The Cincinnati Bengals spent heavily to improve their defense this offseason, but one major signing is facing heavy criticism. NFL analyst Moe Moton from Bleacher Report recently named safety Bryan Cook to his list of "The NFL's Most Overpaid Player at Every Position."

Cook signed a three-year deal worth $40.25 million, making him the fifth-highest-paid safety this year with an $18 million cash salary. Moton believes this was a massive overpay.

“They snagged one of the premier free agents on the market at a questionable cost when you dig into the numbers,” Moe Moton wrote in his Bleacher Report listicle. “We should question a team owing $18 million to a safety who’s allowed a passer rating above 128 in three out of four seasons.”

Moton from Bleacher Report argues that while Cook is a decent defender who recorded 85 tackles last season, his passing statistics raise serious red flags. Over his four-year career, quarterbacks have found it far too easy to complete passes against him. 

Cook has allowed more receiving yards every single year, peaking at 468 yards last season. Most alarmingly, quarterbacks throwing in his direction earned a passer rating over 128.5 in three of his four seasons. 

Per Monton, the Bengals paid top-tier money for a player who does not deliver game-changing moments. True elite safeties force turnovers and shut down offenses, which Cook has struggled to do.

Though Cook can play multiple defensive roles, he lacks the star power of the league's best defenders, which makes his expensive contract hard to justify. It's more of a concern for the Bengals, who ranked 26th in pass defense, per FOX Sports rankings.

For Cincinnati, this is not the first time they have faced the pressure of overpaying defensive players who underperformed. Oren Burks is one example. Despite signing a two-year deal, the linebacker logged only 340 snaps and posted a 30.2 overall PFF grade, the worst among players at his position.

However, for Cook, his teammates are confident.

The Bengals believe Bryan Cook is an asset to their defense

The Bengals have a brand new defense ready for the upcoming season. They added several exciting new players, including Cook, who recently won two championships with the Kansas City Chiefs.

The team hopes Cook can stop opponents from making big plays, something they have struggled with lately. His new teammate, Jordan Battle, is already very impressed with how Cook is fitting in. Battle shared his thoughts on the Bengals Booth Podcast.

"He was very quiet at first, but, you see, he's trying to just be more open, talking to us, showing us personality a little more.” Battle noted. “Obviously, on the field, (he's) a playmaker, a guy who wants to get better every day, just trying to find ways, within the defense, to make it easier for us."

Battle also mentioned that Cook constantly asks the coaches questions. He is always looking for ways to help the entire defense play with more confidence. 

If Cook can bring his championship experience to the back of the defense, Cincinnati could be a very dangerous team this year.

What do you think of Moton's take on Cook? Let us know in the comments.

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Soheli Tarafdar