Fansided

NFL Free Agency 2020: 3 Targets for each team

By Nicholas McGee

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals in the game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 15: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots throws a pass during the first half against the Cincinnati Bengals in the game at Paul Brown Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field before the game against theNew Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 15: Cory Littleton #58 of the Los Angeles Rams runs onto the field before the game against theNew Orleans Saints at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on September 15, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals

1. Cory Littleton
2. Dante Fowler Jr.
3. D.J. Reader

With a need at effectively every position on the roster, the Bengals can go in any direction they want in free agency. Joe Burrow will inevitably become the number one overall pick and become the Bengals’ starting quarterback.

For Burrow to be an instant hit, however, the Bengals must make vast improvements on both sides of the ball. The hope will be that he can elevate some of the offensive talent around him, but on defense there are substantial holes in need of addressing.

Head coach Zac Taylor will be all too aware of the impact Littleton and Fowler can have and the Bengals would be well advised to try reunite them with the former Los Angeles Rams quarterbacks coach.

Littleton is a legitimate every-down linebacker while Fowler is coming off a career year that saw him rack up 11.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. He also forced a pair of fumbles and made six pass breakups.

At just 25, Fowler’s best years are ahead of him and he would take attention away from the likes of Geno Atkins and Carl Lawson. Improving a porous rush defense has to be a focus for Cincinnati and Reader, one of the league’s top run stuffers, would help the Bengals make significant strides in that area.

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