Billy Price signs rookie deal with the Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals signed first-round pick Ohio State center Billy Price. His contract is through 2021 with the option of a fifth year in 2022.

The Cincinnati Bengals have gotten first-round pick Billy Price, Ohio State center, under contract as of Monday. The contract is a standard rookie deal of four years through 2021, but being a first-round pick means Cincinnati has the opportunity to make a fifth-year option for 2022 before signing an extension. Hopefully, we will see Price worth that extension as the most recent fifth-year option for tackle Cedric Ogbuehi was declined this offseason.

Price played three years at guard before moving to center his senior year at Ohio State. He set school records for most starts and consecutive starts along the offensive line. During all four of his seasons at Ohio State, the offense ranked 20th or higher in the country in rushing. Price will bring some much-needed help to a Cincinnati line that struggled last year after losing veterans like Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler.

Playing big competition in college including two Big Ten Championships (2014 and 2017) and one National Championship (2014) he should be an upgrade over former center Russell Bodine who left for the Buffalo Bills this offseason. Due to a partially torn pectoral muscle suffered at the NFL combine, Price will not be able to participate in the upcoming OTA’s. He was able to run with the offensive line at rookie minicamp and is spending time with the linemen learning the new schemes. He should be ready to go come training camp.

Next: Bengals OTA's begin Tuesday

Of the eleven draft picks drafted by the Bengals, only two remain unsigned. Third-round picks Sam Hubbard and Malik Jefferson should be inking their deals in the coming week or two. The Bengals OTA’s began yesterday and Price, while not able to take on defensive linemen, will have every opportunity to learn from veterans and new offensive line coach Frank Pollack in the coming weeks.