Bengals Sign Second-Rounder Cam Taylor-Britt
Not long after inking their top draft pick to his first NFL contract, the Bengals have done the same with another rookie defensive back. The team announced on Friday that they have signed second round corner Cam Taylor-Britt. 
[RELATED: Bengals Sign First Round S Hill]
Across four seasons at Nebraska, the six-foot, 205-pounder grew into a key role on the team’s defense. His sophomore campaign included 49 tackles, a pair of interceptions and four forced fumbles. He matched his interception total the following year, despite that season being limited to eight games.
Coming back for his senior season, Taylor-Britt was once again a consistent presence on the Cornhuskers’ back end. In 12 contests, he racked up 51 tackles, including three for a loss, one interception and a career-high 11 pass breakups – a figure which ranked him second in the Big Ten in that category. With a combination of experience and ball production, he projects to have a high floor at the NFL level.
In Cincinnati, Taylor-Britt will join a CB room led by Chidobe Awuzie, Mike Hilton and Eli Apple. Along with first-rounder Daxton Hill, he will provide depth right away in the team’s secondary, with the potential to earn playing time with the defending AFC champions down the road.
The Bengals also announced the signing of seventh-round defensive end Jeffrey Gunter, leaving them with just two members of their draft class left to sign:
Round 1: No. 31 Daxton Hill, S (Michigan) (signed)
Round 2: No. 60 (from Buccaneers through Bills) Cam Taylor-Britt, CB (Nebraska) (signed)
Round 3: No. 95 Zachary Carter, DL (Florida)
Round 4: No. 136 Cordell Volson, OL (North Dakota State)
Round 5: No. 166 (from Cardinals through Eagles, Texans and Bears): Tycen Anderson, S (Toledo) (signed)
Round 7: No. 252 Jeffrey Gunter, DE (Coastal Carolina) (signed)
NFL Draft Pick Signings: 5/19/22
Here are the latest mid- and late-round draft picks to sign their four-year rookie contracts:
Cincinnati Bengals
- S Tycen Anderson (fifth round, Toledo)
New York Giants
- CB Cor’Dale Flott (third round, LSU)
Tennessee Titans
- T Nicholas Petit-Frere (third round, Ohio State)
2022 NFL General Manager Search Tracker
Along with the head coaches being fired, a few NFL teams are looking for new general managers. Listed below are the GM candidates that have been linked to each of the teams with vacancies, along with their current status.
If and when other teams decide to make GM changes, they’ll be added to this list. Here is the current breakdown:
Updated 5-24-22 (9:03pm CT)
Chicago Bears
- Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, vice president of football operations (Browns): Interviewed 1/13
- Morocco Brown, director of college scouting (Colts): Interviewed 1/24
- Ran Carthon, director of player personnel (49ers): Interview requested
- Glenn Cook, vice president of player personnel (Browns): Interviewed 1/12
- Ed Dodds, vice president of player personnel (Colts): Interview requested
- Jeff Ireland, assistant general manager (Saints): Interviewed 1/14
- Champ Kelly, assistant director of player personnel (Bears): Interviewed 1/13
- Omar Khan, vice president of football and business administration (Steelers): Interviewed 1/24
- Reggie McKenzie, senior personnel executive (Dolphins): Interview requested
- Monti Ossenfort, director of player personnel (Titans): Second interview requested
- Ryan Poles, director of player personnel (Chiefs): Hired
- Joe Schoen, assistant general manager (Giants): Interviewed 1/16
- Rick Smith, former general manager (Texans): Mentioned as candidate
- Eliot Wolf, senior consultant (Patriots): Second interview requested
- JoJo Wooden, director of player personnel (Chargers): Interview requested
Las Vegas Raiders
- Trey Brown, scout (Bengals): Interviewed 1/21
- Ed Dodds, vice president of player personnel (Colts): Interviewed 1/26
- Brandon Hunt, pro scouting director (Steelers): Interviewed 1/25
- Dwayne Joseph, director of pro personnel (Raiders): To interview
- Champ Kelly, assistant director of player personnel (Bears): Interviewed 1/20
- John Spytek, vice president of player personnel (Buccaneers): Interview requested
- Ruston Webster, senior personnel executive (Falcons): Interviewed 1/26
- Dave Ziegler, director of player personnel (Patriots): Hired
Minnesota Vikings
- Kwesi Adofo-Mensah, vice president of football operations (Browns): Hired
- Brandon Brown, director of player personnel (Eagles): Interviewed 1/18
- Glenn Cook, vice president of player personnel (Browns): Interviewed 1/20
- Monti Ossenfort, director of player personnel (Titans): Interviewed 1/16
- Ryan Poles, director of player personnel (Chiefs): Planned second interview 1/26
- Catherine Raiche, vice president of football operations (Eagles): Interviewed 1/17
- John Spytek, vice president of player personnel (Buccaneers): Interviewed 1/17
- Eliot Wolf, senior consultant (Patriots): Interviewed 1/20
New York Giants
- Kevin Abrams, assistant general manager (Giants):Mentioned as candidate; interest waning?
