We've talked about in the past. But I honestly believe that the Bengals have one of the league's best cornerback duos in Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph. Enabling the defense to be more aggressive, both corners held their own, even shutting down, some of the league's best receivers. While Morgan Trent showed he could play ball, he never came across to me as the type of cornerback that could start with this team and flourish. Good role player. And that's not a bad thing. However, he's likely one nasty hit away from being a starter and that could put a severe depression into the confidence of the team's passing defense.
Yes, depth at cornerback is suspect. Trent shows he's decent and David Jones is, at best, a career nickel corner. There's also a reason that the Bengals expressed interest in Phillip Buchanon, who was released by the Detroit Lions last week. The Minnesota Vikings are also interested.
However, free agency isn't the only goldmine to find cornerbacks that could help the team's cornerback depth.
Carlos Holmes writes that the Bengals are checking out defensive back Akwasi Owusu-Ansah (I'm worn out) from Indiana University Pennsylvania. NFL Draft Bible projects him between the fourth and fifth rounds of the 2010 NFL Draft writing, "He has the athletic ability to succeed, combined with his speed, it makes him a tough shut down cover corner. He is a great on special teams as both a kick and punt returner, which will help his stock come draft day."
In 2008, Owusu-Ansah recorded eight interceptions, following that up his senior year with a pair. NFL.com writes:
Owusu-Ansah is an outstanding player at the division II level that will need to make the transition to the talent in the NFL. He is an athletic defender that can play as a rolled up corner in cover two or possible a safety in the box. Owusu-Ansah has excellent instincts and ball skills to maintain leverage as a run defender as well as making plays in the passing game. He is as solid rap tackler and can contribute on coverage units (special teams) as well as being an excellent return specialist at this level. Owusu-Ansah is a prospect that may take a year or two to make the jump to the next level but has the raw athleticism, attitude and measurables to develop into a solid NFL player.
His 4.47 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine ranked third amongst cornerbacks -- by two hundreds of a second -- and his 11.23 60-yard shuttle ranked inside the top ten at his position.
Holmes writes that the Browns are also interested.