John Sheeran details why the Cincinnati Bengals need another pass rusher despite giving Super Bowl Champion and former Seattle Seahawk the largest free agent contract ever given by the team.
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Video Transcript
There are five defensive ends on the Bengals roster, and in my opinion, only two starting caliber players.
There are five defensive ends on the Bengals roster, and in my opinion, only two starting caliber players.
Boye Mafe is the most expensive free agent signing in Cincinnati Bengals history, and he comes into this room as the most accomplished defensive end on the roster right now.
Boye Mafe is the most expensive free agent signing in Cincinnati Bengals history, and he comes into this room as the most accomplished defensive end on the roster right now.
But Mafe has never been a full-time starter for more than just a season.
But Mafe has never been a full-time starter for more than just a season.
He was just a part of a heavy rotation with the Seattle Seahawks, a rotation that obviously helped win a Super Bowl, but he’s going to be entrusted a lot more within the Bengals defense.
He was just a part of a heavy rotation with the Seattle Seahawks, a rotation that obviously helped win a Super Bowl, but he’s going to be entrusted a lot more within the Bengals defense.
And right now he is their top pass rusher, and that’s because after three seasons, it was only just in the second half of last year that Myles Murphy started showing signs of competence himself.
And right now he is their top pass rusher, and that’s because after three seasons, it was only just in the second half of last year that Myles Murphy started showing signs of competence himself.
And maybe it’s a little premature of me to put Myles Murphy in the green instead of maybe a borderline starter, but I do think he’s on the trajectory of being a good player at this point in his career.
And maybe it’s a little premature of me to put Myles Murphy in the green instead of maybe a borderline starter, but I do think he’s on the trajectory of being a good player at this point in his career.
He’s only twenty-four years old.
He’s only twenty-four years old.
Again, the pass rushing data in the second half of last season was promising.
Again, the pass rushing data in the second half of last season was promising.
I think there are signs that he is actually taking those steps to be in that same tier as a Boye Mafe.
I think there are signs that he is actually taking those steps to be in that same tier as a Boye Mafe.
And you may be thinking to yourself, “Okay, the Bengals have two decent starting defensive ends.
And you may be thinking to yourself, “Okay, the Bengals have two decent starting defensive ends.
They’re pretty much good, right?”
They’re pretty much good, right?”
Wrong, because what did I just say about the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and their dominant defense?
Wrong, because what did I just say about the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and their dominant defense?
They had more than just two competent pass rushers.
They had more than just two competent pass rushers.
And right now the Bengals pass rushers beyond their starting two are terrible
And right now the Bengals pass rushers beyond their starting two are terrible