One perfect Bengals move to complete the roster before the 2024 training camp
The Cincinnati Bengals should think about signing this veteran defensive end before training camp.
The Cincinnati Bengals are hoping to make a comeback season in 2024. Cincinnati’s postseason dreams were shattered last season when Joe Burrow had a season-ending wrist injury late in the regular season. This injury effectively ended the Bengals’ hopes of competing in 2023. However, you have to give them credit for going 9-8 after starting Jake Browning down the stretch.
Joe Burrow is set to start in Week 1, and the Bengals want to exact revenge on the entire NFL.
Cincinnati has made a bevy of moves during free agency and the 2024 NFL Draft to remedy the issues they encountered in 2023.
Unsurprisingly, they focused a lot on the attack. Keeping Joe Burrow well and safe was a top responsibility, as did ensuring he had a sufficient supply of weaponry to work with now and in the future. In free agency, the Bengals re-signed guard Cody Ford and signed lineman Trent Brown to strengthen the offensive line. They also added and kept a few tight ends (Mike Gesicki, Tanner Hudson, and Drew Sample) and signed Zack Moss to replace Joe Mixon. They also signed Sheldon Rankins to a lucrative two-year contract to replace departed D.J. Reader.
The Bengals doubled down on a handful of these actions during the draft. They spent their first-round pick on giant tackle prospect Amarius Mims, who is expected to start on the bench. However, he should make an excellent Joe Burrow protector for a long time. Cincinnati also signed receiver Jermaine Burton and added depth to both sides of the ball.
Cincinnati has a strong roster, but it is not yet full. Their defense is strong, and they have a lot of young players with potential, but they could use more seasoned depth in the front seven.
The Bengals should think about adding a talent like Yannick Ngakoue before training camp. If they do, they’ll be well-positioned to make an impact in the AFC this season.
Yannick Ngakoue would be the ideal insurance policy at the defensive end.
Yannick Ngakoue is a competent edge rusher who has shown great promise throughout his NFL career.
The Jacksonville Jaguars selected Ngakoue in the third round of the 2016 NFL draft. He had eight sacks in his rookie season, followed by 30 tackles and 12 sacks in his sophomore year. Since then, Ngakoue has consistently been an effective pass rusher.
After his rookie contract expired, he departed Jacksonville and became a mercenary, working in Minnesota, Las Vegas, Indianapolis, and most recently, Chicago. He is presently a free agent.
Ngakoue would serve as a top-tier backup defensive tackle for the Bengals. Sam Hubbard and Trey Hendrickson have held down the role and done an excellent job. Hendrickson apparently wanted to be traded early this offseason, but he has since returned to the organization and intends to play this season. Nonetheless, Cincinnati would be well to have some form of insurance policy in case his temper swings again.
Ngakoue could easily form a three-man rotation alongside Hubbard and Hendrickson. This would keep all three players fresh throughout the game and ensure a high level of defensive performance.
The depth behind Hubbard and Hendrickson is another reason to consider adding Ngakoue. The Bengals’ strongest options after the starters are Myles Murphy, Joseph Ossai, and Cam Sample. Murphy was a former first-round choice, but he did not have a successful debut season. Ossai is a solid backup, but he shouldn’t be relied on for anything more. Sample remains a question mark. Adding Ngakoue would be a positive step toward assuring that Cincinnati’s pass rush is effective on every down.
