Cincinnati Bengals NFL Trade Rumors: Andre Smith Rejoins Bengals
Looks like the talks about a possible reunion between offensive tackle Andre Smith and the Cincinnati Bengals aren't just rumors after all.
ESPN's Jeff Darlington has reported that Smith has agreed to sign with the Bengals. Citing a league source, Jim Owczarski of the Cincinnati Enquirer said they are bringing him back on a one-year deal worth about $4.5 million.
Apparently, the Bengals weren't the only team pursuing veteran offensive tackle. According to Darlington, the Buffalo Bills also tried to get Smith to sign with them, but he turned them down to rejoin the Bengals.
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This is a good signing. With left tackle Andrew Whitworth and right guard Kevin Zeitler gone, the Bengals had to look for ways to strengthen their offensive line via free agency or the draft. Smith might even get his starting job back.
"Smith could return to right tackle, where he started from 2011–15, or possibly venture to the left side. The Bengals have Jake Fisher, Cedric Ogbuehi and Eric Winston as tackle options, and Ogbuehi was viewed as a potential Whitworth successor. But neither he nor Fisher — both drafted high in 2015 to possibly take over for Whitworth and Smith — have shown much yet," FanRag Sports' Sam Robinson said in his report.
The Bengals selected Smith with the sixth overall pick in the 2009 National Football League (NFL) draft and he played for the club for seven seasons. He was their starting right tackle for five seasons (2011–15), but when the Bengals drafted offensive tackles Cedric Ogbuehi and Jake Fisher in the 2015 NFL draft, fans knew that his days in Cincinnati were numbered.
Smith signed a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Minnesota Vikings last year, but his first season with the team was cut short when he suffered a season-ending triceps injury four games into the season. Now he's back with the Bengals and he's ready to prove that he can play a big role for the team.
