Bengals Formally Interviewed And Met South Carolina Safety D.J. Swearinger

With the Cincinnati Bengals facing a significant shortage of reliable and productive safeties in the defensive backfield, it only forces one to strongly conclude that safety will be one of, if not the top, need this offseason. Whether it's free agency or the NFL draft, figure that new faces will mix with old to develop rebuild personnel in the secondary.

According to our man on the scene Jason Garrison, the Cincinnati Bengals formally interviewed South Carolina safety D.J. Swearinger this weekend.

Swearinger said he has meetings set up both with the Ravens and Bengals. Both teams are in the market for new safeties

— Jason Garrison (@JGarrisonSBN) February 24, 2013

As we've pointed out several times this weekend, don't get too caught up in whom talks to whom. Along with the fact that most teams speak with most prospects anyway, it's hardly an indication that the team is going in one direction or the other. For example, do you know how many times the Bengals spoke with defensive tackle Geno Atkins during the predraft process in 2010? None.