The Cincinnati Bengals surprisingly decided not to clean house after yet another disappointing end to their season. However, patience seems to be the mantra of the Bengals organization at this point.

They made that clear when they kept Marvin Lewis as their head coach. And another longtime Bengal that is expected to stick around is cornerback Adam Jones, according to Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports:

“Adam Jones has been a favorite of ownership and highly productive into his 30s, but with a $5.3 million option looming on March 14, do they move on? My guess is he's back with the Bengals for another season.”

Jones has long personified the identity of this gritty, bend-but-don't-break Bengals defense. He will be entering his 12th year in the NFL and still shows no signs of slowing down. Still, it is clear that the days of several of their key defenders are numbered with not only age, but expectations moving forward. Other notable players like defensive lineman Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap will also be entering the final year of their current deals.

There could be plenty of interest from potential playoff contenders if Jones were to be made available. As evidenced by the 2017 season, a team could never have too much depth in the secondary, especially with a veteran like him on the market. With all that is seemingly at stake for both the players and coaching staff next season, the Bengals may be better off leaving the corner position as is for the time being.