5 targets for Bengals in 2022 NFL free agency
By John Buhler
The Cincinnati Bengals have so much cap space to get even better in 2022 NFL free agency.
After shocking the NFL world by making it all the way to Super Bowl 56, the Cincinnati Bengals are in a fantastic position to get even better as a football team in 2022.
The Bengals are swimming in available cap space with roughly $48.8 million as the new league year approaches. Though the Bengals are not known for being willing to eat a cent on any contract, that number could go up if they cut a few players. With the fourth-best salary cap situation in the league, the Bengals are more than capable of reloading heading into next season.
Here are five marquee players the Bengals could prioritize in the upcoming free agency period.
Cincinnati Bengals: 5 players to target in 2022 NFL free agency
Kansas City Chiefs. 5. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. OT. Orlando Brown. player. 124
Orlando Brown would be a great fit on the Bengals, but the Chiefs will want him
Though the Kansas City Chiefs paid a pretty penny to get him ahead of this past season, offensive tackle Orlando Brown will enter free agency as a highly-valued offensive tackle. The former Oklahoma standout is a three-time Pro Bowler in his budding NFL career. While one would think the Chiefs would prioritize bringing him back on a second contract, the Bengals have more money.
Cincinnati opted to go with veteran left tackle Riley Reiff as a means to address their offensive line issues instead of taking someone like Penei Sewell or Rashawn Slater at No. 5 in last year’s NFL Draft. The good news if the Bengals hit a grand slam with that selection by taking Joe Burrow’s college teammate in Ja’Marr Chase with that top-five pick. The Bengals made it to the Super Bowl!
However, the Bengals cannot afford to trot out there another wet paper bag offensive line going forward. The last thing they want to do is to turn Burrow into AFC North Andrew Luck instead of letting their franchise savior progress on his pathway towards becoming the next Joe Montana. The Bengals have a choice to make. They cannot go cheap here, but they also cannot be decadent.
While the Bengals could technically outbid Kansas City for Brown, who is to say he will be coming?