Signs of decline on the defensive side of the ball for the Bengals have been noticeable over the past two seasons. A debilitating combination of aging players, free agency attrition, and a lack of immediate development from high draft picks has caused the Cincinnati Bengals to take steps backward as a team.
While the defensive line is the primary focus this offseason, the back end of the secondary may also come under scrutiny. There are high-end athletes in the safety group, but some young players with solid metrics haven’t yet proven to be reliable. Among the young crop, third-year safety Jordan Battle appears to have a decent grasp on things and should be a starter.