The Cincinnati Bengals have an interesting problems this offseason. What do you do with Brandon LaFell? LaFell is a free agent this offseason, after signing a one year “prove it” deal. He didn’t put up eye popping numbers, but he was a solid number two receiver in the Bengals offense. LaFell had 64 receptions for 862 yards and 6 touchdowns this year. These numbers were very similar to the Bengal’s number two receiver last year, Marvin Jones. Jones had 65 catches for 816 yards and 4 touchdowns. The Bengals really like Marvin Jones and tried to retain him last offseason. They offered to match Detroit’s 5 year 40-million-dollar contract, but Jones chose ultimately Detroit. The numbers can be interpreted in a number of different ways. What I see is that the number two receiver in the Bengals system has somewhat of a cap in production.

There is no doubt that the Bengals got a steal in Lafell’s contract. Though only a one-year deal, his small price tag of 2.5 million was well worth it. I don’t think there would be any hesitation by the Bengals to bring him back at that price. The problem is what LaFell thinks he’s worth. Last year’s deal was a “prove it” deal and he definitely did just that. I personally believe that if it’s any number under 5 million per year, the Bengals will bring him back. Both parties have expressed interest in a reunion. The development of rookie Cody Core also should weigh heavily on the Bengals mind. If Lafell wants more, do the Bengals think they can pick up another receiver for cheap and plug him in? Only time will tell.

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With the Free Agency period quickly approaching, the Bengals have some important decisions on who to keep in orange and white. I have already discussed the defensive line and running backs, but now we will move on to a much more crucial position: Cornerbacks. With the question of what to do with Adam Jones following his latest off-field incident, the position could make or break the Bengals defense next season.

Dre Kirkpatrick

Previous Contract Length: 4 years (rookie contract)
Previous Annual Salary: $2,155,699
Cap Hit: $7,507,000
Age: 27
Priority: Very High

Dre Kirkpatrick has got to be one of the Bengals’ top priorities to re-sign. During the Week 17 match-up against the Baltimore Ravens, Chris Simms referred to Dre Kirkpatrick as a “Top 10 cornerback in all of football” multiple times. While I think that is a bit of an exaggeration, Kirkpatrick is a solid defender and is definitely good enough for the team to want him back. With Adam Jones‘ case possibly going to court, it would be wise for the Bengals to part ways with him. That would hurt, but it would also make Kirkpatrick a very valuable asset to the defense next season, alongside William Jackson III and Darqueze Dennard.

Chykie Brown

Previous Contract Length: 1 year
Previous Annual Salary: $760,000
Cap Hit: $600,000
Age: 30
Priority: Low

Even if the Bengals lose Kirkpatrick and part ways with Adam Jones, they don’t need Chykie Brown. He barely made the 53-man roster this year, and is probably not worth the cost of a full-contract. Dennard, Jackson and even Josh Shaw or Keivarae Russell are more valuable cornerbacks, which will likely result in Brown losing his spot on the roster. He could serve a better role on the practice squad, though.

Brandon LaFell

Previous Contract Length: 1 year
Previous Annual Salary: $2,500,000
Cap Hit: $2,437,500
Age: 30
Priority: Medium

Brandon LaFell signed a 1-year “prove to me you’re worth it” deal last offseason, and I think he proved that he deserves another contract. LaFell raked in 64 catches for 862 yards and 6 TDs, which is his second best season in his career. As a #2 receiver, those are pretty solid numbers. For comparison, Marvin Jones finished his last Bengal season with 65 receptions, 816 yards and 4 TDs as the #2. While it would be nice to have LaFell back, it isn’t a matter of life or death. If LaFell doesn’t return, Tyler Boyd becomes the #2 and Cody Core will move into Boyd’s spot. It also isn’t unlikely that the Bengals look to the Draft for a WR.

Next week, we will discuss the offensive line and Randy Bullock. Until then, stay tuned to the Armchair All-Americans for more NFL coverage.

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As the Free Agency grows closer, this series comes to an end. Of the fifteen players whose contracts are running up, we’ve already discussed 10 of the 15. Today, we will highlight the position group that caused most of the Bengals’ problems in 2016, the offensive line. Two linemen that always stood above the rest were LT Andrew Whitworth and G Kevin Zeitler, both of which are top Free Agents. We will also discuss RT Eric Winston and K Randy Bullock.

Andrew Whitworth

Previous Contract Length: 1 year
Previous Annual Salary: $9,000,000
Cap Hit: $8,000,000
Age: 35
Priority: Very High

As I mentioned above, Andrew Whitworth was one of the two exceptions of a very underwhelming offensive line unit. That talent will resonate with other teams, as Whitworth is expected to be one of, if not the top Free Agent of 2017. He is also a talent that absolutely needs to be re-signed. At 35, his days in the NFL are numbered, but giving him another one-year contract for around what he got paid last year would be perfectly acceptable. The Bengals should be able to swing that.

Eric Winston

Previous Contract Length: 1 year
Previous Annual Salary: $1,090,000
Cap Hit: $1,090,000
Age: 33
Priority: Medium

Eric Winston was another bright spot in the bleak offensive line. He eventually took the starting spot from Cedric Ogbuehi, who was a huge disappointment in his first healthy season. Winston’s presence helped the O-Line go from terrible at the start of the season to mediocre. So if the Bengals can get him for a reasonable amount, he’d be a solid guy to keep on the team.

Kevin Zeitler

Previous Contract Length: 4 years (rookie contract)
Previous Annual Salary: $7,544,200
Cap Hit: $1,886,050
Age: 26
Priority: High

Kevin Zeitler is arguably the top guard in this season’s free agency, so the youngster will be on a lot of team’s radars this offseason. That makes Zeitler one of the top priorities for the Bengals to re-sign. They can get away with giving him a pay increase, but they likely won’t have to break the bank to keep him. The Bengals may select to use their franchise tag on either him or CB Dre Kirkpatrick if it looks like they won’t be able to keep one of them (Whitworth loves Cincinnati so he would probably return regardless).

Randy Bullock

Previous Contract Length: 1 year
Previous Annual Salary: $760,000
Cap Hit: $134,117
Age: 27
Priority: Low

Randy Bullock replaced a struggling Mike Nugent during the season and played pretty well. Bullock only missed one field goal, the game-winner against the Houston Texans on Christmas Eve. However, the Bengals are planning on hosting try-outs for kickers during the off-season, so it is unlikely that the Bengals will re-sign Bullock. Perhaps the Bengals will look to the draft or Free Agency for a Kicker.

