There are a couple other Bengals thread but with free agency starting this week I wanted to start a fresh one. NFL teams can begin negotiating deals 3/15 and signing players 3/17. With so many teams in the AFC making big moves this free agency period will decide if the Bengals can finally get a super bowl. 

Bengals Cap Space

• It doesn't matter what the official number is Geoff Hobson said the Bengals are at about $20 million for this free agency period. He always has the "real" cap and puts it out before the period starts. The reason the Bengals don't want to push it to the max is so they can roll over cap space into next season.
• This $20 million is AFTER the $6ish million being paid to the draft class. 
• However, Hobson also said the Bengals are likely going to cut Trae Waynes(frees $11 million) and Trey Hopkins($6 million) to bring the total up around $37 million. 
• The Bengals are in a position to spend not only because of the cap space but the CASH commitment is very low. When a player is signed and given guaranteed money they get it all at signing, but the cap hit is spread evenly over the life of the contract. So even though the Bengals have a certain total cap hit they are paying out a very small number in actual cash this year. Over $40 million of the cap space is just previously paid out signing bonuses. This means they should be able to give quite a bit in guaranteed deals

Resignings:

• Jessie Bates-Tagged(1 yr $13 million)-They could extend him 
• BJ Hill/Larry Ogunjobi-Hobson said the Bengals were going to try to resign one of these two. They need somebody here and can't afford both of them. 
• CJ Uzomah-Hobson also mentioned CJ as somebody they wanted to bring back, they need to make the money work at this position though
• Quinton Spain/Eli Apple-These are the other contributors that may or may not be targets to fill open slots on cheap deals. 

Positions of need:

• DT(3T)-There is nothing on the roster and they need 2 guys here
• CB(outside)-There isnt somebody on the roster to start here
• TE-They need somebody here to start and this is an important position in the offense
• C/G/RT-They need one of each. A big question is if you slot Jackson Carman into one of the guard spots or have to go sign another. Carman was bad and has maturity problems but he is very young and showed potential with his size and elite strength at times. 
• So essentially the Bengals need 6 positions and can average $6 million per position for the first year of the deal. I also don't think the Bengals will avoid filling a position and target it in the draft. They are simply drafting way too late to try something like that. The draft will be building depth and for the future.

Other:

• The rumors around Ryan Jensen have been crazy and so many people talk about him like he is already a Bengal. Hobson also mentioned Brian Allen by name as an under the radar C target.
• DT could get interesting with Joseph Ossai coming back from injury. Ossai was on a tear during camp and showed he could play the EDGE position. The DL needs more pass rush especially from the interior and the possibility of kicking Hubbard to 3T and Ossai/Hendrickson in at EDGE would allow the Bengals to focus that money elsewhere
• S is a sneaky draft need. Going into this year Vonn Bell and Jessie Bates have 1 year left on their deals and S should have VERY good talents at the end of the first. Even if you resign Bates you could pair him with Dax Hill or Lewis Cine moving forward.
• Every report/rumor talks about how badly free agents are trying to get to Cincinnati. The idea of playing on a big stage every week with Burrow and potentially winning the first super bowl for a franchise that is likeable nationally is attractive. I wonder how that really pans out though and if they can get some cheap deals. 
• Lael Collins trade rumors seem to be fizzling out. The Cowboys would have to pay about $9 million to trade him away or can save all of that and cut him. They are in a tough spot from a cap perspective so they may just cut him. A Laremy Tunsil trade aint happening. 
• I think they will get a really good C and G and then an average RT. On defense I think they resign one of the two DTs and then try to go cheap at CB. They will then target CB/DT in the first round before going straight up BPA the rest of the way in the draft.