:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68983904/1229817666.0.jpg)
The Cincinnati Bengals are re-signing cornerback Tony Brown, per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport.
The #Bengals are re-signing CB Tony Brown, source said, as the former #Bama star (and #Packers defender) stays in Cincy.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 17, 2021
Brown, a fourth-year player in 2021, was originally a college free agent signee by the Los Angeles Chargers in 2018. Brown eventually spent the 2018 and 2019 seasons with the Green Bay Packers before the Bengals acquired him via waivers just before the 2019 season concluded. Brown later signed a one-year deal with the Bengals in March of 2020.
Last season, Brown appeared in 13 games and started one of them. He finished the season with seven solo tackles and one pass defensed in 187 defensive snaps played.
Brown, who turns 26 this July, was a restricted free agent this year and the Bengals declined to tender him. He became an unrestricted free agent as soon as the new league year began at 4:00 EST on Wednesday afternoon. The Bengals likely did this so they could re-sign Brown to a cheaper deal compared to what it would’ve cost to tender him as a RFA.
We’ll update this story when details of the contract emerge...