Cincinnati Bengals: Predicting how rookies will perform
By Kenn Korb
Jordan Willis, DE
Expected Role: Rotational Defensive End
2017 Statistical Prediction: 16 games (0 starts), 22 tackles, 8 tackles for loss (6.5 sacks), 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery
The defensive line for Cincinnati used to be their defensive strength, but it has slowly turned into a mishmash of a couple high-end talents and far too many aging, past-their-prime veterans who were held onto a couple seasons too long.
On the edge, Carlos Dunlap has stood out as the stalwart throughout this process, but since 2013 there’s been just about nothing provided by his pass-rushing counterparts. Michael Johnson hasn’t been good since leaving the team for big money during a year in Tampa Bay. Wallace Gilberry has a couple good stretches early in his career, but hasn’t seen that level of competence in years. Will Clarke never became more than a spot duty backup.
Cincinnati easily could’ve rode with essentially that same grouping this year. It would’ve been a mistake, but one they’ve not been too keen to avoid in recent history. Instead, they’ve provided a decent surprise this offseason with hefty investments in young players at the position.
Heading that list is Willis. Leading into the draft, there was definitive buzz around him going early in the second round, and even then he seemed like a possible steal. As it goes every year though, his perceived flaws were given way too much credence and he fell much further than he should have. The folly of others becomes Cincinnati’s gains, and he came into their fold in the third round.
He wasted no time in proving himself a worthy selection, either. Strong offseason work and training camp practices turned into an excellent preseason (four sacks with at least one in each game he played), which showed a guy ready to be an immediate piece of the pass rushing puzzle for the Bengals.
His play had to factor heavily into the eventual cuts of Gilberry and Clarke; without them, only Johnson is still standing from the old guard. While Cincinnati’s penchant for bringing rookies along slowly limits Willis to be Johnson’s backup this season, denying him a solid place in the snap rotation would be ridiculously erroneous on their part.
The limited snaps will hold down his production, but his per-snap impact could easily end up topping that of his fellow 2017 draftees.