The Cincinnati Bengals will be heading into the 2025 season with a very similar defense, as far as personnel is concerned, as they did in 2024. There are only a couple of new faces, but one of them has drawn the attention and praise of the team’s franchise quarterback, Joe Burrow.
Per Jake Liscow on Twitter, nose tackle TJ Slaton, formerly of the Green Bay Packers, has emerged as a vocal leader in the locker room. This didn’t come from just anyone, though. It came from the most important player on the team, quarterback Joe Burrow.
“Burrow mentions TJ Slaton is emerging as a vocal leader for the DL after lamenting the departure of Germaine Pratt’s vocal leadership,” he wrote. “Also mentioned an increase in DL games as a schematic change, which is interesting.”
Many thought the Bengals would use the draft to bring in a key starter on the interior of the defensive line. With a draft class as heavy in talent as this one was (five defensive tackles selected in the first round), it was surprising they passed on the position, instead relying on Slaton and the pair of interior defensive linemen they selected last season, Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson.
The defensive tackle position has lacked consistency since the departure of DJ Reader in free agency. The Bengals signed Sheldon Rankins before the 2024 season, but he only played 287 snaps and missed the entire last half of the season. He was released in February.
Slaton now comes in with an opportunity to take up significant playing time, especially if teams are going to try to keep the ball on the ground and Burrow on the sidelines. They have struggled to stop the run for a couple of years now, and if Slaton can change that, it could have a ripple effect on the linebackers and the secondary.
Burrow mentions TJ Slaton is emerging as a vocal leader for the DL after lamenting the departure of Germaine Pratt’s vocal leadership
Also mentioned an increase in DL games as a schematic change, which is interesting
— Jake Liscow (@JakeLiscow) June 10, 2025