Who's in, out for Bengals ahead of NFL free agency? Predictions for Cincinnati's roster
The Cincinnati Bengals are well on their way to shaping their roster for the upcoming season. The team on Monday released veteran guard Alex Cappa after three seasons. This comes on the heels of the Bengals also cutting defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins ahead of the NFL combine.
More cuts are expected in the next week as the Bengals prepare for free agency to start. Cincinnati's front office can start talking to players who are scheduled to become free agents on March 10 at noon ET until March 12 at 4 p.m. ET when the new league year begins.
When the NFL calendar flips, the players who aren't under contract with their respective teams are officially free agents meaning they are free to sign with any of the other 31 teams. The Bengals will be looking to add players externally while they also focus on giving extensions to three of their best players in Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase and Trey Hendrickson. Higgins is the only one of those players not under contract for next season.
What happens next with Higgins and the Bengals is coming soon as the team placed the franchise tag on him Monday. Chase will be playing on the fifth-year option next year and Hendrickson has one year left on his contract.
The Bengals have needs at defensive tackle, edge, linebacker, safety and guard as they enter this portion of the offseason.
Let's take a closer look at who is likely to be cut in the next few days, who is expected to return and who's up in the air.
Who's not expected to return to the Bengals:
Cornerback Mike Hilton
Defensive end Sam Hubbard
Safety Vonn Bell
Linebacker Germaine Pratt
Who's likely coming back:
Tight end Mike Gesicki
Offensive lineman Cody Ford
Up in the air:
Safety Geno Stone
Defensive tackle B.J. Hill
Defensive end Joseph Ossai
Running back Zack Moss
Linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither
Tackle Trent Brown
Defensive end Cam Sample
The Bengals will likely have over $50 million in cap space when they get to free agency next week. This includes cuts the team makes, and the money Cincinnati will set aside for draft picks, college free agents and injured players.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Bengals free agents, salary cap predictions before NFL free agency
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