We’ve looked at all of the Bengal’s expiring contracts, but there are still questions that the Bengals must answer. Will they be able to wrangle in Dre Kirkpatrick? Will they part ways with Domata Peko? Will they use their franchise tag? Stay tuned to the Armchair All-Americans for up-to-date information on the Cincinnati Bengals and the NFL.

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First up on our list of prospects is Alabama inside linebacker Reuben Foster.

Foster is widely considered the top linebacker prospect in this year’s NFL Draft. At first glance, linebacker doesn’t seem like a position of need. However, if you take out Vontaze Burfict, who is left? Aging veteran Rey Maualuga? There’s not much there. You could argue that Nick Vigil could be a productive player in the league, but there’s just not enough tape on him yet. Many big-time draft pundits have compared Foster to former All-Pro LB Patrick Willis. If a player of that caliber is on the board, you take him no matter what. Considering Burfict is one bad hit an away from a lengthy suspension, the linebacker core needs an influx of talent now.

One of the reasons why this pick makes sense is because the Bengals mainly run a nickel defense. This means that they only put out two linebackers on the field. With Vontaze Burfict operating the weak side spot, it leaves an opening in the middle. Enter Rueben Foster. With Foster and Burfict on the field at the same time, the Bengals would arguably have the best linebacker duo in the league. One could argue that a healthy Luke Kuechly and Thomas Davis combo would be better, but I digress. One also must consider that the Bengals typically use their first-round pick on the best player available. Depending on how the draft shakes out, Foster could very well fit that mold.

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Adam Jones‘ current predicament just got worse. On Monday, Cincinnati Police released a video of Adam Jones after his arrest earlier this month. In the video, Jones tells the police officer that he “hopes you die tomorrow,” and “you’re gonna be out of a job tomorrow” while also spitting on the floor of the police car and threatening to do so on the officer as well, which is probably where the harassment with a bodily substance felony originated.

The Bengals have released a statement stating that “We are extremely disappointed in Adam’s behavior. The behavior in the video is not what we expect from our players. The Club is aware that Adam Jones has put forth his own apology, however, we also offer an apology to the public.” Jones’ lawyers also offered an apology today saying that he was “deeply embarrassed and remorseful for his conduct”.

Jones was arrested in Cincinnati earlier this month and charged with misdemeanor charges for disorderly conduct, assault, and obstructing official business and a felony charge for harassment with a bodily substance. The team awaits the results from the NFL’s investigation into Adam Jones and this incident.

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On Thursday, the Cincinnati Bengals made their first significant offseason move by re-signing Randy Bullock to a two-year deal. Bullock was signed by the team prior to Week 15 after the release of Mike Nugent. In the three games that Bullock spent with the team, he was 5 for 6 on field goals and 6 for 6 on extra points. Throughout his career, he has played 48 games and has made 81% of his FGs and 96% of his XPA.

Bengals re-signed K Randy Bullock.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 26, 2017

Despite the re-signing of Bullock, the Bengals plan to pay close attention to the kickers participating in the Senior Bowl this weekend. The signing of Bullock makes him the favorite for the position in 2017, but there could still be some competition throughout the offseason.

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For the Giants, the offseason has been underway for a little over a month now. Moves are starting to be made for next season’s roster, as Jerry Reese is constantly preparing for the future. Just this past Monday, the Giants said goodbye to two well-known names on the team, hometown hero and avid salsa dancer Victor Cruz as well as 3-year vet Rashad Jennings. For many Giants fans, it was hard to say goodbye to these two, especially Victor Cruz, but at the end of the day, its a business. With free agency just around the corner, the Giants are getting to work.

Although its a hard pill to swallow, it makes a lot of sense for the future of the Giants. Cruz, due to injuries to his patellar tendon and calf, missed a total of 28 games with the Giants. Also, releasing Cruz gave the Giants an extra $7.5 million in cap space, something that could very much help the GiaLet’s Lets face it, as much as everyone loves Cruz and wants to give him another chance, he just wasn’t producing. Part of the blame was on Eli Manning for not throwing to him that often but Cruz wasn’t the same animal he was before the injuries.

Jennings, on the other hand, was released for lack of production. Last season he only averaged 3.3 yards per carry for only 593 yards. Those stats are unacceptable for a starting running back in this league and also for a team thats wants to contend for a Super Bowl. Jennings also only played 1 full season as he was sidelined for 8 total games in 3 years due to injuries. Rookie and lightning bolt Paul Perkins out of UCLA took over the starting job at running back at the end of last season. Releasing Jennings also freed up $2.5 million more in cap space, a total of $10 million between the two players.

Now with new money to work with and an estimated total of $31 million in cap space, the Giants have some breathing room to figure out which route they’re going to take in free agency. This year, there are only 2.

Route 1:

The first route the Giants can take in free agency has almost all to do with housekeeping. The Giants have some big name free agents of their own: Jason Pierre-Paul, Jonathan Hankins, Keenan Robinson, Kelvin Sheppard, just to name a few. They would be in another tough situation if they lost all of them.

Sheppard and Robinson were only on the team this past year but did contribute in the defensive surge the Giants had. The only way in my eyes the Giants retain these two linebackers is on small deals and most likely for a year or two, max. The real focus is on the two big men – JPP and Hank.

Pierre-Paul is the more questionable one, in my opinion, having 7 1/2 fingers and also being 28 years old. Not to mention the man has missed 17 games in the past 4 years. But if the Giants really are hungry to keep him and don’t want to replace the former 1st round pick, they’re going to have to pay him and pay him big. JPP is asking for Olivier Vernon money, which I personally don’t think he should get, but most likely will. Vernon, who is 2 years younger and has never missed a game in his career (knock on wood), puts up stats and deserves the money he got. JPP is a huge risk for many football teams but many will still be interested.

JPP proved he could still play, as he was constantly disrupting quarterbacks all season long. He had a total of 7 sacks but had 5.5 in a span of two games against some very bad Bears and Browns teams.

Resigning Pierre-Paul, in this route, would be the first priority. He wants the money and he even stated that he won’t play on a one-year contract again. This also means that he doesn’t want to be franchise tagged, (although it would be the smart thing to do for the Giants, we won’t get into that because if JPP heard the words franchise tag he’d probably throw a fit). This will be a huge hit on the cap, but most likely leaving enough room to spend on Hankins. If the Giants give JPP the 5 year, $85 million contract that he wants, they better pray every night before they go to sleep that he earns that money.

