Cincinnati Bengals: Final 53-man roster cut predictions for 2018

Defensive Linemen

* = starters; + = make roster

*Carlos Dunlap, +Sam Hubbard, Michael Johnson, +Carl Lawson, *Jordan Willis, *Geno Atkins, *Andrew Billings, +Andrew Brown, +Ryan Glasgow, +Chris Okoye, Simeyon Robinson, Josh Tupou, Eddy Wilson

After the depressing battles on the offensive line, we get some true excitement! This defensive line is a powerhouse. They were already a great unit throughout 2017, but this year they are poised to be the fuel for what could be a massive step forward for the defense as an entire unit.

Start with the stars. Dunlap and Atkins have each been dominant players throughout their whole careers, ones who tend to get overlooked and underrated because of the team they play for. Dunlap has 64.5 sacks in eight seasons, with seven of those years having at least six acks and six of them hitting at least 7.5. On top of that, he’s been a premiere pass batting artist (42 pass knockdowns in his career; three-plus in seven seasons; 15 in 2016) and turnover machine (career: 16 forced fumbles, eight fumble recoveries, two interceptions).

Atkins may somehow be even better: he has nearly as many sacks as Dunlap (61) in the same time period (eight seasons; both drafted in 2010), despite not only playing a position much less prone to garnering sacks (interior defensive tackle), but being undersized for that position. They both should continue dominating for years — and due to their recent contract extensions, that domination will come in orange and black.

Joining them is a cavalcade of young, talented faces. Lawson had the most sacks for a Cincinnati rookie not named Dunlap (8.5), and his preseason pass rushing has been dominant (through three games: 3.5 sacks, three tackles for loss, seven QB hits). Willis has done well this preseason as well (2.5 sacks, two tackles for loss, four QB hits) and could be in line to overtake Johnson’s usual spot opposite Dunlap in the starting lineup.

Billings is finally looking like the guy who was once hyped to be a possible first-round selection in his draft class, and showing some pass rushing chops to boot. His ability to eat up space could crush running games into dust and let Atkins be even more dominant alongside him.

Glasgow has his own useful ability against the run to offer, and he’s also been developing better than advertised as a pass rusher so far in his career. Among these players the other two starters with Atkins and Dunlap will be found; those who don’t will have major roles regardless.

Even after all those possible starters, we still find a handful of excellent young options to build with. Hubbard was a high draft pick this year and did well in limited preseason snaps (through three games: one sack, one QB hit).

Brown was also a 2018 draftee, and though his preseason action has been sporadic (23 snaps vs Buffalo; DNP vs. Dallas and Chicago) his draft profile points to him having disruption ability as an interior defender and a chance to become a starter-level professional player. Okoye is a diamond in the rough (from Division II-level Ferris State University) with some unheralded upside his offseason work has aluded to (two QB hits through three preseason games).

There is so much young talent here that the longtime Bengal Johnson may finally be on the outs. 2017 saw him find some usefulness sliding inside on third downs to do some interior pass rushing, but this is after three years of poor play overall. He’s never been much of a pure pass rusher (44 sacks in nine seasons), and at 31, he’s definitely on the downside of his career. Keeping him likely means a sizable role. In turn, that means less snaps for the numerous young linemen ready to explode onto the scene.

Moving on from a still-contributing (albeit to a lesser extent) Johnson doesn’t seem like a move this team would make; they hold onto young draft picks, sure, but in the same vein they also love keeping their drafted guys as long as possible (if the price is right). Cincinnati has made some surprising veteran cuts this offseason though: in August alone, Brandon LaFell, George Iloka, and Chris Baker all were sent packing to open up opportunities for younger options. Johnson could easily join that list.