Offseason Acquisitions: Cincinnati Bengals

I asked myself, before free agency started, a question.  What do the Bengals need to do to improve?  The answer was to address both the tight end and wide receiver positions.  They did so in the draft.  TE Jermaine Grehsam was the 23rd overall selection in the draft by the Bengals in the 2010 draft.  He was considered to be the best tight end in the draft, but missed part of Oklahoma’s 09 season due to injury.  Cincinnati also selected another Big 12 standout,  WR Jordan Shipley out of Texas, with the 84th pick overall.

Antonio Bryant signed a four year deal with the Bengals in March.  He was brought in to start opposite Chad Ochocinco and replace Lavernues Cole, who struggled with the team his first year in Cincy last season.  Bryant has played in the NFL for seven years and in 2008 had a career high in receptions while in Tampa with 83.  The Bengals also drafted Dezmon Briscoe out of Kansas with the 191st pick.

Between Gresham, Bryant, Shipley, and Briscoe I would say Carson Palmer is going to have plenty of new targets to throw to.  But, one acquisition I didn’t mention was that of former Jaguar 1st round pick Matt Jones.  Jones had 65 receptions in 2008 with the Jags.  But after a 2008 arrest for cocaine possession and a later probation violation, Jones found himself sidelined last season.

The Bengals have had history of bringing in players with character issues or past legal troubles (usually both).  Adam “Pacman” Jones is another player the Bengals will give a chance at redemption.  After being the 6th pick overall in the 2005 NFL draft, Jones only has 4 career interceptions and didn’t play at all last season after being released by the Cowboys in 2008.

The Bengals also selected DE Carlos Dunlap out of Florida with the 54th pick in the 2nd round.  They attempted to further address their defensive back depth, drafting CB Brandon Ghee out of Wake Forest.  Another notable draft choice was that of Texas OLB Roddrick Muckelroy, who led the Longhorns in tackles in 2008 with 114.  The Bengals did a good job of mixing in some new young talent with some veterans with low price tags.