The Cincinnati Bengals defensive line needs to show up this season!
John Sheeran discusses the Cincinnati Bengals additions during the offseason and how the unit might be overrated.
Video Transcript
I will say if there's been any overrating with this defensive line in the new additions, it probably centers around both Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen.
Allen is 31 years old.
He's not exactly the Pro Bowl caliber defensive tackle that he was during his heyday with the Commanders, and Mafe has yet to really ascend into that caliber of player.
You only have to look back a year with Allen, like, the Minnesota Vikings thought that they were gonna get a high quality player with him, and, you know, they got decent production out of him, but he was a cap casualty this off season.
I don't think the Vikings wanted that to happen.
The Seahawks also had Mafe on their roster for four years, and after his second year when he was a starter for at least half the season, they kind of reverted him back to a role player in favor of some other players off the edge.
There is definite projection with both of these guys.
The hope that a more reduced role with Allen alongside Hill can better his effectiveness over the course of an entire season, and with Mafe now being a featured player, obviously he's making $20 million, he better be starting and playing the, m- m- the majority of snaps.
The hope is that he finally takes that next step, a lot like what Trey Hendrickson did five years ago
