Bengals sign former first-round pick Eli Apple

The Cincinnati Bengals are stealing from their AFC North rival in NFL free agency.

Give the Bengals credit, they’re try their best to surround Joe Burrow with talent, albeit on the defensive side of the ball. After signing one of the best slot cornerbacks in all of football in former Pittsburgh Steelers CB Mike Hilton, the Bengals are now bringing in another corner who could’ve been heading to their AFC North rival.

The Steelers had very little time to act, as they released Steven Nelson earlier on Tuesday after trying desperately to find a trade partner. Pittsburgh had trouble trading a player many knew would eventually be released, saving the Steelers $8 million in the process.

Eli Apple was floated as a replacement by some in Pittsburgh. While Apple has struggled to make much of an NFL impact since being selected out of Ohio State in 2016, he faired far better with New Orleans and eventually Carolina than he did in New York pre-2018. Apple is headed to Cincinnati.

The Bengals are starting from scratch at cornerback

Eli Apple joins Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton and Trae Waynes — all new to Cincinnati in one form or another. Apple will compete with Darius Phillips for a depth roster spot, which is precisely where he would’ve fit in in Pittsburgh.

Not signing Apple isn’t a major blow to the Steelers, who still have Joe Haden and Cam Sutton manning the cornerback spots. Expect Pittsburgh to draft heavily at that position come late April, while the Bengals appear to be addressing their need via free agency.