Updated: 10:30 p.m.
When the Bengals traded for Jaguars safety Reggie Nelson in exchange for cornerback David Jones and a conditional draft pick Saturday, the deal gave them another big-time player in defensive backfield already teeming with it.
Like many of his new teammates, Nelson is a guy with a lot of talent trying to jump-start his career after a promising start that stalled. Nelson joins Chinedum Ndukwe backing up starters Roy Williams and Chris Crocker in a secondary that has five first-round picks on a defense that has six first-rounders.
The Bengals kept just three safeties at Saturday's 53-man cutdown, so they were anticipating making some kind of move. Now instead of six cornerbacks, they have five corners and four safeties with Crocker able to play corner in a pinch.
The Bengals were also apparently mulling a trade for a fullback but weren't looking to give up two draft picks with the Nelson deal on the table. They opted to scour the waiver wire and if they put in a claim they'll find out if they got him shortly after noon.
But since they claim 21st, that could put the Bengals on the outside looking in for anyone who has some talent. Another spot they could use is an experiened backup guard-center.
But don't look for any vested veterans of any kind before opening day. That way the Bengals won't have to guarantee a full season's salary for a backup player.Â
