The Cincinnati Bengals are significant players in free agency, despite outdated myths that could still circulate on the
internet. Although some people are stuck in the 1990s, the Bengals have made significant offseason purchases the
past three years, and they have the opportunity to do so this spring.
In fact, The Athletic names them as the most successful team in free agency over the past four years due to their
extensive and prudent spending. According to their description, these rankings show which clubs have been the most
effective in free agency over the previous four years: “Divide the approximate value by the millions of cash spent, and
you end up with how much approximate value each team produced per million spent.”
Based on that criterion, the Bengals have made the biggest financial contribution to the team. They have awarded
$286,626,529 in free agent contracts since 2020, earning them a 197 added value score according to their criteria.
Due primarily to their defensive upgrades, the Cincinnati Bengals finished first in our overall AV rankings the
previous season. In free agency between 2020 and 2021, the following players were signed: defensive lineman D.J.
Reader, safety Vonn Bell, edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, cornerback Mike Hilton, cornerback Chidobe Awuzie, and
defensive lineman Larry Ogunjobi. After the 2021 season, “that nucleus helped generate a run to the Super Bowl,”
said Daniel Popper.
After a more year of free agency, the Bengals held onto their lead, with the majority of their extra value in 2023
coming primarily along the offensive line. While on their free-agent contracts, guard Alex Cappa and center Ted
Karras, both 2022 signings, started 17 games for Cincinnati in the previous campaign. Last season, Orlando Brown
Jr., a lineman with the Bengals, was also signed to a $64 million free-agent contract; he started 17 games.
Teams will reveal player agreements beginning at noon Eastern Time on Monday, when NFL “legal tampering”
officially begins. This spring, will the Bengals create another major stir?
Yes, according to recent history.
