CINCINNATI -- As we gear up for another offseason of salary-cap talk and free-agency intrigue, let's take a look at how the Cincinnati Bengals have allocated portions of their yearly monies to individual positions on the team.

It bears mentioning that the Bengals, like other teams, don't make decisions in free agency and the draft solely based upon salary-cap figures. They do use the cap as a way of controlling spending and to balance the overall makeup of the roster. The steadily increasing salary cap has and will continue to help the Bengals and others as they try to woo top talent.

This week, coach Marvin Lewis indicated a rather sharp departure will be coming to the Bengals' free-agency philosophy. More of a push is coming from team president Mike Brown to identify and more aggressively pursue free agents the team might have otherwise let get away. Still, don't look for Cincinnati to make moves to bring an exorbitantly-priced player into the fold. The moves still have to make sense.

So as we continue getting ready for free agency, let's take a look at the Bengals' trends in spending. Below are end-of-season figures from ESPN Stats & Information showing how the Bengals have allocated their spending under the salary cap by position since their 2011 reboot under Lewis -- the year he was re-signed following a 4-12 campaign.

QUARTERBACKS

2011: $2,948,036 (3 percent of total cap spending)

2012: $3,194,965 (2.9 percent)

2013: $2,691,258 (2.3 percent)

2014: $10,928,123 (8.7 percent)

Average: $6,476,346 (4.2 percent)

RUNNING BACKS

2011: $5,667,906 (5.8 percent)

2012: $6,444,627 (5.8 percent)

2013: $6,338,028 (5.3 percent)

2014: $3,446,964 (2.7 percent)

Average: $5,474,381 (4.9 percent)

WIDE RECEIVERS

2011: $7,180,059 (7.3 percent)

2012: $6,982,021 (6.3 percent)

2013: $9,188,697 (7.7 percent)

2014: $10,684,966 (8.5 percent)

Average: $8,508,934 (7.5 percent)

TIGHT ENDS

2011: $5,986,200 (6.1 percent)

2012: $2,984,079 (2.7 percent)

2013: $4,417,841 (3.7 percent)

2014: $8,209,237 (6.5 percent)

Average: $5,399,339 (4.8 percent)

OFFENSIVE LINEMEN

2011: $21,415,398 (21.2 percent)

2012: $25,967,430 (23.5 percent)

2013: $22,293,572 (18,6 percent)

2014: $19,517,375 (15.5 percent)

Average: $22,298,444 (19.7 percent)

DEFENSIVE ENDS

2011: $6,583,691 (6.7 percent)

2012: $8,043,616 (7.3 percent)

2013: $13,985,284 (11.7 percent)

2014: $16,141,771 (12.8 percent)

Average: $11,188,591 (9.6 percent)

LINEBACKERS

2011: $14,219,287 (14.5 percent)

2012: $9,489,447 (8.6 percent)

2013: $8,345,023 (7 percent)

2014: $13,685,391 (10.9 percent)

Average: $11,434,787 (10.3 percent)

CORNERBACKS

2011: $15,563,588 (15.9 percent)

2012: $23,024,852 (20.8 percent)

2013: $15,661,243 (13.1 percent)

2014: $17,744,450 (14.1 percent)

Average: $17,998,533 (16 percent)

SAFETIES

2011: $6,398,000 (6.5 percent)

2012: $7,229,263 (6.5 percent)

2013: $6,291,120 (5.3 percent)

2014: $6,534,061 (5.2 percent)

Average: $6,613,111 (5.9 percent)

SPECIALISTS (punters, long-snappers and kickers)

2011: $1,858,850 (0.6 percent)

2012: $5,361,068 (4.,8 percent)

2013: $5,716,471 (4.8 percent)

2014: $4,480,000 (3.6 percent)

Average: $4,354,097 (3.5 percent)