Most are near the bottom of the league at their positions.

The Cincinnati Bengals (4-6) have let some big players go the past two offseasons, especially on defense.

And they tried to sell fans on getting cheaper replacements who, when combined with Draft picks, would supposedly keep the defense competitive, allowing the team to re-sign Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

Well, none of that happened.

As you can see below, this year’s free agent class has been a collective non-factor on the field.

Sheldon Rankins is average at best and is the top of the class so far. Geno Stone has been terrible (85th at his position). Zack Moss was getting stuffed before he got hurt (52nd for RBs). Vonn Bell hasn’t been his old self (69th).

And the oft-injured Trent Brown is out for the season.

Here is where each of the Bengals core FA signings rank, per PFF:

▪️Rankins – #82/134
▪️Stone – #85/92
▪️Moss – #56/60
▪️Bell – #69/92
▪️Brown – hurt

$26.5M in 2024 cap space that could be easily replaced by late Day 3 picks and UDFAs.

Not ideal roster building. https://t.co/BDIP0l3vLG

— Gridiron Grading (@GridironGrading) November 10, 2024

This can’t be chalked up to bad fortune. None of these were big-money signings. They were classic Mike Brown / Katie Blackburn signings, nothing like the additions of DJ Reader in 2020 or Trey Hendrickson in 2021.

Nope. After the Joe Burrow contract, the Bengals’ front office has returned to “value” deals.

We’ll see if Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase are good enough to drag this team into the NFL Playoffs despite the deteriorating roster around them. Up next, they get the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.