The Cincinnati Bengals will need to make a tough call on veteran cornerback Mike Hilton in free agency.

Here’s a quick outlook as the Bengals get ready for the offseason.

How much will Mike Hilton get in free agency?

Over the Cap estimates Mike Hilton in the $5-6 million average per year range still. Still, he’s 30 years old and that could swing in either direction depending on what the interested teams have as far as cap space and roster needs.

Case for Bengals re-signing Hilton

Hilton seemed to stick out more as a positive presence for the defense as the season continued, especially once Lou Anarumo simplified things. He still had nice usage as a blitzer and near the line of scrimmage, although he came off the field on third downs. There’s also much to be said about his ability to mentor a young defensive back room.

Case against Bengals re-signing Hilton

The market could really drum up his number beyond what the Bengals want to pay. And there are only so many roster spots to go around if the Bengals want to slant younger with Cam Taylor-Britt, DJ Turner, Dax Hill, DJ Ivey and Josh Newton. That’s five corners already before other free agents and draft picks. There are likely at least three roster locks at safety already, too. There’s also the matter of whether he even fits with the new defensive coordinator.

Verdict

Re-sign at the right price. A safe and predictable answer, sure. But getting Hilton back on a short deal would be the right move, especially with so much uncertainty around a cornerback room with CTB erratic and Hill and Turner coming back from injuries.