NFL Draft Info - Cincinnati Bengals

The offseason has started for 30 NFL teams. While the Bengals are knee deep in the scouting process, free agency is just around the corner. Here are some important upcomming dates in the NFL offseason, and a look at Cincinnati's upcomming free agents.

Feb 18: Start of NFL Scouting Combine, Indianapolis, Indiana

Feb 19: Deadline for designating franchise and transition players (Teams will have 1 of each "tag" this offseason)

Feb 24: Conclusion of NFL Scouting Combine

Feb 27: Free Agency starts, this includes:
- Deadline for submission of qualifying offers by clubs to their restricted free agents whose contracts have expired and to whom they desire to retain a right of first refusal/compensation
- Deadline for clubs to submit offer of minimum salary to retain exclusive negotiating rights to their players with fewer than three seasons of free agency credit whose contracts have expired
- Beginning of free-agent signing period & Beginning of trade period

Bengals Free Agents

Unrestricted: RG Bobbie Williams, TE Reggie Kelly, K Shayne Graham, FB Jeremi Johnson, RB Larry Johnson, DT Tank Johnson, S Roy Williams, DT Shaun Smith

Restricted: LG Evan Mathis, TE J.P. Foschi, CB David Jones, WLB Brandon Johnson, SLB Rashad Jeanty, DL Frostee Rucker, MLB Abdul Hodge, TE Daniel Coats

*RESTRICTED FREE AGENT (RFA):

"A player whose contract has expired and has fewer than six tenured years

in the league. He may sign an "Offer Sheet" with any other team, but his original team has seven days to match

any offer he receives. If the original team does not match the offer, compensation will be awarded in the form of

draft picks from the signing team. The round and quantity of picks are determined by the "Qualifying Offer" made

by the player's original team. If a RFA is tendered a minimum qualifying offer the compensation is the

equivalent of the round in which that player was originally selected. If that player was originally a rookie

free agent, no compensation is awarded." - NFL.com

Look for the Bengals to retain all of the Restricted Free Agents. The only player that could give them trouble is LG Evan Mathis. He wasn't drafted by the Bengals, so no compensation would be awarded if Mathis signs with another team.

As for the Unrestricted Free Agents, they should try to resign (RG) Bobbie Williams, and (DT) Tank Johnson.