Hankins is also a man that would be very hard to replace and would be in their best interest to lock up. (At this point, I’d prefer Hankins over JPP for many reasons, but I’ll save that for later). Hankins is 24 years old and is the thunder to Damon Harrison’s lighting. These two played side by side in 2016 and boy did they have a field day. Running backs had a real tough time running past these two, and after watching what they’re capable of, the Giants should make sure they never play apart again. Hankins will also receive a significant amount of less money than Harrison did (because Harrison is arguably the best run-stopper in the league).

Keeping JPP and Hank would shore up this defensive line for years to come and would make Giants fans very happy. The only negative about bringing these two studs home is that there will be little, if any, money left over to spend on other needs in free agency and the draft. With that being said, let’s take a look at route 2.

Route 2:

As said repeatedly above, JPP and Hank are guys that would be tough let go. Finding a replace for a premier defensive end and young, powerful run-stopper like Hankins isn’t easy to come by these days unless you have tons of money (which the Giants don’t).

If I were Jerry Reese, I would lock up Hankins. There aren’t many other defensive tackles that do what he does, and one of them would be playing right next to him. He’s familiar with the system and also just 24 years old. He still hasn’t even hit his prime yet and keeping him for years to come would be a huge thumbs up for the Giants. Hankins also won’t ask for ridiculous money, because, well, he can’t. The man is good, really good, but not Damon Harrison good. Saving money while keeping a major asset to your defense is definitely the way to go.

Replacing JPP won’t be easy, either. Premier defensive ends are also hard to come by, but that’s also what the draft is for. The Giants also have some in-house projects that could fill in, such as second-year man Romeo Okwara who stepped up to fill in for JPP when he went down in Week 12 against Pittsburgh. Okwara had a sack in his first career start, but not much to follow. He is very young and still has a lot of work to do, but he’s still an option.

After locking up Hankins and letting JPP walk (or franchise tagging him, sorry JPP), the Giants will have a nice chunk of money to work with and to address other positions on the team. The Giants need help at offensive line, running back, wide receiver, linebacker, and tight end. All of these positions need to be addressed but in different places.

The Giants should aim to address all of these positions in the draft as well as free agency. Going young is always a good option, but these are some of the NFL ready options the Giants should consider.

Offensive Tackle:

Andrew Whitworth of the Cincinnati Bengals. Yes, Whitworth is 35 years old (and the only person currently on the Giants over 30 is Eli Manning), but the man can still play. ProFootballFocus ranked Whitworth the #2 left tackle in 2016. The Giants are running out of time with Eli Manning and Whitworth isn’t a long term fix, but he definitely can help the to solidify that offensive line for the next few years. Whitworth is also a 3-time Pro-Bowler and wouldn’t command as much money as the other OT’s on the market.

Those other OT’s include tackles Ricky Wagner of the Baltimore Ravens and Riley Reiff of the Detroit Lions. Wagner and Reiff are among the younger options at 27 and 28 years old. Both of these guys would come in and immediately make a difference on the offense. There is no way they both join the team, considering the Giants also have penalty flag lover Ereck Flowers to deal with. The only problem with these guys is their price tag, and it might not be something the Giants are willing to pay considering all the other fixing they need to be doing.

Wide Receiver:

Although I believe the Giants should draft another young wide receiver, there are some temporary fixes on the market. The Giants need a big wide receiver, and currently, they don’t have one over 6 feet. Alston Jefferey is too expensive and if Brandon Marshall gets released he’s too much of a headache to deal with.

Kenny Britt and Kenny Stills are the two wide receivers I believe the Giants should look at this offseason. Terrelle Pryor would also be a nice fit, but he’ll likely be too expensive. Kenny Britt, the Rutgers graduate and New Jersey native could come home and make a huge impact on this football team. Britt is a dynamic wide receiver at 6’3 and only 28 years old. Britt also caught for over 1,000 yards last season with both Jared Goff and Case Keenum throwing to him. Imagine what this man would do with Eli Manning throwing him the pigskin and Odell Beckham Jr. and Sterling Shepard next to him. #1 option in free agency for the Giants at this point.

Kenny Stills is also a dynamic receiver and playmaker and found himself wide open a lot this past year on the Dolphins. He was overshadowed by Jarvis Landry while Ryan Tannehill struggled and then ended up injured late in the season. Stills is only 25 years old and stands at 6 feet tall, so he would be another short wide receiver the Giants seem to love so much. The two Kennys are solid options to help this team succeed offensively and adding another in the draft would be smart thinking for this organization as well.

Tight End:

Martellus Bennett. That’s it. He is the only man at this position the Giants should even consider signing. Yeah, sure Jack Doyle is decent and Dion Sims would be a decent fit for New York, but Bennett is the only one who will bring fire to this offense. Bennett is already familiar with Big Blue, playing one season with them before going to the Bears and deciding he’s a freak football player. Bennett also stepped up this season while Gronk went down and helped the Patriots win their 5th Super Bowl. (The Giants are still the only team in the NFL to beat Tom Brady and the Patriots in the Super Bowl, just putting that out there). Giants fans would love to see Bennett return and love to see him help him get his second ring. He will cost a significant amount of money, but the Giants can afford it and should do it because, in my eyes, he’s the best free agent option the Giants have thus far.

Running Back & Linebacker:

I put these two positions together because they’re very similar. They should both be addressed via the draft unless the Giants do some random small signing. No running back is available that is in the Giants budget unless they want to go all in at this position. Latavius Murray would be mu number one option but I don’t see Oakland letting him walk. Same goes for Le’Veon Bell, Eddie Lacy, etc. Draft a young guy and let him work with Perkins and fight for the starting job. The Giants want to stay young and cheap, this is how.

Linebackers are also a difficult position in this year’s market. The majority of the top guys are too old for the Giants to spend big money on and the only two that I can see coming to New York are Zach Brown from the Titans and Nick Perry from Green Bay. Both are young guys (27 and 26) and wouldn’t cost the Giants a whole lot of money. The Giants linebacking core last year got the job done and played well, but some of them aren’t coming back and now they are in need of a big playmaker who can run this defense.

If the Giants decide to keep JPP and Hank, it could end up ruining the chances Eli has in getting one last ring before his career goes out the window. They’re running out of time, and need to be smart in how they spend their money. A Super Bowl is at stake here, and the clear option to get there is route 2.

Yesterday was the first day for teams to use their franchise tag. Teams can place a franchise tag on a player who is scheduled to become an unrestricted free agent to keep them with the team for another year. There are three types of tags that can be placed on free agents. Exclusive tags prevent the free agent from negotiating with other teams. Non-exclusive tags allow the player to negotiate with other teams, but the team can match any offer or receive two first-round draft picks as compensation. Transitional tags allow the player to negotiate and allows the team to match any offer. However, transitional tags differ from the other tags because the team is guaranteed to keep the player if they match an offer but receive no compensation if they do not match the offer.

