Cincinnati Bengals: 6 players entering the last chance saloon in 2021
By Kyle Smith
Cincinnati Bengals entering last chance saloon – No. 5: Billy Price
A former first-round pick out of Ohio State, Billy Price has failed to live up to his draft slot. After the Bengals failed to secure Frank Ragnow, they panicked and selected Price with the 21st overall pick. Picking for need rarely works in the NFL draft, and that’s the pigeonhole that the Bengals found themselves in.
In his three years in Cincinnati, Price failed to solidify a spot on the offensive line, losing the starting center spot to Trey Hopkins. During his time as a backup interior lineman the last two seasons, Price has totaled 796 snaps allowing four sacks and eight penalties. PFF gave Price a grade of 41.9 in 2019 and 50.7 in 2020, which isn’t surprising if you watched the guy play. He was not good.
The Bengals declined Billy Price’s fifth-year option as they look to officially move on from the Ohio State alum. Price could be released from the roster this season if he cannot beat out Michael Jordan or Trey Hill for a rotational interior spot.
Cincinnati Bengals entering last chance saloon – No. 4: Trae Waynes
Trae Waynes is one of the Cincinnati Bengals’ most expensive free-agent additions, as he signed a three-year, $42 million contract in 2020. Unfortunately, Waynes missed the entire 2020 season as he tore his pectoral muscle early in the offseason.
Waynes now heads into the 2021 season as the team’s leading cornerback opposite recent free agent signing Chidobe Awuzie.
In an ideal world, Trae Waynes is able to solidify the cornerback position for Cincinnati and help push this defense to the next level. If he fails to live up to the massive contract he signed just last season, Waynes could be released following this season.
If the Bengals do decide to cut ties with him, they would save $11 million per Spotrac. Waynes needs to step it up after missing all of last year and show why the Bengals dished out so much cash to him.