PFF Bengals FA Grade

[*ochocincos*]

(04-13-2022, 10:37 AM)Soonerpeace Wrote: CINCINNATI BENGALS: GOOD

Additions:

Franchise tagged: S Jessie Bates III (one year, $12,910,000)
Signed: G Alex Cappa (four years, $40,000,000)
Signed: G Ted Karras (three years, $18,000,000)
Re-signed: B.J. Hill (three years, $30,000,000)
Re-signed: S Michael Thomas (TBD)
Re-signed: QB Brandon Allen (one year, TBD)
Signed: TE Hayden Hurst (one year, TBD)
Re-signed: CB Eli Apple (one year, $4,000,000)
Signed: T La'el Collins (three years, $30,000,000)
Departures:

TE C.J. Uzomah
CB Darius Phillips
From the moment Super Bowl LVI concluded, all discussion centered around the Bengals focused on what they would do to address their porous offensive line this offseason. The team answered the bell right out of the gate once free agency began, signing Cappa and Karras in the first wave of moves. They weren’t done, however, capitalizing on the Dallas Cowboys’ releasing Collins to bring yet another former LSU Tiger up to Cincinnati.

At right guard, Cappa’s 71.4 pass blocking grade in 2021 is almost 20 points higher than any Bengals right guard from 2021. At center, Karras’ 76.9 pass-blocking grade in 2021 is 20 points better than Bengals 2021 center Trey Hopkins, and at right tackle, Collins’ 76.2 pass-blocking grade in 2021 is almost 20 points better than Bengals 2021 right tackle Riley Reiff. Cincinnati made massive improvements from center through right tackle without breaking the bank on any of the three deals.

As a whole, Bengals have upgraded their team from last year, at least on paper.
Going from Uzomah to Hurst is probably about a push at worst, might be a (slight) upgrade.
Hurst's best season (88 targets, 56 rec, 10.2 YPR, 6 TDs) is just a bit better than Uzomah's (63 targets, 49 rec, 10.1 YPR, 5 TDs).

Collins is an upgrade at RT, even over Reiff.
Cappa is a clear upgrade over anything Bengals put at RG last year.
Karras is likely an upgrade over a fully-healthy Hopkins. At least in the run game.

Other than potential worry about Carman slotting in as starting LG, it's really just about depth and/or future starter replacements heading into the draft. That's a spot Bengals haven't been in since...I can't even remember.

As a whole, I would grade the FA as a B.
A better starting CB and LG would have bumped it to an A for me.