The Bengals have fifteen players that are scheduled to become free agents. Among these, there are only a few candidates that the Bengals would logically place a franchise tag on – Andrew Whitworth, Kevin Zeitler, and Dre Kirkpatrick. Today, we will discuss the scenarios in which the Bengals would place a tag on one of these players.

Andrew Whitworth

Andrew Whitworth is a high-valued player, despite his age. Whitworth is a talent and there are teams out there that want him. The left tackle has been looked at by the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks. It is unlikely that the Bengals would place a tag on him because he has already expressed interest in staying with the team. The Bengals wouldn’t waste a franchise tag if they feel confident that he would choose to stay in Cincinnati even if he gets a better offer from the Vikings or the Seahawks. A franchise tag on Whitworth would require a contract offer of at least twelve and a half million dollars for one year. I don’t think the Bengals would be willing to pay that much for a 35-year-old.

Kevin Zeitler

Kevin Zeitler will almost certainly test the waters of free agency. Rumors floated around earlier this week that Zeitler was planning on leaving the Bengals. It has been suspected for a while that the Bengals will lose at least one of their three major free agents, and it is looking like it will likely be Zeitler. A franchise tag on Zeitler seems very unlikely unless the Bengals want to spend big bucks on him. Tagging Zeitler would guarantee that he would be paid almost $9 million even though his current salary is less than $2 million.

Dre Kirkpatrick

If the Bengals are planning on placing a franchise tag on someone, it would be on Dre Kirkpatrick. Kirkpatrick was pushed into a starting position in 2016 after losing Leon Hall in free agency the previous year. He has undoubtedly impressed many teams throughout the course of the year. The most recent Adam Jones saga has made it entirely possible that Dre gets tagged. If the Bengals decide to part ways with Jones or he gets suspended, the Bengals will need Dre to balance out a backfield alongside William Jackson III and Darqueze Dennard. The trouble in tagging Kirkpatrick is the money that they would have to pay him. Dre’s minimum salary would be over $14 million if he was tagged. That would make him the second highest CB in the league, following Josh Norman.

It is most likely that the Bengals will not use their tag. They have only used that ability five times in the past ten years. The team is also expecting to have an excellent draft, with upward of eleven picks, so it is expected that the Bengals will be a limited participant in the free agency. In my opinion, I would try to retain all three (primarily Kirkpatrick), but I wouldn’t break the bank to keep them.

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One of the more perplexing prospects in this year’s draft is Malik McDowell out of Michigan State.

At Michigan State, McDowell played both defensive tackle and defensive end in a 4-3 defense. What is astonishing about McDowell is that even at his 6’6 height and only weighing 276lbs, he still played great at tackle. He routinely got pressure up the middle despite his height. In the NFL, most project him to be 4-3 defensive end, but he does possess some versatility.  His tall, lanky frame allows some people to draw the comparisons to Bengals pass rusher Carlos Dunlap. They both share similar size and even wing span. Similarly to Dunlap, this allows McDowell to get into passing lanes and deflect passes. One of the biggest knocks on McDowell is his work ethic and motor. There are multiple examples of McDowell just giving up on plays that are still in progress. However, his motor was fine during the beginning of the year. As the year progressed, you could see his level of play drop off. One could argue that this was due to Michigan State experiencing a down year with their football program. Throughout his years there, Michigan State was always a powerhouse program, normally being ranked inside the Top 10. This was the first time in a while that Michigan State was irrelevant in the college football world. I believe when McDowell goes to an NFL team and has teammates he can rely on, his performance will pick back up.

Right now, his ADP is currently all over the place. Some have him going inside the top ten and others have him falling into the second round. I believe that with his measurables, he could be in the discussion for the Bengals with the ninth pick. If the Bengals decide to go a different route, say, Rueben Foster in the first, there’s still a chance McDowell could be had in the second. His draft stock will depend on how well he interviews with teams at the combine. McDowell has the raw athletic ability to be one of the best players in this draft class. Only time will tell if he can put it all together.

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AdamThis week we take a look at Adoree Jackson.

The Bengals cornerback situation is a bit murky headed into the 2017 season. With Dre Kirkpatrick an impending free agent and Adam Jones in trouble with the law, cornerback is a need that must be addressed. If Jones doesn’t do any jail time, he may still face discipline from the league. This isn’t Jones’ first mess up off the field, so he could be looking at a lengthy suspension. This would leave the Bengals starting their two former first rounders, Darqueze Dennard and William Jackson. That is not very encouraging considering neither of them has much playing time under their belts. This is where Adoree Jackson enters the picture. He could come in and immediately help out as a kick and punt returner.

Adoree Jackson’s greatest asset is his speed and athleticism. There aren’t many people on the planet who possess the raw speed to keep up with him.  Having played on both sides of the ball, Jackson can add versatility to his resume. He is a natural with the ball in his hands. At USC, they used him as a wide receiver and a returner. His main position, however, was cornerback. Jackson is great at tracking the ball in the air and climbing the ladder to make plays on the ball. His coverage skills improved drastically since he first started in his freshman year.

One of Adoree Jackson’s weaknesses is his size. While it’s not enough to hurt him that much, he might struggle when it comes to defending the run. His size might also pose a problem for when he matches up against bigger receivers in the NFL. Look for the Bengals to target Jackson with their second round pick, should he be there. Most draft pundits think that Adoree Jackson will go somewhere in the early second round. We will have to wait and see what Jackson’s combine performance does to his draft stock.

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We are in the midst of one of my favorite times of the year: the Academy Awards Season! Watching “Manchester by the Sea” last night gave me extreme heartbreak and the idea for this piece. To get in the mood for Sunday, I am hosting the first ever Cincinnati Bengals Academy Awards. The season was a train wreck, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t have some fun with it. Let’s get started!

Best Picture (Best Play)

There’s only one viable option for this category. While Brandon LaFell’s 86-yard TD against the Texans and Alex Erickson’s 84-yard punt return against the Steelers were beautiful, one play stands above the rest. The Bengals were struggling against the Browns in Week 7 and the Bengals had just been kicked out of FG with seconds remaining in the first half. Then A.J. Green came down with one of the greatest catches you’ll ever see on a hail mary.

Thanks to Jared Cook and Julian Edelman, the A.J. Green Hail Mary wasn’t the Catch of the Year. It was certainly the Bengals’ Play of the Year, though.

