The Bengals had a productive legal tampering period to start off the 2020 free agency period. Here’s a breakdown of the front office’s moves.
The legal tampering period is a two-day window in which teams can begin to negotiate with free agents. The period started Monday at 12 pm ET and lasts until Wednesday at 4 pm ET. Up until 4:35 p.m on Tuesday, the Cincinnati Bengals were one of three teams in the league to not make a move. However, the front office then went on to sign former Texans interior defensive lineman D.J. Reader and former Vikings cornerback Trae Waynes.
Signings:
D.J. Reader, DT
The Bengals made a splash late in the legal tampering period, agreeing to terms with the 25-year-old defensive tackle that made him the highest-paid nose tackle in the NFL. Cincinnati locked up the 6’3, 346-pound DT with a four year, $53 million dollar deal. Reader tallied 52 total tackles with 2.5 sacks last year and is highly regarded as one of the best run-stopping interior defensive linemen in the NFL.
Some PFF notes on DJ Reader:
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) March 17, 2020
He was their 4th highest graded DT last year (86.7) -- Run Def (3rd), Pass Rush (12th)
3rd highest Run Stop Percentage (10.9)
8th best in Pass Rush Productivity
Trae Waynes, CB
The Bengals upgraded their secondary on Tuesday afternoon, locking up the 27-year-old cornerback on a three-year deal worth $42 million. The former 2015 11th overall pick played 74 games for the Vikings in his 5-year career, racking up 247 tackles and 7 picks. Waynes is an experienced player, starting all 44 games he appeared in the last three seasons in Minnesota. With uncertainty at the cornerback position, this was a good move for Cincinnati.
Departures:
Darqueze Dennard, CB
The 6 year Bengals veteran was picked up by Jacksonville on a three year, $13.5 million deal. Dennard was a very productive slot cornerback in his time with Cincinnati, racking up 274 tackles, 3 picks, and 22 passes defended while also being highly ranked out of all slot cornerbacks in the NFL.
Per @RapSheet the Jaguars are signing CB Darqueze Dennard
— PFF (@PFF) March 17, 2020
Dennard: 22nd highest-graded CB in 2019 pic.twitter.com/ysJPJbpwXB
Clayton Fejedelem, S
The former Bengals safety and special teams ace agreed with Miami on a 3-year deal. The former 7th round pick played 1,441 snaps on special teams in the past four years in Cincinnati. The 26-year-old racked up 177 tackles, a forced fumble, and a pick his time with the Bengals.
B.W. Webb, CB
The front office decided that they would be terminating Webb’s contract, which takes $2.6 million off the books for 2020. This move hints that things are changing in Cincinnati. By cutting Webb one year into his three-year deal, they are showing they aren’t satisfied with mediocrity.
John Miller, G
Along with B.W. Webb, it was announced Wednesday that they would be parting ways with starting guard John Miller. The 26-year-old started 13 games last season for the Bengals after signing a three-year, $16.5 million contract last March.