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The Cincinnati Bengals remade the secondary this offseason, swapping out Darqueze Dennard and Dre Kirkpatrick with Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander.
But it is two lesser-known guys who have coaches buzzing.
Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, for example, couldn’t help but point out new arrivals LeShaun Sims and Winston Rose, per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com:
“It’s not just those two. Those two have played a lot of ball and have done very well, but don’t sleep on LeShaun Sims. Don’t sleep on Winston Rose. Those guys are guys that have been successful. Winston up in Canada, having all those interceptions the last couple of years. LeShaun Sims has played meaningful football in big games. They’re all big guys. They all have length to them.”
Rose was always an intriguing signing back in January when the Bengals plucked him from the CFL, where he had just helped his Winnipeg Blue Bombers to the Grey Cup on the back of his nine interceptions.
Similar story for Sims, a March signing by the Bengals who spent four years in Tennessee playing minimally in the base defense but carving out a big role on special teams.
It’s pretty clear the Bengals wanted a complete overhaul of the cornerback room, with the big exception being William Jackson — who happens to be a big extension candidate.
Both Rose and Sims already looked like promising members of the final 53 based on either past production or sheer depth upside. The fact Anarumo’s making sure to name them in early August is a pretty good sign too.
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