While the struggle to combat the COVID-19 pandemic continues. NFL free agency is one of the few things that proceeded normally last week. However, last week wasn’t entirely business as usual for the Cincinnati Bengals.

The Bengals began last week with a move many expected for months. Through franchise tagging star wide receiver A.J. Green. Overall, Cincinnati is taking an uncharacteristically aggressive approach to free agency. Agreeing to terms with defensive tackle D.J. Reader last Tuesday. Reader joins Cincinnati after a recent stint with the Houston Texans. He was selected in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL Draft. Reader’s four-year deal is reportedly worth $53 Million; a record for a nose tackle.

Cincinnati also agreed to terms with cornerback Trae Waynes last Tuesday. Waynes’ deal is reportedly worth $42 million for three years. He’s joining Cincinnati after five seasons with the Minnesota Vikings. The team that drafted him 11th overall in 2015. He had seven interceptions in 53 starts with the Vikings.

Waynes isn’t the only former Vikings player heading to Cincinnati. The Bengals also signed fellow cornerback Mackenzie Alexander last week. He joins Cincinnati after four seasons with the Vikings. Alexander is coming off two of his best seasons yet. 81 of his 103 combined tackles were made in the last two seasons. The Bengals also added Xavier Su’a-Filo; through a three-year deal worth $9 Million. Su’a-Filo was previously an offensive guard with the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Texans.

The Bengals released B.W. Webb and John Miller on Wednesday. Webb’s a cornerback and Miller is a guard. Miller played in 13 games in just one season with the Bengals. He joined the Bengals after four seasons with the Buffalo Bills. Webb was also with the Bengals for just one season. The journeyman Webb played in 15 games last season. Cincinnati is the sixth NFL team that he has played for.

Cincinnati also bid adieu to Darqueze Dennard last week. The cornerback is joining the Jacksonville Jaguars. After spending his entire career so far with the Bengals. Dennard was Cincinnati’s first-round pick back in 2014. Defensive Tackle Andrew Billings is also leaving Cincinnati. Joining the Bengals’ AFC North cross-state rival Cleveland Browns. Among his accolades, Billings missed just one game in his three seasons with Cincinnati.

There are two main takeaways from the Bengals recent moves. First, these moves are primarily aimed at boosting the Bengals’ lagging defense. Five years ago, Cincinnati had a relatively dependable defensive unit. That has changed dramatically over the course of the past five years. Cincinnati’s defense ranked 32nd overall in 2018 and 29th in 2019. Left exhausted by an even less effective Bengals offense and injuries. Signing Alexander, Waynes and Reader gives the Bengals defense some needed fuel.

Second, moves in and beyond Cincinnati likely assure the Bengals will draft Joe Burrow. To avoid being left behind, after many quarterback’s sought new pastures last week. With Tom Brady leaving the New England Patriots for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Plus, Phillip Rivers and Nick Foles heading to the Midwest. With Rivers joining the Indianapolis Colts and Foles joining the Chicago Bears.