CINCINNATI — The Bengals had a list of top targets heading into free agency, and coach Zac Taylor says they got the players they wanted.
Despite a 2-14 record last season, Taylor said the eight unrestricted free agents Cincinnati landed in free agency speaks to how the Bengals are viewed outside their own building.
“It’s just encouraging to know that there’s a lot of excitement building around our organization right now,” Taylor said on a Zoom call with reporters Wednesday.
“Guys are excited to be a part of it and look forward to getting to know those guys. Who knows the next time we’ll get a chance to actually meet them physically. But it was certainly a fun process.”
Tops on the list of new Bengals are defensive tackle D.J. Reader and cornerback Trae Waynes, though all eight still must pass physicals.
Next will come the NFL draft with the Bengals holding the No. 1 overall draft pick and expected to take quarterback Joe Burrow after using the franchise tag on wide receiver A.J. Green last month.
Reader was the biggest piece of Cincinnati’s new free agents, agreeing to a four-year, $53 million deal. The 6-foot-3, 347-pound tackle spent the past four years with Houston, and he has started 52 of his 61 games. He has 154 tackles with 6 1/2 sacks and was a fifth-round pick out of Clemson in 2016. The Bengals like his versatility.
“Can play a lot of different positions up front,” Taylor said. “He can be a three-down player for you and really affect the game. He’s great against the run, really affects the pass. Great energy. He’s somebody (defensive line coach) Nick Eason has known a long time back to both their Clemson days.”
Waynes agreed to a three-year contract for $42 million. The other new Bengals include safety Vonn Bell, linebacker Josh Bynes, cornerbacks LeShaun Sims and Mackensie Alexander, wide receiver Mike Thomas and guard Xavier Su’a-Filo.
Six of the free agents come from playoff teams this past season, which Taylor said didn’t hurt either.
“When you get a guy fresh off a playoff run, that’s still very fresh in his mind of how he approached the season, how they attacked it as a team,” Taylor said. “It certainly helps our culture when you add guys that have recently been playing for a championship, and obviously that’s where we intend to be very quickly.”
Six of the free agents brought in also play defense.
Waynes had seven interceptions in his 74 games after being the 11th pick overall in 2015 out of Michigan State by Minnesota. Bell has eight sacks, seven forced fumbles and seven recovered fumbles in four seasons with New Orleans.
“Trae was certainly a guy we felt good about,” Taylor said. “I watched every target he had this year. He brings a lot of toughness to that side of the ball as well, that position as well. He’s a hungry guy who’s played some good football.”
Bynes, who received a one-year contract, now is with his fourth team after playing for Baltimore, Detroit and Arizona. He has 4 1/2 career sacks, four interceptions and three forced fumbles. Sims and Alexander also are on one-year deals.
The Bengals landed Su’a-Filo with a three-year deal the day after free agency started. The 6-foot-4, 310-pound Su’a-Filo has started 53 of 75 games starting his career with Houston before spending the past two seasons with Dallas.
The Bengals also re-signed G Alex Redmond to a one-year contract. Redmond, a fourth-year player in 2020, signed the restricted free agent tender the Bengals extended to him on March 16.
