The NFL offseason offers a chance for the Bengals to get better through the draft and free agency.
It will be intriguing to see which of the team's impending free agents remain in the Queen City next season. With a flexible amount of cap space, here's a look at all 12 unrestricted free agents and how they performed this past season.
Preston Brown, ILB
For the first time in his NFL career, the injury bug bit Brown as he ended the season on Injured Reserve. He signed with the Bengals last spring after spending the first four years of his career with the Buffalo Bills. During his tenure with the Bills, Brown never missed a game and was tied for the NFL lead in tackles during the 2017 season. For the Bengals Brown played in seven games and recorded 42 tackles and two interceptions.
Darqueze Dennard, CB
According to Pro Football Focus, Dennard graded out as the Bengals' best run defender (90.3). In 2018 he played in 13 games with 68 tackles, two forced fumbles and six passes defended. Dennard played primarily in the slot and did not allow a 100-yard receiver the entire season.
Kasim Edebali, DE
Edebali signed with the Bengals on Nov. 20 and played in one game with the team. He was one of the final cuts by the Chicago Bears during the preseason.
Tyler Eifert, TE
Eifert looked back to his 2015 form starting the season with 15 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown. He then suffered a freak ankle injury against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 4 and was placed on Injured Reserve. Eifert has played in just 12 of the 48 games since he tore ankle ligaments in the 2015 Pro Bowl.
Jake Fisher, LT
Fisher played in 11 games and started one of them before going on Injured Reserve with a back injury. He played a career-best 15 games in 2016.
Bobby Hart, RT
Among the unrestricted free agents, Hart played the highest percentage of snaps (99.7 percent) and started all 16 games after winning a training camp battle for the top right tackle position. Hart was a part of an offensive line that helped Joe Mixon earn an AFC rushing title.
Michael Johnson, DE
Johnson served as a team captain and played in 15 games. He rotated on the right side with rookie Sam Hubbard down the stretch. Johnson recorded 33 tackles, a half a sack and one interception for a touchdown.
Tyler Kroft, TE
Kroft played in only five games before suffering an injured foot. He had four receptions for 36 yards. Prior to this year, Kroft played in all 16 games during the 2017 and 2016 season. In 2017 Kroft broke out with 42 receptions for 404 yards and seven touchdowns.
Cedric Ogbuehi, RT
Ogubehi appeared in one game (Week 12 against Cleveland), but was an inactive for most of the year. He was coming off a 2017 season where he played in 14 games at the left tackle position.
Vincent Rey, OLB
Rey was a key special teams contributor for the Bengals in 2018. Named a team captain at the start of the season, Rey played in all 16 games for the seventh time in his career. On the defensive side of the ball, the ninth-year linebacker finished with 19 tackles and one for a loss.
Tom Savage, QB
Savage was claimed off of waivers from the San Francisco 49ers on Nov. 26. He did not play a snap in 2018.
Andre Smith, RT
Smith signed with the Bengals on Nov. 29 after being released by the Arizona Cardinals. He played in three games for the Bengals. Smith played 26 snaps at left tackle against the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular season finale.
CJ Uzomah, TE
Uzomah set career highs with 43 catches for 439 yards and three touchdowns. He also played all 16 games for the first time in his NFL career. With injuries to Eifert and Kroft, Uzomah moved into the starting tight end spot. He also played on special teams throughout the season.
Restricted Free Agents - A restricted free agent is any player with an expiring contract who has exactly three accrued NFL seasons.
Matt Lengel (TE), Trey Hopkins (G)
Exclusive-Rights Free Agents - An ERFA is a player with only one or two accrued seasons, but unlike restricted free agents, ERFAs aren't able to negotiate with other teams. Instead their rights belong exclusively to the team that applied the tender.
Josh Tupou (DT), Brandon Wilson (S), Tony McRae (CB), Alex Redmond (G)
Beginning at Noon ET on March 11, clubs are permitted to contact, and enter into contract negotiations with the certified agents of players who will become unrestricted free agents. However, a contract cannot be executed with a new club until 4 p.m. ET, on March 13. Teams can designate its franchise or transition tag player on Feb. 19.
