The Cincinnati Bengals might have a surprise or two left for fans.
Case in point — the front office looked done after spending massive money in the first week of free agency, only to get a win with Vonn Bell.
Wave 3 of free agency could still provide some value and admittedly, the Bengals are quite familiar with this wave.
OT Jason Peters
Peters is old (38) and injury-prone. But he was also a decent tackle last year and if he’s been sitting on the market this long he might not have a ton of leverage.
If nothing else, Peters could provide interesting depth and a wealth of knowledge to Jonah Williams at what is potentially a bargain.
OL Evan Boehm
At this point it’s about age and upside, lest the Bengals have to settle for an interior name like John Jerry again.
Boehm struggled last year over eight games in Miami. But he’s been with three different teams over four seasons since entering the league via the fourth round. He might be worth throwing into a competition on the interior.
EDGE Cameron Wake
There’s a Wake connection along the Bengals coaching staff and at 38, he might have to settle for familiarity on a cheap deal.
Wake, who has 101 sacks since 2009, still put up nearly 20 over the last three years and would be a superb rotational piece boosting an already-deep front seven.
EDGE Ezekiel Ansah
Does Ansah have anything left?
The former top-five pick got in 11 games last year with his new team and managed 2.5 sacks after just four the year prior. He’s still a guy with 7.5 or more in a season four times, including 12 and 14.5-sack outings, so he might be worth a look if it’s a cheap deal.
DL Derek Wolfe
Wolfe has long been mentioned alongside the Bengals.
D.J. Reader’s arrival reduces the chances. But it is still hard not to like the idea of the 30-year-old former Bearcats star showing up and further boosting the rotation in the trenches, especially if he’s settling for a smaller deal.
LB Alec Ogletree
How desperate are the Bengals for depth?
Ogletree, a first-round pick in 2013, got cut after two seasons with the Giants because he didn’t match his contract. But there’s a Zac Taylor connection here and he’s still only 28, so he’d make for interesting depth at the right cost.
LB Darron Lee
Lee is a name we’ve brought up a few times. The former Ohio State star and first-round pick (2016) is still only 25 years old.
Yet he’s had his problems, hence the Jets dealing him away and the Chiefs yet to bring him back after 16 games. He’s struggled in coverage at times but if nothing else, he’d look good on special teams.