Best Lead Actor (Most Valuable Player)

As usual, this award goes to QB Andy Dalton. Even with the playoffs seemingly out of reach, Andy Dalton never gave up and willed his team to a couple of wins late in the season. Dalton threw for 18 TDs and over 4,000 yards. What makes this spectacular is that he did it without A.J. Green or Tyler Eifert for a large chunk of the season. Not only did he play well himself, but he put guys like Tyler Boyd and Cody Core in a position where they could prove themselves. That is what an MVP does.

Best Supporting Actor (Most Underrated)

This award goes to the player that contributed the most but doesn’t get the recognition that they deserve. Alex Erickson was this year’s Best Supporting Actor. Most of his contributions took place on special teams, which is why he isn’t often regarded as a key asset. However, Erickson proved time and again that he can put the Bengals in a position to shine. He returned 29 kickoffs for 840 yards. That’s almost 28 yards per return, largely thanks to his 84-yard return against the Steelers. As a rookie, that’s impressive. He could do big things in his future.

Best Director (Best Coach)

In a year where many fans were clamoring for coaching changes, this is hard to award to anybody. Defensive coordinator Paul Guenther and WR coach James Urban were solid, but they pale in comparison to the work that RB coach Kyle Caskey did. Caskey took Rex Burkhead and somehow got him to outshine Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard. With Bernard’s torn ACL and Jeremy Hill’s poor performance, the Bengals needed someone to step up at RB. Enter Rex Burkhead. Caskey took nothing, and turned it into an effective running game late in the season. He saw that Burkhead was doing the work, and benched Hill so that he could stew on his poor performance. It is safe to say that Caskey’s job is secure.

Will next year’s Bengals Academy Awards be happier than this year’s? With Free Agency looming, it looks like it may be another disappointing season. We won’t know until we get there, though. For more Bengals and NFL coverage, stay tuned to the Armchair All-Americans.

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Coming into the offseason the Bengals had a few key free agents on their roster. Their Big 3 consists of Andrew Whitworth, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Kevin Zeitler. While the Bengals will surely look to re-sign all of them, don’t count on Zeitler being back. The Bengals have never been shy about spending big money on their star players. One could look at the contracts they gave Geno Atkins, Andy Dalton, and A.J. Green as evidence. However, one position they have never paid big dollars to is the guard position. Couple that with the fact that guards are receiving huge contracts in free agency, all signs point to Zeitler leaving. Before the 2016 season started, the Bengals offered Zeitler an extension, but he declined it.

According to Sportac.com, Zeitler is projected to get a five-year, 58-million-dollar deal. That would be giving him approximately 11.6 million a year. A huge contract like that would essentially be paying Zeitler left tackle money. From the Bengals’ point of view, that type of contract is way outside of what they’d like to pay. In recent years, offense linemen’s salaries have skyrocketed. This is due to the success the Dallas Cowboys have had in building an elite offense. Many teams believe that if you have elite line play, it can elevate both the running game and the passing game.

Most pundits agree that the Bengal’s will re-sign veteran left tackle Andrew Whitworth, even if he hits the market. Dre Kirkpatrick’s situation is a little murkier, but the Bengals have always shelled out money for cornerbacks. Without Zeitler, the Bengals will have a massive whole at the right guard position. They drafted Christian Westerman in last year’s draft, but there has been no indication that he’s ready to start. Whether it’s through free agency or through the draft, the Bengals will most likely have to acquire a guard. Ideally, it would be nice to re-sign Zeitler, but only time will tell what happens.

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With the scouting combine in the books, several of our NFL writers got together and did a 2 round (trades allowed) mock draft. Note: this mock draft was done prior to the start of free agency.

First Round

Cleveland Browns: Myles Garrett, EDGE, Texas A&M

This is a clear-cut pick. Reports have been coming out for over a month describing the Browns “astronomically high” grade on Garrett. Cleveland has more prevalent needs, but you don’t pass on this kind of talent.

-Grant Baker

San Francisco 49ers: Mitchell Trubisky, Quarterback, North Carolina

The 49ers desperately need a quarterback. Though it may be a reach, Trubisky fits the mold of a Kyle Shanahan quarterback, and he’s arguably the best in this draft.

-Andrew Cabatingan

Chicago Bears: Malik Hooker, Safety, Ohio State

Hooker has elite instincts and the best range of any prospect since Ed Reed. He’s fluid, he has elite ball skills, and the Bears need a playmaker in their secondary. He may only have one year of starting experience, but that one year showcased all kinds of potential.

-Rob Paul

TRADE: Jets get picks 4, 148; Jaguars get picks 6, 70, 107

New York Jets: Marshon Lattimore, Cornerback, Ohio State

The Jets jump ahead of the Titans to select the best corner in the draft, Marshon Lattimore. Lattimore is 6’ and ran sub 4.4 at the Combine. Lattimore also has the technical skill to be as good as the man he’d be replacing- Darrelle Revis.

-Rob Paul

Tennessee Titans (from Rams): Corey Davis, Wide Receiver, Western Michigan

The Titans have two major needs: a number one corner and a number one receiver. With Lattimore off the board, Corey Davis is the next best option. He has the size and speed to beat up less gifted corners, and is also a superior route runner with impressive hands. He should be a weapon for Marcus Mariota for years to come.

-Grant Baker

Jacksonville Jaguars: Jamal Adams, Safety, LSU

The Jaguars trade back, but still get a great player. Tashaun Gipson has been a disappointment for the Jags, and Adams is clearly more talented. He can cover the slot, play deep zone, or be a dominant run defender. Paired with Jalen Ramsey, Yannick Ngakoue, Malik Jackson, and Myles Jack, the Jaguars have several young, talented pieces to build around

-William LaFiandra

Los Angeles Chargers: Deshone Kizer, Quarterback, Notre Dame

Philip Rivers is 35 and threw 21 picks last year. He’s had a stellar career, but his drop-off will occur very soon. Kizer has loads of talent, but will likely need time to develop into an NFL starter. Letting him sit behind Rivers for a year or two would be very wise.

-Nathan Verma

Carolina Panthers: Solomon Thomas, Defensive Line, Stanford

Thomas can slide right into a starting end spot and be an immediate contributor (and upgrade) for the Panthers defense. He lit up the combine and can kick inside on passing downs to get after the passer.

-Mathew Martinez

Cincinnati Bengals: John Ross III, Wide Receiver, Washington

Ross can be the perfect compliment to AJ Green. He set a new combine record with his 4.22 40 yard dash, but was also phenomenal throughout the internet process. If his injury history isn’t an issue, he could be a stud.

