Caleb Miller signs one-year deal

The Bengals this morning signed their final restricted free agent when linebacker Caleb Miller agreed to a one-year contract.

Miller was tendered $850,000 for one year as a restricted free agent.

Coach Marvin Lewis tried to be vague in his pre-draft news conference that ended shortly after noon. He said that the projections he has seen about the draft show that either 3 of their first 4 or 4 of the first 5 players selected could be offensive stars, which would help to push a quality defensive player down to the No. 18 picks for the Bengals.

We have the opportunity to fit some need on defense and get younger," Lewis said.

In terms of the character question, Lewis said players are more affected than teams because NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has shown he will dole out stern penalties for off-field misconduct.

Character matters to the Bengals, Lewis said and is a "consideration (because) we don't (want to) spend any more time trying to reshape lives."

Lewis also raved about Ohio State wide receiver Tedd Ginn Jr. when asked about him directly.

"Don't know if he'll be there when we pick," Lewis said.

The Bengals are expected to go for a defensive player early, but the team is believed to like Ginn and Miami Hurricanes tight end Greg Olsen.

In other developments, Lewis said he does not expect tailback Chris Perry to be ready for the start of training camp. Perry broke his ankle last season and had to undergo surgery.