Outside speculation has suggested the Cincinnati Bengals aren’t helping themselves in the eyes of free agents and player reps with things like the Trey Hendrickson contract standoff.

Recent signings in free agency, though, suggest otherwise.

The Bengals were a top destination for tight end Noah Fant not all that long ago. And now Dalton Risner is aboard, too. That’s two of the top free agents at their respective positions this time of year, with Risner’s comments after signing sort of saying it all.

“I think this organization fits the mold for me as a person,” Risner said, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “Blue-collar guy that loves to work his tail off. I’m oriented around family, I care about values, and that’s what this organization is built off. From what I hear, anyway, it’s a family affair. It’s just where I want to be. It’s somewhere I think I can entrench myself.”

The Bengals have done well for themselves in free agency over the last few years. And they might not be done over the next few weeks, either, considering safety Justin Simmons (another top-of-his-position guy) has said he wants to play for the Bengals.

All the other noise aside, the Bengals will remain a hot spot for free agents for one reason: Joe Burrow.

In time, maybe the Bengals fix some of the public perception issues from their standoffs with the likes of Hendrickson. But in the meantime, a Joe Burrow effect is very real.