NOTE: This is the sixth of a 10-part series detailing each position group for the Bengals heading into 2025 training camp, which begins on July 23, and culminating with a 53-player roster projection.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) – This part takes a look at the defensive line and who is a lock to make the 53-man roster when it’s finalized on Aug. 26, who will likely make it, who are longshots to make it:

How many will likely be kept: 9-10

Lock to make it: DE Joseph Ossai, DE Myles Murphy, DT B.J. Hill, DT T.J. Slaton, DT Kris Jenkins, Jr., DT McKinnley Jackson

Likely to make it: DL Cam Sample, DE Cedric Johnson

Longshot to make it: DE Raymond Johnson III, DE Isaiah Thomas, DT Dante Barnett, DT Howard Cross III, DT Eric Gregory

In Limbo: DE Trey Hendrickson, DE Shemar Stewart

The Skinny: The Bengals have major questions on the defensive line from players in the position group who may not be on the field when training camp starts to what the performance level will be like for certain players on the field.

The veteran Hendrickson has threatened not to play unless he gets a lucrative contract extension. and Stewart, the team’s first-round pick in the NFL Draft, has yet to sign his contract due to language involving the possibility of voiding guaranteed money.

Hendrickson had an NFL-best 17.5 quarterback sacks last season and the rest of the Bengals defenders had 18.5 combined.

Stewart has already missed valuable time from an on-field rep standpoint and needs all the time possible in camp to begin proving he is a more productive player than he was in college when he had 4.5 sacks in his three seasons combined.

Ossai re-signed on a one-year contract after playing well down the stretch of last season, following three-plus seasons battling injuries and lacking production. He recorded 5.0 sacks last season, all over the last seven games when he recorded at least 0.5 sacks in six of those games.

Murphy was the team’s first-round pick in 2023, but didn’t record a single sack last season after having 3.0 as a rookie. The team needs him to take a big step forward in his performance level.

The veteran Hill is a steady performer, but he needs to get more snaps off to keep him fresh and he will likely rotate more with Jenkins.

Slaton was signed as a free agent from the Green Bay Packers and is noted as a solid run-stopper, which was desperately needed.

Jackson will likely back up Slaton and had a decent rookie season.

Sample returns after suffering a season-ending torn Achilles in last year’s training camp and can play both tackle and end.

Johnson was a sixth-round pick last year and played in nine games. He recorded one sack, but impressed in spring practices and even got some first team reps when new defensive coordinator Al Golden played a five-man front.

BENGALS TRAINING CAMP POSITION PREVIEW SCHEDULE