This year will be a crucial season for a handful of Cincinnati Bengals players. Those whose contracts expire at the 2022 season will be keen to either earn a new deal or highlight their value ahead of free agency.
While the Bengals will be more concerned about re-signing headline players like Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins next offseason, they will have several decisions on lower profile names.
Finding a balance between keeping a team that reached the Super Bowl in 2022 together and freeing up the money to bring back the star performers will be a delicate job. Let’s look at the players currently set to test the market.
All stats are provided by Pro Football Reference unless noted.
Germaine Pratt could lose out to younger players at linebacker
Germaine Pratt was a third-round selection out of NC State in the 2019 NFL Draft. He has proven to be a good value, making yearly strides, culminating in his best performance to date last season.
Pratt played a pivotal role next to Logan Wilson on the second level of the Bengals’ defense. He totaled 120 tackles on the season and two interceptions, the second securing Cincinnati’s first playoff win in 31 years. The play will forever be ingrained in Bengals folklore, meaning Pratt will always hold a special place in fans’ minds.
Even though Pratt converted from safety to linebacker in college, he has become known more as a downhill thumper for the Bengals. Ultimately that could be part of the reason he moves on. The more athletic Akeem Davis-Gaither took on more third-down responsibilities last season, and that role could expand to earlier downs.
Verdict: The Bengals will likely have to stump up big money for Logan Wilson at the position, so the hope will be that Davis-Gaither can build up to a full-time role and Pratt will be sacrificed to seek a more lucrative deal elsewhere.
Vonn Bell’s leadership qualities could lead to a renewed deal
Arguably no position on the roster is facing a more extensive short-term overhaul than safety. The Bengals continue to make no progress with a Jessie Bates deal, with him likely to play on the tag in 2022 before becoming a free agent next spring. The other starter, Vonn Bell, will also see his contract expire after this year.
It was always likely the position would be addressed in the draft but surprising to see how that happened. Few expected the Bengals to find their long-term replacement in round 1, Daxton Hill, or to double dip later for Toledo’s Tycen Andersen.
Although those two will be the future of the backend of the Bengals’ defense, don’t dismiss Bell too soon. He was 26 when he signed his second career deal moving from New Orleans to Cincinnati. That contract, $18 million over three years, has proved good value.
Bell’s performances improved, including a recent jump in pass coverage ability, and he has become a vocal leader of this group. Finding those veteran voices was difficult for this coaching staff. There were early clashes with the likes of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, and they needed to find a new generation to buy into their vision.
Bell’s performances improved, including a recent jump in pass coverage ability, and he has become a vocal leader of this group. Finding those veteran voices was difficult for this coaching staff. There were early clashes with the likes of Carlos Dunlap and Geno Atkins, and they needed to find a new generation to buy into their vision.
Verdict: The Bengals will hope to find a digestible number for a new contract, where Bell’s role may diminish in terms of snaps, but they can maintain one of the more vital voices of the locker room.
Bengals could take another bite of the Apple
Eli Apple ultimately repaid defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s trust during the 2021 season. At what could have been a position of weakness, Apple ably manned one of the outside corner spots. It was one of the more surprising aspects of the Bengals’ Super Bowl run.
Apple somewhat encapsulated the underdog mentality of the team last year. Unable to make it work at other stops, the former first-rounder spent the season using former fans’ jibes to stoke his fire. While Apple cannot be considered an elite corner, he understood his role and performed above expectation.
Apple somewhat encapsulated the underdog mentality of the team last year. Unable to make it work at other stops, the former first-rounder spent the season using former fans’ jibes to stoke his fire. While Apple cannot be considered an elite corner, he understood his role and performed above expectation.
It should be an intriguing camp battle between the pair. The hope is that it fuels Apple to step up and maintain his level of play while also realizing that Taylor-Britt is the future for the position. Other teams will likely be hesitant to invest in Apple considering his failures at other teams; therefore, the Bengals could view him as a depth piece past this year.
Verdict: Apple starts this year and the Bengals retain him for a couple of years at a reasonable price to be fourth choice corner and spot starter.
Bengals likely to freshen up the running back room for 2023
The Bengals’ offensive staff was bullish about how they planned to use Joe Mixon in 2021. He was set to become a proper 3-down back; however, the plan was eventually shelved. Mixon became less visible in critical, short-yardage situations with Samaje Perine stepping in.
Perine was a reliable stand-in for the most part. He contributed 246 yards at 4.47 yards per carry in the regular season. Unfortunately, fans will most remember him for his failure to secure a first down on a short third down late in the Super Bowl.
Zac Taylor and staff trust Perine and believe he offers the best reserve option to Mixon as things stand. That could change in 2022 with the emergence of Chris Evans. The second-year running back is a proficient blocker and more dynamic than Perine in the passing game.
If Evans can supplant Perine, you can expect him to see out his contract and move on. Mixon has two more years after this one, but there will be an eye on the future with him approaching 30. The 2023 NFL Draft could see the Bengals invest in a rookie with all-around potential to fill their third running back slot.
Verdict: Perine has been a trusty servant to the offense, but this year should be his last before the running back room needs a refresh.