You've all heard the buzz by now. The Cincinnati Bengals are expected to dip their toes in the free agent safety market when the floodgates open next week.
It shouldn't be a huge surprise to anyone. The position was a major weakness in Cincinnati's usually stout defense in 2023. Be it from Nick Scott's inadequacies, or Dax Hill's inexperience, things have to change in 2024.
The Bengals not only should sign a safety this year, they'd be fools not to with how the market is shaping up.
It's a total buyer's market at safety right now
On top of an abundance of mid-20's types at the position entering the free agency market for the first time in their careers, several notable veteran safeties have been recently released.
Eddie Jackson, Kevin Byard, Jordan Poyer, and Justin Simmons are all available to be signed in a totally crowded pool of free agent safeties.
The Bengals have been known to avoid the older options free agency provides, but their presence only helps the Bengals land one entering his prime. This should have the Bengals ready to pounce.
Much like it's wise to draft where the draft is strongest, clubs can maximize their free agency dollars by plucking from a position group that has the most supply.
It creates a depressed market, and leads to instant value. Is there anything that sounds more like what the Bengals would want?
More supply compared to demand not only hurts the available safeties' pockets, it hurts some of their chances of landing a true starting gig. This also bodes well for the Bengals as any safety they sign will likely become part of a three-person unit along with Hill and Jordan Battle.
It's all shaping up for the Bengals to have their pick of the litter to replace Nick Scott, better fit Hill in their defense, and prevent a plethora explosive plays in 2024 and beyond.
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