Bengals News (3/23): Could Larry Ogunjobi still be in play?

The Bengals would be fortunate to get Larry Ogunjobi back to help their interior pass rush.

8 former Cincinnati Bengals who still need a team for 2022
When the legal tampering period first got underway, Larry Ogunjobi was one of the first players to agree to a deal, initially agreeing to terms on a three-year deal worth $40.5 million. Not even a week later, however, it was revealed that Ogunjobi failed his physical and the deal would not go through.

Larry Ogunjobi reunion could still be on for Bengals in free agency
Ogunjobi’s back on the free-agent market after a massive three-year deal worth $40.5 million with the Bears got nixed due to a failed physical pertaining to his foot injury suffered during the playoffs.

Cincinnati Bengals 7-round mock draft after free agency rebuilds line
Ted Karras (center), Alex Cappa (guard) and La’el Collins (right tackle) fix three of the four in a stunning win for the organization. Now looking at the draft, they don’t have to be locked into the need in the first round.

Source – Cincinnati Bengals waive OL Fred Johnson less than an hour after signing him
Less than an hour after the Cincinnati Bengals announced the reserve offensive tackle had signed a one-year deal with the team, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter that Johnson was waived.

Cincinnati Bengals release cornerback, sign wide receiver to one-year contract
Irwin is a second-year player out of Stanford University, originally was a college free agent signee of Miami in 2019. He joined the team mid-way through the 2019 season and has since played in nine games, with three catches for 39 yards, and three punt returns for 31 yards.

Bengals finalizing deal with free agent OT La’el Collins, per report
According to NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, the Bengals agreed to a deal that prevented Collins from going and visiting another team. According to The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr., it’s a three-year agreement.

Bengals add to defense in Mel Kiper’s new mock draft after free agency
Now that the Cincinnati Bengals have landed three major upgrades to the offensive line, the first round of the 2022 NFL draft is completely open to best-player-available or one of the lesser needs on the defensive side of the ball.

Around the league

Falcons GM Fontenot on dead-money cap hit from Matt Ryan trade: ‘We’re taking it on the chin this year’
“We’re taking it on the chin this year,” Fontenot said. “But taking it on the chin this year and how you look at where we are next year, it’s significant. If not, if we don’t do that, we could’ve restructured his contract or done something with his contract and kept him this year, and then we would still have to trade him after the season or if we keep him next year then you’re still in a really tough salary cap situation. With this, you take it on the chin this year and it’s our job to find value in free agency and to draft well and to put a good football team on the field this year, even with that dead cap. It’s an obstacle, but we look at it as an opportunity, and that’s our job. We’re not making excuses about it. Us taking it on the chin right now, it makes a significant difference for us next year and the future.”

Daniel Jeremiah 2022 NFL mock draft 3.0: Packers nab 2 receivers in Round 1 after Davante Adams trade
After a wild opening wave of free agency — with signings, releases and trades reshaping rosters across the league — it’s time to assess the impact on the 2022 NFL Draft. Here’s my updated forecast for the first 32 picks in April.

Top free agent Terron Armstead signing five-year, $75M deal with Dolphins
Former New Orleans Saints offensive tackle Terron Armstead is signing a five-year, $75 million deal with the Miami Dolphins, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport and NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero reported. The deal can reach up to $87.5 million with incentives, NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported.

Matt Ryan pens thank you to Atlanta: ‘I have long thought and often said that I would retire as a Falcon’
“I have spent more than a decade playing for you, the fans of Atlanta. You have made all of this worth it, and all of this means something more than what could ever be reflected in a statistic. I appreciate each and every one of you, and I thank you, so sincerely, for the life you have given me all of these seasons.”

Chargers CB J.C. Jackson on facing Davante Adams, Raiders: ‘They better be ready for us’
The AFC West’s stockpiling of talent this offseason included receiver Davante Adams becoming a Las Vegas Raider and corner J.C. Jackson signing with the Los Angeles Chargers, setting up a battle between the newcomers.

Pete Carroll would like Seahawks to bring back QB Geno Smith
“I’d like to get Geno hooked up and get him back in (here). He showed us a good deal of command of our offense when he played last year and he has a terrific understanding of it so he’s out in front of the other guys that are involved in the competition in that regard,” Carroll said. “By the time he got a couple games under his belt after sitting for three or four years, he functioned in the Jacksonville game as well as you can function and he had a beautiful game there. And that looked like the culmination of his return, kind of. And unfortunately we didn’t get to capitalize to see what the next step would be because Russ came back and played. But (Smith), he popped the ball around, he was fast with the football and got it out and did some really cool things. So that’s the first thing.