Bengals unlikely to be aggressive in free agency

[*ochocincos*]

(02-19-2023, 02:17 PM)Trademark Wrote: The cap will obviously start affecting us,” Bengals pro scouting director Steven Radicevic said, via The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. (subscription required). “We are not going to be able to go out and spend and pay a bunch of guys. We are going to try to keep our own guys.

“The last couple of years we’ve been able to add in free agency and add some pieces places where we were missing guys and add some depth, add starters through free agency. Now it’s going to be keeping our guys, sustain the roster we have and then build through the draft and waiver claims.”

https://www.profootballrumors.com/2023/02/bengals-unlikely-to-be-aggressive-in-free-agency

This is precisely why I don't think the Bengals are going to go out and get any big-name FAs to upgrade positions.
The Bengals obviously feel their roster the past couple years is championship-caliber (and justifiably so).
They are going to try to keep their own, and they'll go after replacements once they find out whether any of their FAs are departing.
However, by the time that happens, many of the top-tier guys are likely going to be unavailable, so it will be those mid-tier guys who they could end up getting.
They'll use the draft to get guys to groom and add depth.