Bengals Have Discussed Adding A Player Like Dwight Freeney, But Looking For Right Player At Right Price

Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin was asked about possibly signing veteran DE Dwight Freeney after he met with the team a few months ago.

“We have the ability right now. We have a spot open so we’ve talked about some things,” Tobin said, via Bengals.com. “We feel good about the roster as it is. If there’s an opportunity to add another piece at the right position at the right price we’ll think about doing it. From our standpoint in personnel, the roster is never set. We’re always open to improvements if we can find them. Who knows what will happen, but it’s a pretty quiet time around the Bengals facility right now.”

Tobin explained a new addition, even one as accomplished as Freeney, won’t be guaranteed anything heading into training camp.

“I think you always weight the ramifications of adding a guy. Anybody that we bring in at this time of the year is going to have to make his way,” Tobin said. “We’re not going to be signing anybody – I don’t care if it’s an 8-time Pro Bowler or a college free agent – there’s no guarantee for anybody you bring in at this point. Whoever we sign if we sign somebody will have to prove their value and will have to make the club. And they’re going to have to be better than who we already have on the club. At the end of the day we’ll make some tough cuts – we always have – and this year won’t be different. But we’re going to keep the 53 best players for sure.”

Freeney has said previously that he’s “95 percent” certain he’ll be playing for a team in 2016.

“I’m going to play again next year,” Freeney said. “It’s 95 percent. But I can’t see that 5 percent happening.”

Freeman still thinks Freeney could end up back with the Cardinals, but if not he sees the Saints, Patriots and Texans as three teams who could make sense for him.

It’s worth mentioning that Freeney also worked out for the Falcons.

Freeney, 36, is a former first-round pick of the Colts back in 2002. After spending 11 years in Indianapolis, Freeney signed on with the Chargers as a free agent and spent two seasons in San Diego.

Last year, the Cardinals signed him to a one-year contract and were rewarded with a productive year from the veteran pass rusher.

In 2015, Freeney recorded nine tackles, eight sacks and three forced fumbles over the course of 11 games. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 51 edge rusher out of qualifying 110 players.

We have him featured in our Best Available Free Agents list.