Bengals’ scouting of free agents is paying off

PALM BEACH, Fla. — The Cincinnati Bengals have embraced a change in philosophy. In the last three years, the team has signed 11 free agents who are still members of the roster. 2020: D.J. Reader, Vonn Bell 2021: Chidobe Awuzie, Trey Hendrickson, Mike Hilton, Eli Apple

2022: Alex Cappa, La’el Collins, Ted Karras, B.J. Hill and Hayden Hurst

But this isn’t how the Bengals have always operated.

“We have spent more time studying free agents before free agency,” Cincinnati’s executive vice president Katie Blackburn said. “We have invested more time in doing that, and I think we are getting better results with some of the things we’ve been doing. It’s like everything. We looked at it. We improved the way we were doing it. The scouts and the role they play and working with the coaches in terms of studying free agents … We’ve spent a little more time working to find the pieces and the players that will fit our team.”

With only a few holes on their roster following the 2021 season, the Bengals used free agency to overhaul their offensive line. Then the focus turned to re-signing their own players, and they did so with deals for Hill and Apple.

Now, because of how the Bengals have constructed the roster over the last three seasons, Cincinnati is in the best position an NFL team can be heading into the NFL draft. The Bengals pick at No. 31 with no glaring hole to fill. If director of personnel Duke Tobin and coach Zac Taylor want to trade out and acquire more picks, they can, or they can take the best player available and continue to stack the roster.

Regardless of what decision the team makes on April 28, they’ve already positioned themselves to be serious contenders next season because of the work they did in March.