Bengals must fill void following 'dark day'

Bengals defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo said he didn't want to think about the "dark day" that it would be if he lost starting safeties Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell this offseason. However, that day came Monday and Cincinnati must now fill the void they left.

Bates III agreed to sign a four-year, $64.02 million contract with the Falcons while Bell agreed to sign with the Panthers. Both players had 70+ tackles, four interceptions and eight passes defensed in 2022.

But with the Bengals preparing to pay QB Joe Burrow, it would have been surprising if either safety stayed. 

Cincinnati seemed to draft Bates III's replacement in Daxton Hill with its first-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. Hill provides youth and upside to the position, playing in 15 games as a rookie.

Who will play alongside Hill remains the question. The team resigned safety Michael Thomas Monday, but he has been more of a special teams ace.

Free agency is still in its beginning stages and there are some solid safeties available. Jordan Poyer (4) and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson (6) both rank in the top 10 of Pro Football Focus' top remaining free agents.

The Bengals also have the 2023 NFL Draft in a month and a half to address the position if needed.

Either way, Cincinnati will be heading into 2023 with a new-look secondary. But who cares when you've got Burrow, right?