-Andrew Cabatingan

Buffalo Bills: Ryan Ramczyk, Offensive Tackle, Wisconsin

The Bills need help on the offensive line. In a draft devoid of good tackle prospects, Ramczyk looks like an NFL caliber starter.

-Nathan Verma

New Orleans Saints: Derek Barnett, EDGE, Tennessee

The Saints need more help on defense as Brees can’t keep carrying the team forever. Barnett is a good plug and play option to line up opposite Cameron Jordan. He has incredible polish rushing the passer.

-Will LaFiandra

TRADE: Browns get Jimmy Garoppolo, 2018 4^th round pick, Patriots get pick 12

New England Patriots: Jonathan Allen, Defensive Line, Alabama

The Browns trade their pick, but get their quarterback. Meanwhile, the Patriots snag a top 5 prospect to play defensive line. Assuming, Allen’s shoulders hold up, he’s all but a sure thing.

-Will LaFiandra

Arizona Cardinals: Marlon Humphrey, Cornerback, Alabama

Patrick Peterson has been and is a shutdown corner, and Tyrann Mathieu (when healthy) is a legit DPOY candidate. If Arizona could get a solid number two corner across from Peterson, their secondary could be dominant.

-Grant Baker

Philadelphia Eagles (from Vikings): Leonard Fournette, Running back, LSU

The Eagles will likely move on from Ryan Mathews, leaving a massive hole at running back. Fournette would be an immediate upgrade and is fantastic value at pick 14.

-Matt Martellucci

Indianapolis Colts: Obi Melifonwu, Safety, UCONN

The Colts defense lacks talent across the board. Melifonwu is a massive, run-stuffing safety that blew up the combine with his ridiculous measurables. While raw, he has the potential to be a more athletic Kam Chancellor.

-Mathew Martinez

Baltimore Ravens: Forrest Lamp, Guard, Western Kentucky

Lamp is the top offensive lineman on the board, and maybe the top overall prospect. While most analysts want him to play guard due to his lack of size, his incredible skill set may allow him to be a starter at right tackle.

-Matt Martellucci

Washington Redskins: Reuben Foster, Linebacker, Alabama

Foster is a top ten talent in this draft. He slides due to injury concerns and character questions after his combine mishap. His athleticism makes him a sideline-to-sideline tackler as well as a good coverage linebacker, and he is very effective as a blitzer.

-Rob Paul

Tennessee Titans: OJ Howard, Tight End, Alabama

The Titans would love to get a corner with this pick, but OJ Howard is too much value to pass up. Delanie Walker is still good, but he’s getting older and the Titans would love to pair someone with him in their two tight end sets. Howard is both a good blocker and a good athlete and compares favorably to Greg Olsen.

-Grant Baker

Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Mike Williams, Wide Receiver, Clemson

The Buccaneers grab their replacement for Vincent Jackson. Williams is a physically dominating receiver with reliable hands and a penchant for performing well in big games. His toughness and ability to go over the middle should pair nicely with Mike Evans.

-Mathew Martinez

Denver Broncos: Garett Bolles, Offensive Tackle, Utah

The Broncos have a horrid offensive line, and starting tackle Donald Stephenson MUST be replaced. Garett Bolles is a freaky athlete; he has great speed and feet despite weighing 300 pounds. If he can add power to athletic frame, Bolles could be a stud offensive tackle for Denver to build around.

-Rob Paul

Detroit Lions: Dalvin Cook, Running Back, Florida State

Detroit gets their guy. While Detroit has other needs, Dalvin Cook provides obscene value. Theo Riddick is a good running back, but the Lions have no other options at the position. Dalvin is both a talented runner and pass catcher.

-Jeremy Dill

Miami Dolphins: Haason Reddick, Linebacker, Temple

After his impressive combine performance, Haason Reddick is now firmly in the first round discussion. The linebacker from Temple is a very good athlete and excellent in coverage, which is exactly what Miami needs.

-Jeremy Dill

New York Giants: David Njoku, Tight End, Miami

The Giants could really use a pass catching tight end as a safety net for Eli Manning. Njoku may be raw, be he’s a tremendous athlete and vertical receiver, and would add another dimension to the Giants’ offense.

-Andrew Cabatingan

Oakland Raiders: Taco Charlton, Defensive Line, Michigan

Oakland needs defensive linemen to push the pocket from between the tackles and stop the run. Taco Charlton is perfect for this scenario. He can line up as a 5 technique end or a 3 technique tackle and use his size, motor, and athleticism to get the job done.

-Grant Baker

Houston Texans: Patrick Mahomes, Quarterback, Texas Tech

Brock Osweiler is bad. Very, very bad. Mahomes has the best pure arm talent of any quarterback in this draft. If he can fix his mechanical issues while still maintaining that talent, watch out. Houston could be absolutely deadly.

-Mathew Martinez

Seattle Seahawks: Cam Robinson, Offensive Line, Alabama

Last season, Seattle committed less money to their offensive line than any team in the NFL. That needs to change. Robinson was raw and inconsistent at Alabama, but he has the tools to be a good tackle or an All-Pro guard.

-Rob Paul

TRADE: Steelers get pick 27, Chiefs get 30, 105

Pittsburgh Steelers: Charles Harris, EDGE, Missouri

The Steelers jump ahead of the Cowboys to draft Charles Harris, their top remaining edge rusher. Harris is very talented, and the Steelers need another edge rusher to replace the aging James Harrison and supplement Bud Dupree.

-Mathew Martinez

Dallas Cowboys: Caleb Brantley, Defensive Line, Florida

The Cowboys need help along their defensive line, and Brantley is an athletic 3 technique capable of getting after the passer. While edge rusher and corner are bigger needs, both have good depth and can be taken care of later in the draft.

-Nathan Verma

Green Bay Packers: Tre’Davious White, Cornerback, LSU

Sam Shields is gone, and the Packers need to replace him. In Tre’Davious White, they get a corner with good man to man cover skill who should develop into a solid starter.

-Matt Martellucci

Kansas City Chiefs: Jabril Peppers, Safety/Linebacker, Michigan

While the Chiefs’ defense is very talented, they could use an athletic linebacker/safety to chase down ball carriers from sideline to sideline, cover in the slot, and generally be a defensive weapon. Peppers gives them all of this and more.

-Jeremy Dill

Atlanta Falcons: Zach Cunningham, Linebacker, Vanderbilt

The Falcons could use a linebacker whose primary duty is stopping the run. Cunningham may be a bit thin, and lack excellent technical prowess, but Cunningham has the athleticism to move sideline to sideline and phenomenal instincts.

