Top candidates for the Bengals to claim on the waiver wire

The Cincinnati Bengals are likely to make at least one claim on the waiver wire and there are plenty of candidates up for grabs.

There are hundreds of players set to hit the waiver wire after every NFL team was required to trim their rosters on Saturday. The Cincinnati Bengals will have the first priority, giving them the ability to select from any of the youngsters now looking for a new organization.

It’s a serious opportunity to add underrated talent to the backend of the squad, and one the front office won’t take lightly. Here are some of the top candidates to be plucked off the market in the coming day.

Sidney Jones, CB

Perhaps one of the biggest names set to hit the wire, Sidney Jones is a former second-round pick with plenty of talent. Unfortunately, injuries have derailed the beginning of his career. However, the former Washington defensive back was able to show plenty of flashes across the 12 contests he suited up for a year ago.

Perhaps a reduced role and fresh start could help Jones stay healthy and allow him to live up to the potential he possesses. For a Cincinnati secondary that has suffered their own injuries, he could wind up being an important pickup.

A.J. Green, CB

A.J. Green went undrafted out of Oklahoma State but had a very impressive training camp for the Browns. In fact, star corner Denzel Ward had this to say about the underrated DB,

"“Someone I’d say has definitely caught my eye with more reps as guys got injured is A.J. Green. He’s been having a great camp and making plays when he’s been out there. Making plays on ‘1′s’, or whoever he’s been out there with, so I feel he’s definitely stepped up.”"

It all depends on how the Bengals’ front office graded Green leading up to the draft. If he was on their radar, he could be a nice piece to develop moving forward.

Francis Bernard, LB

The Bengals are in the midst of sorting out their future within the linebacker room, rostering numerous young players at the position. If they’re interested in adding yet another guy bursting with potential, Francis Bernard could be their guy.

Those within the Dallas Cowboy’s community were very surprised to see Bernard get waived. Reports indicated he had an outstanding camp with a couple of “wow” moments.

Picking up Bernard would likely mean moving on from Jordan Evans, who is one of the few players who has experience in the linebacker corps. In other words, it would be a risky move but one that could pay off, making it worth keeping an eye on.

Rasul Douglas, CB

Another defensive back released by the Eagles, Douglas has the kind of experience that makes him a tempting option on the waiver wire. He’s participated in 46 contests (including 18 starts) on his way to defending 25 passes and coming away with 5 interceptions.

It’s not every day a former third-round pick that has shown as much as Douglas becomes available. Cincinnati would be wise to jump on the opportunity.

Conclusion

Outside of the four players listed here, there are obviously plenty of other options out there. One includes wide receiver Hakeem Bulter, who has tremendous physical attributes. However, the Bengals are already carrying plenty of pass-catchers, and those on the backend of the depth chart are expected to play big roles on special teams.

That’s just one example but as a general rule of thumb, it seems more likely that the team picks up a corner, defensive tackle, or linebacker. Perhaps even an offensive lineman if a quality option becomes available, although that’s unlikely in an offensive line starved league.

No matter who the Bengals pluck off the wire, the roster is likely not set in stone and more moves can be expected shortly.