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The accolades for the Cincinnati Bengals’ big spending in free agency continue to pile up as we head toward the summer months.
ESPN’s Mike Clay outlined his top 25 upgrades this offseason and slotted the Bengals at No. 21, primarily due to landing defensive tackle D.J. Reader.
Clay especially likes the fit next to Geno Atkins:
Billings (now with the Browns) was a solid defender for Cincinnati the past few seasons, but the team upgraded in a big way when it signed Reader to a four-year, $53 million contract. The former fifth-round pick was a gem find by Houston in 2016 and has emerged as one of the game’s best interior defenders. Reader’s 52 tackles ranked 16th and his 18 pass-rush wins 27th among defensive tackles while he dominated as a run defender last season. The 25-year-old joins Geno Atkins to give Cincinnati one of the league’s best duos at the position. Having also added safety Vonn Bell (replaces Shawn Williams), linebacker Josh Bynes (Nick Vigil) and corners Mackensie Alexander (Darqueze Dennard) and Trae Waynes (Dre Kirkpatrick), the Bengals’ defense is much improved entering 2020.
The Reader-Atkins tandem indeed looks like one of the NFL’s nastiest. But the other additions shouldn’t go overlooked either.
Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander, for example, better fit the mold of what the current coaching staff wants. Josh Bynes is a very good mentor-type player for three rookie linebackers and Germaine Pratt.
And then there is Vonn Bell — one of the best luxury adds of free agency.
We knew the Bengals wanted to overhaul the roster all along and finally had the freedom to do so this offseason. Reader and Co. easily arrive as one of the offseason’s best upgrades and the team will immediately be better on the field for it.
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