Cincinnati Bengals free agency 2021: Top 5 targets

2. Corey Linsley

Not many All-Pro offensive linemen hit the open market via free agency, but Linsley is a notable exception to that rule. He was named to the prestigious squad this offseason after a terrific campaign protecting Aaron Rodgers in Green Bay.

Cincinnati used a first rounder on Billy Price with the hopes that he could turn into that kind of center, but he’s struggled to even hold down a starting spot on the team’s porous offensive line. Finding an upgrade at center is a necessity for the Bengals this offseason.

The only question here is whether or not Cincinnati should pay Linsley the big-money he’ll be looking for in free agency. He’s got a strong history of solid play and 2020 was arguably the best season of his career. He’s hitting the open market at the perfect time.

If the Bengals want to sign him to keep pressure out of Burrow’s face they’ll need to come with a multi-year deal that exceeds $10 million per season. That’s a lot of cash for a position that most teams feel they can fill on the cheap, but Cincinnati can’t afford to take that risk any longer.