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CINCINNATI -- Free agency is right around the corner for the Cincinnati Bengals, who have 15 players with contracts that expire in March. Of the 15, 13 are unrestricted free agents and two are restricted free agents. To help you understand the decisions the Bengals must make, we're taking a daily look at the respective free agents and the reasons why they will or won't be re-signed. Click here to see the other free-agency breakdowns. We continue with offensive tackle Marshall Newhouse: Year signed: 2014 Length of previous deal: One year 2014 cap value: $805,000 2014 role: Backup right tackle Why he will be re-signed: There are very few reasons as to why the Bengals might bring back Newhouse after his mostly poor lone season in Cincinnati. Signed as a lower-tier free agent last year, Newhouse had been expected to serve a pressing need for depth at the tackle positions behind Andrew Whitworth and Andre Smith. With Anthony Collins having signed with Tampa Bay, the Bengals were without a swing tackle -- a position whose importance was understood fully in 2014. After Smith was lost for the remainder of the season with a Week 12 triceps injury at Houston, the lack of a solid swing tackle became glaring. Depth at the position would be the only reason Cincinnati would welcome him back. Why he won't be re-signed: It's not very likely that depth alone will be enough for Newhouse to stay. The Bengals have been rather disappointed in the overall drop-off at the position under Whitworth and Smith. Tanner Hawkinson hasn't inspired much confidence, either. While Newhouse (and some crafty schematic maneuvering by Bengals coaches) kept J.J. Watt from getting to quarterback Andy Dalton for the remainder of the game against the Texans, the backup struggled most of the season when he relieved Smith. It got so bad that the Bengals went out and signed veteran Eric Winston, who ultimately ended up starting ahead of Newhouse. Newhouse's worst game was in Week 10, when he was consistently turned around by Cleveland's linebackers and defensive ends, who put solid pressure on Dalton all night. Dalton had arguably the worst game of his career with a career-low 2.0 passer rating, completing just 10 passes.
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