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Bengals News (2/16): Targets for protection

The Bengals need to bring in some offensive linemen during free agency, and here are some names they could look to.

New Bengals wide receivers coach Troy Walters is excited about his new opportunity
After a college career Walters became the Pac-12's all-time leading receiver as the classic over achiever (Walters says think Alex Erickson), he scrounged for 102 catches in 98 games as a backup for four NFL teams. He then embarked on a coaching career that took him to six schools in 11 years that included two stints as a prolific offensive coordinator and a nomination for the Frank Broyles Award honoring the top assistant in the nation.

Cincinnati Bengals 2020 Top Next Gen Stats Performers
Wide receiver Tyler Boyd recorded the NFL's top Incredible Yards After The Catch with his 72-yard touchdown reception against the Miami Dolphins. The play was expected to go for three yards, but Boyd extended the reception for an additional 69 yards. Incredible yards after the catch predicts the expected yards after catch an average receiver should gain on each reception by surveying the Next Gen Stats tracking data the moment the ball reaches the receiver.

Bengals 7 round 2021 mock draft with Sewell, Chase off the board
However, as the draft inches closer, the likelihood that one of those two falls to the fifth overall pick seems to decrease. Originally, it seemed like a foregone conclusion that three quarterbacks would go within the top four picks, guaranteeing the Bengals a shot at one of the top two non-quarterback prospects.

NFL free agency 2021: 10 offensive linemen the Bengals should target
After failing Burrow during his rookie season, Cincinnati has already been proactive by going back to Frank Pollack as line coach. Now the next stop on the path to improvement is free agency, where the team will have plenty of cap space to put toward shoring up the need with quality players.

Bengals 2021 offseason player profile/projection: G Michael Jordan
This offseason will be an important one for the Bengals as they try to build the roster following a fifth straight losing season. With the free agency signing period set to begin on March 17, Local12.com is going to take a daily look at a player on the roster leading up to that date, where they stand contractually heading into the 2021 season and where they may fit on the 2021 roster

Around the league

Teams with questions at quarterback entering the 2021 offseason
NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, Kim Jones and Mike Giardi examine which teams around the league face questions at the quarterback position entering the 2021 offseason.

Daniel Jeremiah 2021 NFL mock draft 2.0: Saints select Drew Brees' heir apparent
With the Reese's Senior Bowl, a blockbuster QB trade and even one high-profile pro day in the books since my first mock draft of the year was published, here's my updated forecast for Round 1 of the 2021 NFL Draft:

Vincent Jackson, former Chargers and Buccaneers receiver, dies at age of 38
The discovery followed an effort from police to locate and speak with Jackson just four days earlier as a result of a missing persons report filed by Jackson's family members. Authorities found Jackson at the Homewood Suites and spoke with him, assessing his well-being before canceling the missing persons case.

Falcons GM Terry Fontenot: 'You always bring in quarterbacks' whether in draft or free agency
New Falcons general manager Terry Fontenot recently joined the Huddle & Flow podcast with NFL Network's Jim Trotter and Steve Wyche. While Fontenot didn't explicitly suggest how the Falcons would buffer the QB room, his comments suggest he's open to using that top draft pick on a signal-caller if it's the right fit.