Cincinnati Bengals Free Agency Preview: Could There Be a Hidden Gem Among Guards Outside of PFF's Top 100?

Jay Morrison | Feb 17, 2025

Jan 13, 2025; Glendale, AZ, USA; Minnesota Vikings guard Dalton Risner (66) against the Los Angeles Rams during an NFC wild card game at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images / Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI – The last couple of weeks we have looked at some of the top guards with expiring contracts to create a free agent shopping list for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Guard was the second-most represented position among Pro Football Focus’ Top 75 pending free agents, which is good news for the Bengals as they look to upgrade the interior of their offensive line through signings and the draft.

But there are some other guard options outside of PFF’s top 100.

They may not be answers, per se. They could just be inexpensive depth pieces. Or there could be a surprise starter among the group.

Previous Guard Profiles

Trey Smith

Will Fries

Teven Jenkins

Kevin Zeitler

James Daniels

Mekhi Becton

Zack Martin

Patrick Mekari

Aaron Banks

Will Hernandez

Rather than featuring those outside of PFF’s top 100 individually, as we did with the ones above, let’s take a snapshot look at each player.

Dalton Risner

2024 team: Vikings

Age: 30

Previous contract: One year, $2.4 million

2024 PFF pass-blocking rank: 8th of 66 guards with at least 500 snaps

Risner missed the first seven games with a back injury suffered in training camp and only played sparingly in his first two games back. But he started every game after that in Minnesota’s playoff run. The 2019 second-round pick had started at least 15 games in his first five seasons in the league.

Spotrac.com projects a two-year, $6.8 million contract.

Liam Eichenberg

2024 team: Dolphins

Age: 27

Previous contract: Four years, $8 million (rookie deal)

2024 PFF pass-blocking grade: 60th

A 2021 second-round pick who was taken four spots after the Bengals traded out of No. 38, Eichenberg played left tackle as a rookie, left guard in 2022, center in 2023 and right guard last year. He’s started 52 of a possible 64 games.

Spotrac projects a two-year, $9.9 million contract.

Robert Jones

2024 team: Dolphins

Age: 26

Previous contract: One year, $2 million

2024 PFF pass-blocking rank: 57th

Last year was Jones’ first as a full-time starter as he was in the lineup for all 17 games at left guard. An undrafted college free agent out of Middle Tennessee State in 2021, he’s made 30 starts in his four seasons in Miami.

Spotrac projects a three-year, $10.5 million contract.

Ben Bredeson

2024 team: Buccaneers

Age: 26

Previous contract: One year, $3 million

2024 PFF pass-blocking rank: 53rd

A fourth-round pick of the Ravens in 2020, Bredeson started all 17 games for Tampa Bay last year and started 16 for the Giants in 2023.

Spotrac projects a one-year, $1.1 million contract.

Jon Feliciano

2024 team: 49ers

Age: 33

Previous contract: One year, $2.8 million

2024 PFF pass-blocking rank: N/A

Feliciano appeared in all 16 games for San Francisco but only started seven. A fourth-round pick of the Raiders in 2015, he has appeared in 113 games with 61 starts in his career.

Spotrac projects a one-year, $1.4 million contract.

 Cody Whitehair

2024 team: Raiders

Age: 33

Previous contract: One year, $2.5 million

2024 PFF pass-blocking rank: N/A

After eight seasons in Chicago, the 2016 second-round pick signed with Las Vegas in 2024 and appeared in 12 games with just three starts. He’s played in 136 games with 121 starts in his career.

Spotrac projects a one-year, $1.9 million contract.

Greg Van Roten

2024 team: Giants

Age: 35

Previous contract: One year, $2 million

2024 PFF pass-blocking rank: 36th

Age certainly is an issue with Van Roten, but he has started 17 games in each of the last two seasons. He entered the league as an undrafted college free agent and saw action in just 10 games over two seasons with the Packers.

Van Roten played in the Canadian Football League for three years before returning to the NFL. He has started at least 10 games in six of his previous seven seasons with the Panthers, Jets, Bills, Raiders and Giants.

Spotrac projects a one-year, $2.2 million contract.

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