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The Bengals are 3-0 heading into their Bye Week, and it's hard to find a hole in this team. However, no team is perfect, and Cincinnati has holes they could look to try and fill on their week off.
Looking at all 22 offensive and defensive starters, there isn't anyone who needs to lose their starting job, but there are a couple of spots that could use some more depth. With Kevin Zeitler dealing with a calf injury that may sideline him for a few more weeks, adding another guard wouldn't be a bad idea.
As of now, T.J. Johnson is the only true backup guard, though Tanner Hawkinson and Marshall Newhouse did play some guard during the preseason. Here's a look at the best free agent guards:
Leroy Harris
Nate Livings
Antoine Caldwell
Otis Hudson
Mike Gibson
Richie Incognito
Danny Watkins
John Sullen
Mike Brisiel
Harvey Dahl
Carl Nicks
Rob Turner
If Nicks is healthy, he'd be a great pickup. Nicks' career took a sudden downturn after he suffered a toe injury that led to a dangerous MRSA infection. He played in only two games last season and missed the Bucs' entire offseason program. Nicks had been medically cleared before he and the team "mutually agreed that they [would] part ways" prior to training camp.
Nate Livings played and started for the Bengals in 2011 before leaving to sign with the Dallas Cowboys, where he flamed out. Mike Brisiel, Harvey Dahl and John Sullen are decent veteran options.
The Bengals are also thin at tight end. Tyler Eifert is still out for another six weeks. Jermaine Gresham hasn't been used in the offense much, but he is a viable weapon who defenses respect. IF he goes down, Kevin Brock becomes the No.1 Tight End. H-back Ryan Hewitt can play some Tight End though as well.
That's scary, and Cincinnati may look to add another veteran TE at some point. Here's a look at who's available.
Joel Dreessen
Jeff King
Leonard Pope
Jermichael Finley
Dustin Keller
Kory Sperry
Justin Jones
Ben Hartsock
Travis Beckum
Kellen Winslow
Blake Annen
Tom Crabtree
The only other position the Bengals are thin at is safety. George Iloka and Reggie Nelson have played great thus far, but Shawn Williams is the only true safety behind them, and he's rarely been seen on the field, outside of special teams, in his first two seasons.
Then there's Taylor Mays; though he's working more as a nickle linebacker/blitzing-safety. If either Iloka or Nelson go down and Mays has to drop back into coverage more, yikes.
Here's a look at a thin crop of free-agent safeties.
Yeremiah Bell
Tyrell Johnson
Omar Brown
Quintin Mikell
Adrian Wilson
Craig Steltz
Isaiah Lewis
Michael Huff
Kerry Rhodes
Kenny Phillips
Jordan Pugh
C.J. Barnett
Ed Reed
Another name to watch for is Champ Bailey, whose played CB his entire career, but is willing to play safety to get another shot.
Free agent CB Champ Bailey, who feels healthy, said he is willing to play nickel or safety if that's what it takes to land a job somewhere.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 24, 2014
The Bengals probably won't add a free agent before facing the Patriots in Week 5, but few, if any of these guys will likely be signed before then. If the Bengals have an injury at any of the aforementioned positions, the list above of available players has the guy(s) they'll probably sign.