2016 Free Agency Recap: AFC North
By Kris Rogers
Cincinnati Bengals
Additions: None
Re-Signs: Brandon Tate, Adam Jones, Vincent Rey, George Iloka, Eric Winston
Departures: Mohamad Sanu, Marvin Jones, Emmanuel Lamur
Coming into 2016, the Bengals had some important decisions to make. With several starters hitting the open market, Head coach and GM Marvin Lewis stuck with his team’s identity and focused on resigning core members of his talented defense.
Forced with their entire secondary hitting free agency at once, the Bengals were able to re-sign strong safety George Iloka and corner Adam Jones to multi-year deals. Iloka penned a 5-year, $30 million contract, and Jones received a three-year, $20 million deal.
In the linebacking corps, Cincinnati was able to resign Vinny Rey to a three-year deal, but lost Emmanuel Lamur to Minnesota. The Vikings, whose head coach Mike Zimmer was a long-time DC with the Bengals, were seemingly tied to every single free agent that came out of Cincinnati, so at least they got one.
On offense, the Bengals lost two receivers to big deals. Marvin Jones signed a 5-year, $40 million contract with the Detroit Lions to help replace retiring Calvin Johnson, and Mohamed Sanu was inked to a $32.5 million contract over five years. Sanu’s addition will give Matt Ryan another capable target after the release of veteran Roddy White. This leaves just the re-signed Brandon Tate and Mario Alford opposite AJ Green.
Notable remaining FAs: Reggie Nelson, Leon Hall, Andre Smith
Next: Pittsburgh Steelers