- Ran Carthon, director of player personnel (49ers):Interviewed 1/17
- Ryan Cowden, vice president of player personnel (Titans):Interviewed 1/14
- Quentin Harris, vice president of player personnel (Cardinals):Interviewed 1/13
- Joe Hortiz, director or player personnel (Ravens):Interviewed 1/15
- Monti Ossenfort, director of player personnel (Titans):Interviewed 1/14
- Adam Peters, assistant general manager (49ers):Conducted second interview 1/20
- Ryan Poles, executive director of player personnel (Chiefs):Conducted second interview 1/19
- Joe Schoen, assistant general manager (Bills): Hired
- Adrian Wilson, vice president of pro personnel (Cardinals):Interviewed 1/12; “close” to being hired by Jaguars?
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Morocco Brown, college scouting director (Colts): Interviewed
- Ran Carthon, director of player personnel (49ers): Interviewed
- Ryan Cowden, vice president of player personnel (Titans): Conducted second interview
- Ed Dodds, assistant general manager (Colts): Interviewed 2/4
- Joe Hortiz, director of player personnel (Ravens): Interviewed
- Brandon Hunt, pro scouting director (Steelers): Conducted second interview
- Omar Khan, vice president of football and business administration (Steelers): To be hired
- Dan Morgan, assistant general manager (Panthers): Interviewed
- Jerry Reese, former general manager (Giants): Interviewed
- Louis Riddick, former director of pro personnel (Eagles): Interviewed
- Rick Spielman, former general manager (Vikings): Interviewed
- John Spytek, director of player personnel (Buccaneers): To conduct second interview
- Andy Weidl, vice president of player personnel (Eagles): Conducted second interview
- Doug Whaley, vice president of player personnel (XFL): Conducted second interview
- John Wojciechowski, co-director of player personnel (Packers): Interviewed
- JoJo Wooden, director of player personnel (Chargers): Interviewed
Bengals To Sign First-Round Pick Daxton Hill
The Bengals have agreed to terms Daxton Hill (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). The Michigan defensive back is expected to put pen to paper today, making it all official. 
[RELATED: Latest On Bengals’ Bates]
Hill was viewed as the consensus second-best safety prospect heading into the draft, behind only Notre Dame’s Kyle Hamilton. After the Ravens nabbed Hamilton at No. 14 overall, the Bengals came in to pounds towards the end of Round 1. Many anticipated that Hill would still be on the board to start Day 2, but the Bengals weren’t willing to risk it.
Hill’s versatility is viewed as a major plus — he could see time at free safety, strong safety safety, or even reps as a slot receiver. On the defensive side, Hill notched 69 tackles for the Wolverines last year, including 4.5 tackles for loss and half a sack. He also nabbed eight passes defensed and two interceptions, giving him four picks across his three seasons.
In accordance with his slot, the No. 31 overall pick will earn $13MM over the course of his four-year rookie contract. This year, he’ll start with a modest $705K base salary and carry a $2.4MM cap figure. His salary will escalate over the life of the deal, ending with a $4.2MM cap charge in 2025. Of course, by then, the Bengals will reserve the right to keep him for ’26 via the fifth-year option.
Latest On Bengals’ Jessie Bates
The Bengals have accomplished their goal of shoring up the offensive line this offseason, but the ongoing situation with safety Jessie Bates remains unresolved. According to Tyler Dragon of USA Today Sports, the two sides remain far from a long-term deal being agreed upon. 
That would have significant consequences in both the short- and long-term, as Dragon further states that Bates “has no intentions” of signing his franchise tender. The one-year tag would pay him just under $13MM, but Bates has been vocal about his desire for a multi-year extension since he became eligible for one. The sides have not made any progress on a deal, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com notes. Although these situations often push toward the July 15 extension deadline, a Bates-Bengals standoff is certainly one to monitor this year.