-Hank Sewell

New England Patriots: Evan Engram, Tight End, Ole Miss

Before Aaron Hernandez was arrested, he was a terrific vertical receiver and athlete, and was nearly impossible to stop with Rob Gronkowski. Evan Engram has the tools to be that type of unstoppable receiver. He may not be a great blocker, but he is fantastic in the passing game.

-Will LaFiandra

Round 2

33. Cleveland Browns: Sidney Jones, Cornerback, Washington
34. San Francisco 49ers: Christian McCaffrey
35. Jacksonville Jaguars: Dan Feeney, Guard, Indiana
36. Chicago Bears: Deshaun Watson, Quarterback, Clemson
37. Los Angeles Rams: Budda Baker, Safety, Washington
38. Los Angeles Chargers: Jarrad Davis, Linebacker, Florida
39. New York Jets: Alvin Kamara, Running Back, Tennessee
40. Carolina Panthers: Quincy Wilson, Cornerback, Florida
41. Cincinnati Bengals: Dion Dawkins, Guard, Temple
42. New Orleans Saints: Gareon Conley, Cornerback, Ohio State
43. Philadelphia Eagles: Desmond King, Cornerback, Iowa
44. Buffalo Bills: Tim Williams, EDGE, Alabama
45. Arizona Cardinals: Cooper Kupp, Wide Receiver, Eastern Washington
46. Indianapolis Colts: Carl Lawson, EDGE, Auburn
47. Baltimore Ravens: Teez Tabor
48. Minnesota Vikings: Raekwon McMillan
49. Washington Redskins: Zay Jones
50. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Adoree Jackson, Cornerback, USC
51. Denver Broncos: Malik McDowell, Defensive Line, Michigan State
52. Cleveland Browns (from Titans): Ethan Pocic: Offensive Line, LSU
53. Detroit Lions: Takkarist McKinley, EDGE, UCLA

TRADE: Raiders get pick 54, Dolphins get pick 56, 2018 4^th round pick

54. Oakland Raiders: Jourdan Lewis, Cornerback, Michigan
55. New York Giants: Taylor Moton, Offensive Tackle, Western Michigan
56. Miami Dolphins: TJ Watt, Linebacker, Wisconsin
57. Houston Texans: Malachi Dupre, Wide Receiver, LSU
58. Seattle Seahawks: Kevin King, Cornerback, Washington
59. Kansas City Chiefs: Chris Wormley, Defensive Line, Michigan
60. Dallas Cowboys: Ryan Anderson, EDGE, Alabama
61. Green Bay Packers: Kendell Beckwith, Linebacker, LSU
62. Pittsburgh Steelers: Chidobe Awuzie, Cornerback, Colorado
63. Atlanta Falcons: Tanoh Kpassagnon, EDGE, Villanova
64. New England Patriots: Jordan Willis, EDGE, Kansas State

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Last week, it was reported that the Bengals will be looking at snagging a top cornerback in the coming weeks. Initially, I thought that it would be crazy for the Bengals to spend money on a CB. Especially when the Bengals have Dre Kirkpatrick as a free agent. It may be the fact that the Bengals don’t believe he is worth the money that he will likely get. If the Bengals want an upgrade to play alongside William Jackson III in 2017, they’ll still need to bring out the big bucks. Here are some players to keep an eye on this week.

Logan Ryan

The Bengals reportedly have their eyes on the Super Bowl winning Patriot. Logan Ryan would certainly be an upgrade from Dre Kirkpatrick. Pro Football Focus ranked Ryan as the 16th best CB of 2016, while Kirkpatrick was ranked at 53. Logan will be competing with the likes of Malcolm Butler for the Patriots money, so it is likely that the Patriots won’t match any offers that the Bengals throw up.

A.J. Bouye

In my opinon, A.J. Bouye is the best CB available (Butler was tendered by the Patriots). Rumor has it that the Pro Bowler’s new contract will be around $12 million. That may be too steep of a price for the Bengals to pay. Mike Brown should pull the trigger on PFF’s #7 CB if they want to drastically improve their defense, though.

Prince Amukamara

Personally, this is the guy I want the Bengals to grab. He was PFF’s #25 CB in the league, but may get paid less money than he deserves because of the free agent CBs ahead of him. Amukamara could be a star, and the Bengals should want him lining up alongside WJIII. In 2016, Amukamara allowed only around 50% of passes thrown his way to be completed. He was also only flagged twice, which is immensely better than Dre Kirkpatrick or Adam Jones’ constant penalties.

When the free agency officially opens up, it will be interesting to see if the Bengals actually participate. Historically, the Bengals are inactive during the free agency. So if the Bengals pick up one of the three names above, it will be a delightful change of pace for the franchise.

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Today is one of the most exciting days of the year. This afternoon, free agents will be able to sign with other teams. The engine is already revving up, with Danny Woodhead reportedly going to the Ravens and DeSean Jackson going to Tampa Bay. Today will certainly be no less exciting for the Bengals. Andrew Whitworth, Dre Kirkpatrick, and Kevin Zeitler are all on the block today. Most believe the Bengals won’t be able to keep all of them, either. This will be your hub for all Bengals related Free Agency news.

Bengals re-sign Brandon LaFell (March 8)

Brandon LaFell will remain a Bengal for at least two more years. Yesterday, the Bengals signed LaFell to a two-year deal worth $10 million. LaFell stepped up last season when A.J. Green went down with an injury. The Green, LaFell, and Tyler Boyd trio could be dangerous next season.

Patriots sign Stephon Gilmore (March 9, 8:56 AM)

Stephon Gilmore isn’t a Bengals player, but this could have a huge impact on the Bengals’ plans. With the Patriots signing the Bills’ CB, that means that Logan Ryan will be leaving New England. If the Bengals want to get a top CB, Logan Ryan is a name to keep your eyes on.

Rams sign Andrew Whitworth (March 9, 9:25 AM)

This hurts. Despite hints that Andrew Whitworth wanted to stay with Cincinnati, he has signed with the Los Angeles Rams. Whitworth has spent his entire career with the Bengals, so it is surprising that he will likely spend his final years with another team. The Rams signed Whitworth to a three-year deal worth $36 million.

Stay tuned to this page for updates on Bengals Free Agency news.

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The Bengals offensive line struggled last season. There’s no doubt about it. Bengal fans need to get used to this because it is only going to get worse.

Kevin Zeitler is signing with the Bengals’ instate rivals, the Cleveland Browns. This follows earlier news that Andrew Whitworth will be leaving Cincinnati for the Los Angeles Rams. The Zeitler news broke just minutes ago.

