Cincinnati Bengals free agency 2020: Top 5 targets

Consistency will be key in helping the Bengals turn this thing around. One key piece on their defense that will be hitting unrestricted free agency this spring is cornerback Darqueze Dennard. The former first-round pick out of Michigan State University has spent his entire six-year NFL career with the Bengals. At 28 years old, he might be worth bringing back on a new deal.

Though never a Pro Bowler for the Bengals, Dennard has played in 77 games on the Cincinnati defense. While injuries slowed him down in 2019, having played in only nine games last season, Dennard had played in double-digit games for the Bengals in the five seasons prior. In short, the Bengals know what they’re getting in Dennard at cornerback and should look to keep him.

While the Bengals’ offense will be a work-in-progress in Taylor’s second year on the job and presumably his first working with Burrow as his franchise quarterback, a savvy veteran presence from a guy who has seen regular-season success in Cincinnati before should be a coveted piece for Tobin to look to bring back.

Ultimately, the Bengals tend to do a good job historically in finding solid talent in the defensive backfield. This may be a position they look to upgrade in the upcoming NFL Draft, but if they want to remain consistent defensively for their best chance at success, then bringing back Dennard on a short-term deal might be the play here for the Bengals.