The 25-year-old was the subject of contract talks last offseason, but negotiations stalled. Bates had established himself as an integral part of the Bengals’ defense to that point, earning second-team All-Pro honors in 2020. The regular season this past year was his worst statistically, though he notched a pair of interceptions during the team’s run to the Super Bowl. It came as no surprise, then, that the team was eyeing an extension in late March.
Not long after that was reported, however, it came out that the two parties had yet to engage in contract talks. While they appear to have done so now, Dragon reports that negotiations have “stalled”. As a result, he adds, Bates could remain absent through OTAs and training camp. While that would add urgency to the situation, it could also allow the team to turn its attention to defensive back Daxton Hill, whom the team drafted in the first round.
The Bengals are generally viewed as being capable of repeating as AFC champions this year, but their chances of doing so would change significantly if they remain unable to bring Bates back into the fold. With most of its other offseason business taken care of, this situation certainly bears watching in the coming weeks.
Bengals Announce 16-Man UDFA Class
After adding six rookies to the team in the NFL Draft last month, the Bengals announced the addition of 16 undrafted free agents:
- Cal Adomitis, LS (Pittsburgh)
- Ben Brown, OG (Ole Miss)
- Devin Cochran, OT (Georgia Tech)
- Allan George, CB (Vanderbilt)
- Jaivon Heiligh, WR (Coastal Carolina)
- Clarence Hicks, LB (UTSA)
- Delonte Hood, CB (Peru State College)
- Shermari Jones, RB (Coastal Carolina)
- Kwamie Lassiter II, WR (Kansas)
- Desmond Noel, OG (Florida Atlantic)
- Kendric Pryor, WR (Wisconsin)
- Bookie Radley-Hiles, S (Washington)
- Justin Rigg, TE (Kentucky)
- Jack Sorenson, WR (Miami University)
- Tarigious Tisdale, DL (Ole Miss)
- Carson Wells, LB (Colorado)
Continuing their focus on addressing the offensive line, Cincinnati brought in some potential depth pieces who will have an opportunity to earn playing time for the reigning conference champions.
Brown started for three seasons after redshirting his first for the Rebels, moving from right guard to center in his last collegiate season. Cochran transferred to the Yellow Jackets after four years at Vanderbilt. Even as a newcomer, the blindside tackle was selected as Georgia Tech’s weekly-Captain for five of the team’s twelve games. Noel joined the Owls after a stint at Fort Scott Community College. He started for three years on the Owls’ offensive line, taking advantage of the extra year of eligibility provided by COVID-19.
The Bengals also added some potential contributors at receiver. Heiligh was two-yards away in 2020 from posting consecutive 1,000-yard receiving seasons while catching a combined 17 touchdowns in his last two years with the Chanticleers. Lassiter II improved every year for the Jayhawks, averaging 11.1 yards per reception in his redshirt senior season. Pryor provides some versatility, displaying some rushing ability for the Badgers throughout his college career in addition to his duties as a receiver. Sorenson had an impressive freshman year for the RedHawks before going relatively quiet over the next two seasons. He came back with a vengeance in his final college season, exploding for 1,406 yards and 10 touchdowns.
Minor NFL Transactions: 5/13/22
Today’s minor moves around the league:
Arizona Cardinals
- Signed: DL Kingsley Keke
- Placed on Non-Football Injury List: TE Alex Ellis
Atlanta Falcons
- Released: CB Kendall Sheffield, TE Ryan Becker
Chicago Bears
- Waived: TE Jesper Horsted
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: CB Abu Daramy-Swaray
Cleveland Browns
- Waived: RB Tre Harbison (non-football injury)
Dallas Cowboys
- Released: K Chris Naggar
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Re-Signed: OL Jared Hocker
- Released: OL Denzel Okafor
New England Patriots
- Waived: OL Liam Shanahan (failed physical designation)
New Orleans Saints
- Waived: TE Dylan Soehner (failed physical designation), TE Ethan Wolf
Pittsburgh Steelers
- Signed: OL Trenton Scott
- Released: OL Malcolm Pridgeon
San Francisco 49ers
- Waived: WR Connor Wedington
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: WR Deontez Alexander, WR Kevin Kassis
- Waived: WR Matt Cole, WR Jake Herslow, WR John Mitchell, WR Demetris Robertson
Washington Commanders
- Waived: S De’Vante Cross
2023 NFL Fifth-Year Option Results
Monday marked the deadline for NFL clubs to officially pick up their options on 2019 first-rounders. Fifth-year option seasons are no longer just guaranteed for injury — they’re now fully guaranteed, which makes these decisions a little tougher for teams.
