Reggie Nelson wants to return to the Cincinnati Bengals

Reggie Nelson has been mentioned as a possible free agent target for the Minnesota Vikings but the safety says he prefers to remain with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Like the idea of Reggie Nelson lining up alongside Harrison Smith at safety next year for the Minnesota Vikings? Maybe it will happen, maybe it won’t. Right now Reggie Nelson is saying that his preference is to return to the Bengals. When asked if he would rather leave than make another run with Cincinnati he said (via Bengals.com):

"“Most definitely not,” Nelson said recently. “They know that. Everybody knows that. I would love to be a Bengal. I did my part. I played football. It’s time to handle business and we’ll go from there.”"

But really, what’s he gonna say to the team site? That he wants to go?

The 32-year-old Nelson seems like a natural fit for the Vikings, being a guy who used to play for Mike Zimmer and is therefore familiar with Zimmer’s scheme.

And I don’t need to mention that the Vikings could kind of use an upgrade at safety. Andrew Sendejo didn’t do that great a job last year and is a free agent anyway. Robert Blanton isn’t very good and is also a free agent. Relatively inexperienced Antone Exum and Anthony Harris are big-time question marks.

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And though Terence Newman has been talked about as a possible solution at safety, Rick Spielman recently said he thinks of the veteran still as a cornerback.

We’ve speculated here about possible free agent and draft targets for the Vikings at the safety position. In many ways Nelson would seem the most perfect quick-fix option, but he has to hit the market first. Nelson had 77 tackles and eight INTs in 2015, making his first Pro Bowl.