:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63331457/usa_today_11901685.0.jpg)
The Bengals are bringing in former Bills offensive tackle Jordan Mills in for a free agent visit today.
Some FA visits: Veteran OT Jordan Mills is visiting the #Bengals tonight and tomorrow, source said. Meanwhile, RB Alfred Blue is visiting the #Jaguars today, as they look to build depth.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 1, 2019
Mills has been a very durable option at offensive tackle for a few seasons now. He has over 1,00 snaps the past three seasons, and that is about where the positives end for Mills. He has struggled pretty much his entire career to find any sort of consistent success.
Mills is 28-years-old, so he still has a few more of his prime years left. However, he was Pro Football Focus’ 70th ranked tackle last season. Pro Football Focus hasn’t been a big fan of him in general over his career either. This is what they had to say about Mills in his free agent profile:
Since 2016, Mills has led the Buffalo Bills in total pressures allowed and has posted the lowest pass-blocking grade among the team’s qualifying offensive lineman. The ceiling hasn’t been very high for Mills thus far in his career, only earning a game grade above 80.0 just once since entering the league in 2013.
Now, that isn’t to say if the Bengals signed Mills it would be a bad thing. He has all the makings of backup tackle in this league. It is a matter of if the Bengals can get him for the right price or not. Of course, one would think if he is demanding too much that the Bengals would opt to try and draft a couple of tackles than overpay him, but you never know.
At this point, the Bengals really need to put as many bodies at the tackle position as possible. They currently only have Cordy Glenn, Bobby Hart and Kent Perkins under contract that are listed as tackles.
It would also be nice if the Bengals signed Mills that it wouldn’t deter them from drafting a couple of tackles in order to create a competition for right tackle in the event Hart continues to struggle at that position. They also need to start planning for the future at left tackle since Glenn has two seasons left on his contract, and he will be turning 30 this season.
Cincinnati could also just be doing some due diligence early in the event they can’t properly attack the tackle position in the draft, so if a deal doesn’t happen soon, you shouldn’t rule it out as a post-draft signing.
Mills may not be an ideal option at tackle, but he could be a good veteran to add as depth to the position.