The Bengals today re-signed LB Preston Brown to a three-year contract through the 2021 season. Brown, a sixth-year player in 2019, had been due to become an unrestricted free agent at the start of the new league year at 4 p.m. today.
Brown joined the Bengals last offseason as an unrestricted free agent, after spending his first four seasons (2014-17) with the Buffalo Bills. In his first year in Cincinnati, he served as the team's No. 1 MLB and recorded 42 tackles and two INTs, despite being limited by ankle and knee injuries to just seven games (all starts).
Prior to joining the Bengals, he had played in all 64 possible regular-season games (62 starts) since entering the NFL in 2014. He originally was the Bills' third-round draft pick (73rd overall) out of Louisville in the 2014 draft.
Brown, who will turn 27 in October, is a Cincinnati native and graduate of Northwest High School.
Check out the best images of Bengals linebacker Preston Brown from 2018.
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) during an NFL regular season game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, Oct. 21, 2018 in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs won, 45-10. (Ric Tapia via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) celebrates with linebacker Nick Vigil (59) during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
Bengals linebackers Jordan Willis and Preston Brown make a tackle against Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Chris Conley.
Linebacker Preston Brown makes a tackle in a game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) during an NFL football game against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, Oct. 7, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) is seen in action during an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys in Arlington, Texas, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Michael Ainsworth)
The Bengals defense surrounds Miami Dolphins quarterback Ryan Tannehill during a week five matchup at Paul Brown Stadium.
Tampa Bay wide receiver Adam Humphries (10) is tackled by Cincinnati free safety Jessie Bates (30) and linebacker Preston Brown (52) during the first half of an NFL football game in Cincinnati, Oh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) looks on prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Chicago Bears on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018 in Cincinnati. (NFL Photos via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) chases down Indianapolis Colts running back Nyheim Hines (21) during the first half of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2018. (AP Photo/John Minchillo)
Cincinnati linebacker Preston Brown (52) and linebacker Jordan Evans (50) celebrate an interception during the first half of an NFL football game against Tampa Bay in Cincinnati, Oh, Sunday, Oct. 28, 2018. (AP Photo/Bryan Woolston)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) in coverage during a week 4 NFL football game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, Sept. 30, 2018 in Atlanta. Cincinnati won 37-36. (Aaron M. Sprecher via AP)
Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Preston Brown (52) during an NFL preseason football game against the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, Aug. 26, 2018 in Buffalo, NY. The Bengals won, 26-13. (Ric Tapia via AP)
