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NFL 2018: Every team’s biggest training camp battle

By Randy Gurzi

ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC poses after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX - APRIL 26: Sam Darnold of USC poses after being picked #3 overall by the New York Jets during the first round of the 2018 NFL Draft at AT&T Stadium on April 26, 2018 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images) /
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NFL 2018
CLEVELAND, OH – OCTOBER 01: Carl Lawson #58 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a play in the first half against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Justin Aller /Getty Images) /

Cincinnati Bengals: Defensive End

This next open battle isn’t like the ones mentioned before. The Cincinnati Bengals have themselves some decisions to make at defensive end but it has nothing to do with a lack of talent. Instead, this team has a lot of ways they can go with their edge rushers and none of them are really bad.

We all know the big name in the group, Carlos Dunlap. He has the left end locked down and has for a long time. The 29-year old Dunlap had another productive season in 2017 with 46 tackles and 7.5 sacks. However, he wasn’t No. 1 on their team in quarterback takedowns.

That honor belonged to the fourth-round pick out of Auburn, Carl Lawson. He was used as an edge rushing specialist, tallying just 16 total tackles, but showing he could get after the passer in the blink of an eye.

In the round before they took Lawson, there was Jordan Willis. He finished with 25 tackles, but just one sack. There’s still a ton of upside there as well, so Willis could get in the mix for a job as well.

Then there’s 2018 third-round pick Sam Hubbard, who also has a ton of positive traits to like. He came from a star-studded defensive line in Ohio State and could develop into a great rotational piece.

Of course, this is all without mentioning Michael Johnson, who actually started at right end opposite Dunlap in 2017. They say you can never have too many pass rushers, and the Bengals are testing that theory.

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