The Cincinnati Bengals might be staring down the barrel of a critical NFL draft but it hasn’t stopped the team from still being active in free agency.
Thursday, the team signed running back Jacques Patrick, formerly of the XFL’s Tampa Bay Vipers before the league shuttered its doors, according to ESPN’s Ben Baby.
Patrick had originally gone undrafted out of Florida State in 2019 before heading to the XFL.
A big 6’3″ and 235 pounds, it isn’t hard to envision Patrick’s role in the Bengals backfield as a short-yardage guy. He drummed up 254 yards and two scores on 60 carries over five games.
It’s quite interesting the Bengals hit Patrick with a three-year deal, though that might’ve been the cost of winning him on the market now that teams were free to sign XFL players.
Realistically, Patrick’s arrival — and FSU reunion with guys like Auden Tate — won’t stop the Bengals from adding another running back during the draft if the value is right.
