How the Cincinnati Bengals can retool their defense this off-season

If the Bengals feel they can get a few more solid years out their two cornerstones, Dunlap and Atkins, then they certainly have a fair argument. You could also argue that now is the time to trade them while they still have value. That is a big decision the front office must make. More than likely they stay and their stance is understandable if they do.

Cutting Preston Brown helped the linebacker unit improve towards the end of the season. That is not a knock on Brown, who seemed like a good locker room presence as well as a community guy. However, his lack of athleticism showed on the field in an era where it is a must. Maybe the secondary needs the same kind of youth movement.

Dre Kirkpatrick has been another solid locker room guy, although his production has not lived up to his salary. He probably doesn’t yield much in trade value but cutting him would free up around $9 million with little dead money. B.W. Webb is another player the Bengals need to consider moving forward. He doesn’t make a huge dent in the salary cap, but is he someone you see as a building block moving forward?