Bengals Free Agency: 5 potential replacements for Brandon Allen in 2022
By Eric Bruns
Mike White
How’s that old saying go? If you can’t beat them, join them? If the Bengals cannot beat Mike White, they should just sign him. Right? During his three starts, he was playing very well. He posted a near 68 percent completion percentage in the win against the Bengals.
The issue here, however, is that while White is a free agent, he’s not an unrestricted one like the other guys on this list. White is a restricted free agent meaning that the Jets can match any offer made to him in free agency to keep him. Would they be willing to outbid the Jets or another team that might see him as a starting option?
Daniel Kelly for Jets Country on FanNation writes:
"The Jets offensive line also has given up an average of 2.8 sacks per game with Wilson, but they surrendered 2.0 sacks on the average against the Patriots, Bengals and Colts when White was under center. The Jets had been giving up 3.6 sacks per game prior to White stepping in. Translation, White made quicker decisions with the football."
Who’s to say that White would be a better starter than Zac Wilson, but I wouldn’t blame the Jets if they wanted to match whatever a team offered him to ensure they have a solid backup behind their young quarterback. Some team might decide they liked what they saw in those three games White started and decide to sign him as a starter.
The Jets are in a better spot to retain White because he is a restricted free agent so it is unlikely that the Bengals could sign him, but he could make a good addition if they did.