NFL Free Agency: Breaking Down Each Team’s Biggest Offseason Need

By Peter Panacy | Mar 5, 2017

Sep 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) reacts after the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Levi's Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

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Dec 4, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 32-14. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports

Dec 4, 2016; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) against the Philadelphia Eagles at Paul Brown Stadium. The Bengals won 32-14. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-USA TODAY Sports /

Cincinnati Bengals

Projected Cap Space: $41,832,339

Biggest Need: EDGE

The Cincinnati Bengals need pass-rushing help this season. After finishing 2016 with just 33 sacks — tied for 19th in the NFL — a year ago, the Bengals would be wise to spend some of their considerable cap space on guys who can rush the quarterback from the edge.

Yes, Cincinnati can hope both linebacker Vontaze Burfict and defensive end Carlos Dunlap contribute on the other side. But this unit needs a weak-side edge rusher in a bad way.

Veteran Chris Long would be a stopgap option, especially considering how deep this year’s crop of NFL Draft edge rushers is. But it wouldn’t be a bad idea to go after a more situational pass-rusher like Charles Johnson who, at 30 years old, still has enough left in the tank.