Nineteen players had their options exercised, a tick up from 14 last year. Here’s the full rundown:
1. QB Kyler Murray, Cardinals – Exercised ($29.7MM)
2. DE Nick Bosa, 49ers: Exercised ($17.9MM)
3. DE Quinnen Williams, Jets: Exercised ($11.5MM)
4. DE Clelin Ferrell, Raiders: Declined ($11.5MM)
5. LB Devin White, Buccaneers: Exercised ($11.7MM)
6. QB Daniel Jones, Giants: Declined ($22.4MM)
7. DE Josh Allen, Jaguars: Exercised ($11.5MM)
8. TE T.J. Hockenson, Lions: Exercised ($9.4MM)
9. DT Ed Oliver, Bills: Exercised ($10.8MM)
10. LB Devin Bush, Steelers: Declined ($10.9MM)
11. OT Jonah Williams, Bengals: Exercised ($12.6MM)
12. LB Rashan Gary, Packers: Exercised ($10.9MM)
13. DT Christian Wilkins, Dolphins: Exercised ($10.8MM)
14. G Chris Lindstrom, Falcons: Exercised ($13.2MM)
15. QB Dwayne Haskins:
16. DE Brian Burns, Panthers: Exercised ($16MM)
17. DT Dexter Lawrence, Giants: Exercised ($10.8MM)
18. C Garrett Bradbury, Vikings: Declined ($13.2MM)
19. DT Jeffery Simmons, Titans: Exercised ($10.8MM)
20. TE Noah Fant, Seahawks: Exercised ($6.9MM; originally drafted by Broncos)
21. S Darnell Savage, Packers: Exercised ($7.9MM)
22. OT Andre Dillard, Eagles: Declined ($12.6MM)
23. OT Tytus Howard, Texans: Exercised ($13.2MM)
24. RB Josh Jacobs, Raiders: Declined ($8MM)
25. WR Marquise Brown, Cardinals: ($13.4MM; originally drafted by Ravens)
26. DE Montez Sweat, Commanders: Exercised ($11.5MM)
27. S Johnathan Abram, Raiders: Declined ($7.9MM)
28. DE Jerry Tillery, Chargers: Declined ($11.5MM)
29. DE L.J. Collier, Seahawks: Declined ($11.5MM)
30. CB Deandre Baker — N/A (released by Giants)
31. OT Kaleb McGary, Falcons: Declined ($13.2MM)
32. WR N’Keal Harry, Patriots: Declined ($12.4MM)
Bengals Re-Sign P Kevin Huber
Kevin Huber will be back in Cincy next season. The Bengals announced (on Twitter) that they have re-signed the veteran punter. Huber is inking a new one-year deal with the organization.
Huber has been with the Bengals since being selected in the fifth round of the 2009 draft. He’s spent his entire 13-year career in Cincinnati, garnering a single Pro Bowl appearance. He’s the franchise’s career leader in every major punting category, and last season, he tied Ken Riley for the most regular-season appearances in Bengals history. The punter will now have an opportunity to set that record in 2022.
While Huber’s yards-per-punt average took a minor step back in 2021, the 46.4 average yards was still better than his career mark. The 36-year-old was also busy in the postseason, compiling 16 punts in four games.
“I feel like I’m kicking the ball better than I have in years past as far as strength-wise so I’m not worried about my strength and my endurance for the season,” Huber said last year (via Taylor Weiter of WCPO.com). “It’s just tweaking some mechanics I think is what I’m going to focus on this offseason and I think I’ve got plenty of leg to last for several more years.”
Bengals Trade Up To Take Cam Taylor-Britt At No. 60
The Bengals addressed another secondary position in the 2022 NFL Draft, trading up to take the Bills spot at No. 60 overall, a pick the Bills had just received from the Buccaneers one trade earlier. Cincinnati used the pick to select Nebraska cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt.
Taylor-Britt led the Cornhuskers in passes broken up last year with an impressive 11, adding six interceptions over the course of his college career. Taylor-Britt was a physical defender forcing seven fumbles and blocking a kick in his career. He earned second team All-Big Ten honors in each of his final two college seasons.
The Bengals gave up their 63rd (2nd round pick) and 209th (6th round) pick in order to move up to 60th for Taylor-Britt.