The Cincinnati Bengals sit in an unfamiliar spot as the playoffs start this year.
Those Bengals, despite going 9-8, were eliminated while the three other teams in the AFC North went to the postseason in one of the toughest divisions ever.
With that as the backdrop, the Bengals and fans are now free to take a future-minded look at the playoffs.
That means looking at players scheduled to be free agents in just a few months from teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and Miami Dolphins, to name a few.
Here’s a look at some of the free agents to watch as the playoffs start.
Chiefs DT Chris Jones
This is the big one, right? Jones, still 29 years old, inked a one-year, $19.5 million restructure with the Chiefs after a little contract spat and continues to be one of the very best in the NFL. Jones was a big target for the Bengals well before DJ Reader’s big injury — now even more so.
Dolphins DT Christian Wilkins
Like Jones, Wilkins would have been a no-brainer of a target even before Reader’s injury. PFF has him at 10 sacks this season and he’s still just 28 right in the middle of his prime, making him a nice centerpiece candidate.
Texans DT Teair Tart
Talk about the most obvious target on the list. Tart, 26, was waived in December and the Bengals put in a claim on him, with the Texans instead getting him. He’s got big upside and fits the system, clearly.
Texans TE Dalton Schultz
Want to solve the No. 1 tight end problem without spending a first-round pick on the spot? Schultz might just fill that role. He’s 27 years old, 6’5″ and solid in all areas. He’s averaged better than 10 yards per catch over the last three seasons while scoring 18 touchdowns.
Chiefs CB L’Jarius Sneed
Are we going to put it past the Bengals spending massive amounts of money on a No. 1 cornerback after giving up so many explosives? Because Sneed is young and an elite breakout player worth the cost.
Texans CB Steven Nelson
Nelson has played in a ton of different schemes over the years and could be that Chidobe Awuzie-type signing that stabilizes things for the secondary.
Cowboys RB Tony Pollard
Just how much is the market going to pay Pollard? Because his numbers came down as the focal point of the Dallas offense, but he’s still an incredible change of pace back if the plan is to keep Joe Mixon as the sledgehammer, too.
Cowboys DE Dorance Armstrong
A former fourth-rounder, Armstrong just put up nine sacks and has played all over formations, quietly posting strong pass-rush rates in the process. He’d be a stellar veteran fix to the pass-rushing problem.
Rams S Jordan Fuller
Should they try again on a Rams safety? Fuller is a rangy free safety who might let Dax Hill play more to his strengths in the box.
Eagles DLs Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham
Aging veterans who had bounce-back seasons this year, both guys would be strong one-year deals to boost a win-now defense.
Rams CB Ahkello Witherspoon
A 6’2″, 195-pound corner who won’t cost a ton, Witherspoon has been solid once healthy and could start in a pinch.
