One of the Bengals safeties whom the Vikings expressed an interest in has decided to remain in Cincinnati. George Iloka has agreed to a five-year, $30 million deal with the Bengals, according to about 30 million reports.

Coach Mike Zimmer was the defensive coordinator in Cincinnati when the Bengals drafted Iloka in the fifth round of the 2012 draft. The 25-year-old safety is one of the NFL's biggest defensive backs at 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. And he was perhaps the most coveted safety in this free-agent class.

But I'm not convinced the Vikings saw him as a better option than Reggie Nelson, the other free-agent safety who started for the Bengals in 2015.

While Iloka is younger and possibly still ascending, he played an in-the-box role similar to how Zimmer utilizes Pro Bowl safety Harrison Smith. Nelson, meanwhile, is more of a centerfielder type, a role that Andrew Sendejo was perhaps miscast in last season with the Vikings.

Nelson is 32, but he tied for the NFL lead interceptions in 2015. And former Bengals cornerback Terence Newman's play last season is proof that some players can still be effective even as their age starts to tick toward 40.

So perhaps he is the "right" short-term option Zimmer covets at free safety.

The Vikings can still spend for a safety even after re-signing Sendejo to that four-year, $16 million deal. It can basically be a one-year deal if the Vikings want it to be, as he has just $1 million in guaranteed money for injury only in 2017. So if he is healthy and expendable, they can cut him at no cost.

But keep in mind that Smith is the safety the Vikings will pay big bucks. He will likely become one of the NFL's highest-paid safeties this offseason.