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The Cincinnati Bengals have officially signed free agent defensive back Ricardo Allen to a one-year contract for 2021, the team announced Monday. Terms of the deal have yet to be disclosed.
Allen, weighing in at 5-9 and 186 pounds, is a seventh-year player by way of the Purdue Boilermakers. He was originally a fifth-round pick of the Atlanta Falcons in 2014.
In 77 career games (all with Atlanta), Allen has racked up 321 tackles, one sack, 26 pass deflections, 11 interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
Because the Falcons cut him this offseason, Allen will not count against the Bengals’ potential compensatory picks for the 2022 NFL Draft.
Looking ahead, Allen has a good chance of making the 53-man roster due to his ability to play safety and slot cornerback. And if the Bengals don’t re-sign Shawn Williams, who’s still a free agent, then Allen’s spot on the roster should feel fairly secure heading into training camp.
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