The #Browns are signing guard Kevin Zeitler to a massive contract, more than $10M per year, source said.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017

His deal is reportedly worth $60 million for five years. That makes him the highest paid Guard in NFL history. Think about that, fellow Bengals fans. The Bengals just lost the highest paid Guard in NFL history.

Zeitler joins an offensive line that should be pretty good, with the likes of Joe Thomas, Joel Bitonio, and JC Tretter. It also leaves the Bengals stuck with an O-line led by Russell Bodine, Cedric Ogbuehi, and maybe Eric Winston.

Wow.

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Finally, some good news coming out of Cincinnati. Dre Kirkpatrick re-signed with the team and will line up alongside William Jackson III and Darqueze Dennard next season. Many fans hoped for Logan Ryan or Prince Amukamara to come to town, but its a nice change of pace. Typically, the Bengals won’t fight for free agents. Just look at Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler. However, the team reportedly fought hard to keep Kirkpatrick.

The #Bengals are keeping CB Dre Kirkpatrick, source said. They fought for him and get it done.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 9, 2017

This likely spells the end for Adam Jones. Pacman was involved in the latest of his many off-field scandals earlier this year. The 5-year deal is likely the next step in releasing Jones. If Kirkpatrick was to leave, that would leave the Bengals with only two viable starters at the CB position. Keeping Kirkpatrick probably means that Jones is on his way out.

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The Bengals will keep one of their offensive line free agents. Eric Winston signed a one-year deal with the team today. It’s unclear what the specifics of the contract are. Though, it is likely just a way to improve the O-line after Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeiter’s departures.

Happy to be headed back to Cincy! #WhoDey

— Eric Winston (@ericwinston) March 10, 2017

Eric Winston will enter his 11th season, his 4th with the Bengals. He will likely be used to mentor the younger Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher. Winston took over for a struggling Ogebuehi last year, but it is likely that Ogbuehi will get the start in 2017. Ogbuehi will have a full off-season to prepare for his spot at left tackle while Fisher moves up to right tackle. Both should make some solid progress under Winston.

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Last week was the most disappointed I’ve been in the Bengals franchise in a long time. The team let star offensive linemen Andrew Whitworth go and didn’t even try to keep Kevin Zeitler. Domata Peko and Karlos Dansby’s departures were only the icing on the cake. This organization is in shambles. Mike Brown and co. have only re-signed three of their free agents and claim that they only have $2-$3 million more to spend, despite having $27 million according to the NFLPA. The Bengals can still salvage a little piece of the free agency however. Here are some moves that they could make.

Sign Andre Smith

Andre Smith is a familiar name to Bengals fans. He played Offensive Tackle in Cincinnati for 7 seasons, starting in 77 games. Not only was he a solid lineman, he was a key piece in the great offensive line that led the Bengals to five straight playoffs. Andre Smith is set to visit the Bengals today, and could likely be signed to a small, one-year deal. Smith would likely play back-up and, alongside Eric Winston, play mentor to the younger linemen.

Sign Keenan Robinson

The Giants linebacker is set to visit the team sometime soon. The thought of signing Keenan Robinson is scary. He would make a great addition to the aging Linebacker corps, and is young enough to stick around for a little while. Could you imagine Vontaze Burfict, Vincent Rey, and Keenan Robinson with Rey Maualuga and Nick Vigil as alternates? That’s scary. However, the question really comes down to whether the Bengals want him or Reuben Foster. If the Bengals go through with signing Robinson, that makes it likely that they won’t draft Foster. Foster has upside, but you already know that you’re getting a solid player out of Robinson. To me, this makes Keenan Robinson valuable.

Sign Connor Barwin

Connor Barwin is a Pro-Bowler. The Eagles DE is set to visit with the Bengals sometime soon. It would surprise me if he left Cincinnati without a contract. Barwin may not physically fit the bill that Marvin Lewis wants in his DEs. Barwin is 6-4 and 264 lbs. Carlos Dunlap is 6-6 and 280 lbs while Michael Johnson is 6-7 and 272 lbs. However; Barwin is a strong guy who could be the pass-rusher that the Bengals are looking for. The only question with Connor Barwin is if he play in a 4-3 scheme. Until last season, the Eagles ran a 3-4. When they switched to 4-3, Barwin’s production declined. Having played a year in 4-3, however, could allow him to easily adapt to the Bengals system. There is an alternate at DE in the coming days, however.

Trade A.J. McCarron to the Jets for DE Sheldon Richardson

When I heard about this rumor, it made me happy. Sheldon Richardson is a good player who definitely fits the mold that Marvin Lewis has for DEs. Richardson can be the pass-rusher who is destined to save the Bengals’ defense. It seems unlikely to happen now with the Bears release of Jay Cutler. The Jets likely aren’t looking to steal away A.J. McCarron. I have always been an advocate of trading McCarron so that you at least get something for him. Though with the O-Line in the shape it is in, I understand having a solid backup.

It is only likely that one of these things happen, probably most likely the Barwin signing. The Bengals feel that they don’t need to spend money on free agents to fix this team. I disagree, but who am I? Stay tuned for to the Armchair All-Americans for any free agent information regarding the Bengals.

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The Bengals brought back one of their own this Tuesday when the announced the signing of tackle Andre Smith. Smith was drafted by the Bengals in the first round of the 2009 NFL Draft. For the first few years, his career was plagued for injuries, weight issues, and the infamous “40 Yard Dash”. During his contract year, Smith seemed to have put everything together and became one of the premier right tackles in the league. Since then, his play has dipped, but he has been serviceable ever since. After leaving the Bengals in 2016 for the Vikings, he hurt his tricep and spent most of the year on IR. With the Bengals letting their two best linemen walk in free agency, adding depth was a necessity.

According to Bengals.com, the Bengals signed Andre Smith to play guard, instead of his usual position. This is largely because the Bengals let right guard Kevin Zeitler walk out the door. In an offseason that has all but completely decimated the offensive line, adding a veteran like Smith should help remedy this problem.

One of Andre Smith’s weakness at right tackle was his inability to block speed rushers. Inserting him at right guard negates that problem because Smith won’t have to deal with those speedy outside rushers. He can focus on what he does best, mauling defenders in the running game. One of the major goals coming into the 2017 season is to improve the running game. While there is a huge hole left by Zeitler, Andre Smith will do his best to fill the gap.

In an offseason that has seen many Bengals veterans depart, it is nice to see one come back. While the offensive line is left with huge question marks, the Bengals hope that Andre Smith will bring stability to an unstable unit.

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