Just In: Cincinnati Bengals Add Surprisingly Risky Defender for 2024 Offseason Move
In a surprising turn of events, the Cincinnati Bengals remained notably inactive on the initial significant day of the 2024 free agency period.
Despite expectations of swift action, the team let several promising opportunities slip away before eventually making minor signings with their third-string tight end and running back. It wasn’t until late in the evening that the team made a move significant enough to relieve their fans’ tension.
Cincinnati Bengals Acquire a Role Player from a Team in the Same Division
After keeping their fans waiting anxiously for hours, Cincinnati Bengals eventually made a move by acquiring Baltimore Ravens’ free safety Geno Stone. Stone, a seventh-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, mainly acted as a secondary player for Baltimore, often coming in during crucial moments of the game. In the latest season, Stone seized an opportunity stemming from starting safety Marcus Williams’ injury and had an impressive year, tallying 68 tackles, seven interceptions, and nine passes defended.
Stone has signed a very team-friendly two-year contract worth up to ]6 million guaranteed and an option for a second season. With the team still having multiple significant weaknesses, it is concerning that their only external signing has been a risky agreement with a relatively unknown safety, considering their past experiences. Picture this: a safety drafted on the third day, with a mediocre performance except for one standout season where they adapted well to the system. Sound familiar? It should, as this mirrors how the team acquired Nick Scott from the Los Angeles Rams last year. Scott had a disastrous season, leading to a consensus that he was a regrettable signing. Now, Cincinnati has brought in another player with a similar background, raising doubts about this new addition.
To begin with, let’s examine the qualities that Stone brings to the team. He excels as a center fielder but lacks proficiency in defending at the line of scrimmage. His low rush defense grade of 33.1 from Pro Football Focus (PFF) supports this assessment. On the bright side, Stone’s coverage grade of 84.9 ranks 7th in the NFL, showcasing his strength in this area. However, a significant concern lies in PFF’s tendency to prioritize turnovers, which may inflate the perceived value of interceptions.
While interceptions are valuable, there is a valid argument that sometimes they result from fortunate circumstances rather than outstanding skill. Analyzing Stone’s interception highlights on YouTube reveals that most of them were secured during unsuccessful Hail Mary attempts by opponents, often inaccurately thrown directly towards Stone. While it’s not to say Stone lacks talent, his interception count of seven loses some luster when many of them resemble catching routine punts. While it’s optimistic to hope for scenarios where Cincinnati holds a comfortable lead against strong opponents like Detroit, it’s doubtful that Stone alone would be a game-changer in such situations.
In reality, Cincinnati still lacks a solid starting option for right tackle or nose tackle. Numerous viable candidates for these positions were available at reasonable salaries that would suit Cincinnati’s budget.
Despite this, Cincinnati chose to sign a player who essentially serves as a backup safety, even with first-round pick Dax Hill and top-10 player Jordan Battle already on the team.
