Boling's ability, experience with the team and relatively moderate price tag, this looks like a very smart signing.
Grade: A
Signed: DE Michael Johnson
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According to Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com, the Bengals were prepared to go after pass-rusher Michael Johnson if he was released by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Johnson spent his first five years in Cincinnati before signing a five-year, $43.75 million deal with the Buccaneers as a free agent last offseason. Another $7 million of his contract will become fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2015 league year.
According to Joe Kania of Buccaneers.com, the team did indeed terminate his contract on Wednesday.
This is a lot of guaranteed money for a guy who amassed just 27 tackles and four sacks in 14 appearances a season ago. This is why cutting or trading Johnson before Day 3 of free agency made sense for Tampa.
According to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports, the Bengals and Johnson agreed to a new four-year contract on Sunday.
"Johnson's new deal with the Bengals is for four years. Homecoming for him. Bengals looking for pass rush
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) March 15, 2015"
Johnson's best season came in 2012, when he racked up 11.5 sacks for the Bengals.
Grade: B+
Signed: OT Eric Winston
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Reserve offensive tackle Eric Winston appears set to return to the Bengals after a short stint with the club. The news was broken by Winston himself, via Twitter.
"Excited to say I'm headed back to the Bengals! #whodey
— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) March 10, 2015"
Winsston was signed last December after injuries took their toll on the Cincinnati Offensive line. He appeared in four games, with two starts. He is a nine-year veteran with 121 games of starting experience under his belt.
Winston's deal is for one year and $870,000, according to Spotrac.com.
Grade: C+
Contract Offered: DT Devon Still
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The Bengals chose not to tender former second-round draft choice and restricted free agent Devon Still. This means that he will become an unrestricted free agent.
However, the team has offered Still a one-year contract, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of Cincinnati.com. Details of the offer have not become available, but the deal would presumably pay less than the $1.526 million low-round tender. Otherwise Cincinnati would have tendered Still.
According to Coley Harvey of ESPN.com, Still is considering the offer while weighing family concerns. His daughter, Leah, continues to battle pediatric cancer.
Still appeared in 12 games last season and notched 19 combined tackles.
Signed Elsewhere: TE Anthony Fasano
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The Bengals also hosted former Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys tight end Anthony Fasano Monday, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.
A nine-year NFL veteran, Fasano would have likely served in the No. 2 tight end role behind 2013 first-round draft choice Tyler Eifert. Adding depth to the position makes sense, as Eifert missed 15 games due to injury in 2014.
Cincinnati is not expected to bring back five-year veteran Jermaine Gresham.
However, Fasano reached an agreement with the Tennessee Titans on Friday, according to Mike Garafolo of Fox Sports.
"TE Anthony Fasano has agreed to terms on a deal with the Titans, who are bus this morning.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) March 13, 2015"
Fasano hauled in 25 passes for 226 yards and four touchdowns last season. He has 253 receptions for 2,799 yards and 31 touchdowns for his career.
Signed Elsewhere: DT Nick Fairley
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The Bengals had a meeting early in free agency with former Detroit Lions defensive tackled Nick Fairley, according to NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport.
"Nick Fairley is on his way to visit the #Rams after spending yesterday with the #Bengals. Imagine that St. Louis D-Line…
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 12, 2015"
Fairley would have potentially paired with defensive tackle Geno Atkins to anchor quite the fearsome defensive front in Cincinnati.
However, Fairley left his meeting with the Bengals without a contract. On Friday, he signed with the St. Louis Rams, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"St. Louis Rams have agreed to terms with Nick Fairley, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 13, 2015"
Though he started just 30 games in four seasons in Detroit, Fairley racked up 98 tackles, 13.5 sack and four forced fumbles. These might not seem like eye-popping numbers, but they are very solid for an interior defensive lineman.
Fairley was rated 13th overall among defensive tackles against the run by Pro Football Focus last season.
Signed Elsewhere: OLB Jabaal Sheard
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Former Cleveland Browns outside linebacker Jabaal Sheard was rumored to be a target for the Bengals, according to Yahoo Sports NFL Insider Rand Getlin.
Though this wasn't a rumor that has garnered a lot of attention, Getlin has reported that Cincinnati was one of four teams in the running for Sheard's services:
"OLB Jabaal Sheard is going to be a steal for one of these teams: #Bucs, #Bengals, #Seahawks, and #Pats all in the running.
— Rand Getlin (@Rand_Getlin) March 9, 2015"
This would have been a move that made sense, considering the Bengals ranked dead last in the NFL with just 20 sacks last season. Sheard spent his first two pro seasons as a 4-3 defensive end, racking up 15.5 sacks in the process.
However, Sheard ended up with the New England Patriots a day after free agency began, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
"Patriots signing former Browns LB/DE Jabaal Sheard to a 2-year deal worth $11 million, per source, including $5.5 million guaranteed.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2015"
Signed Elsewhere: OT Marshall Newhouse
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According to ESPN NFL Insider Adam Caplan, former Bengals offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse has agreed to a two-year deal with the New York Giants.
"Giants agreed to terms on a 2-year deal with RT Marshall Newhouse, per source.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) March 10, 2015"
Newhouse appeared in 15 games for the Bengals last season with five starts. He spent the first four years of his career with the Packers.
This isn't exactly a massive loss for the Bengals, who hope to have a healthy Andre Smith back for 2015. Newhouse was ranked 61st overall among offensive tackles by Pro Football Focus in 2014 and the Bengals are bringing back offensive tackle Eric Winston.
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