Bengals working out Freeney

[*ochocincos*]

(06-20-2016, 01:08 AM)Bilbo Saggins Wrote:
Is the opportunity cost of cutting one of them really that high?  Say they decide to cut whoever looked the worst out of Hunt/Clarke - would that guy go on to sign a multi-year deal with another team or would they be back on the market in one year's time?  Would they even be able to beat out the rookie/FA crop the year after?  

As far as Freeney himself goes, he seems like too perfect of a fit to pass up.  This is a nasty D.  This is a deep D.  This D however may have an achilles heel: they don't appear to have a lot of guys who can put heat on the QB in a hurry.  Atkins and Dunlap are elite, MJ is good, Peko is mostly a run stuffer, and the other guys are either question marks or fit under the category of "solid rotational guy at best".  Signing Freeney would cover for injury(2013 flashbacks of four guys unable to generate any pressure   ), allow for more plays where only 4 dudes rush, and would allow for a rotation where you don't have to rely on a bunch of DTs and 3-techniques to put heat on a qb.  Without adding another true DE who can bend they're going to have to either blitz more often or cover for a longer period, especially if Dunlap or Atkins have to miss any time.  

I'd roll the dice on Freeney all day long.  On top of how our D depth looks, he has that, "Swing hard in case you hit" factor going for him.

I would think there would be more willingness to drop Hunt and keep Clarke given Hunt is in his final year of his contract and he'll be 29 at the start of this coming season.
Will Clarke only just turned 25 last month.

I'm with you that this team doesn't really have many guys who can get after the passer. I'm hoping that we see a quality edge rusher selected (early) in next year's draft.