The Cincinnati Bengals have some tough calls to make at cornerback and across the defense this offseason as new coordinator Al Goldne arrives to attempt a quick fix.
Cornerback is a question mark because of the dud Cam Taylor-Britt put up, atop season-ending injuries to Dax Hill and DJ Turner just as they were starting to show signs of emerging.
Given this outlook, free-agency projections from the likes of CBS Sports’ Jordan Dajani currently do things such as suggest the Bengals go out and sign New York Jets cornerback D.J. Reed:
The Bengals will have some extra money to spend if they allow Tee Higgins to walk in free agency, and they should use that money on the defensive side of the ball. The versatile veteran D.J. Reed would be a nice addition to Cincinnati’s secondary, especially with Mike Hilton looking for a new contract. He recorded 32 passes defensed and two interceptions over his last three seasons with the Jets.
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Reed just posted a solid 70.7 PFF grade last year and is 28 years old, so he’s looking at a nice-sized market soon.
The Bengals will have to decide whether they want to bring Mike Hilton back again and whether draftee Josh Newton is ready to step into a bigger role.
But the Bengals do figure to add at least one veteran cornerback to the roster as they forge ahead in win-now mode. Hill and Turner, plus at least one more draft pick, figure to round out the now-later depth chart in 2025.