Bengals 2018 Position Breakdown Part V: Defensive Line

by Richard Skinner, WKRC

Fri, July 20th 2018, 7:57 PM UTC

Richard Skinner breaks down the Bengals roster battles position by position heading into training camp. (WKRC){p}{/p}

Bengals defensive tackle Geno Atkins with one of his two sacks against the Houston Texans last season (WKRC/Tony Tribble).

Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Carlos Dunlap (96) breaks away from Indianapolis Colts offensive tackle Joe Haeg, right, to score a touchdown on an interception in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Oct. 29, 2017, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Frank Victores)

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Richard Skinner breaks down the Bengals roster battles position by position heading into training camp. (WKRC)

NOTE: This is the fifth of a seven-part series detailing each position group for the Bengals heading into training camp, which begins on July 26.

CINCINNATI (WKRC) - This part takes a look at defensive linemen who are locks to make the 53-man roster when it's finalized on Sept. 1, who are likely to make it and who are long shots to make it:

DEFENSIVE LINE

How many will likely be kept: 8-9
Locks to make it: DE Carlos Dunlap, DT Geno Atkins, DE Carl Lawson, DE Sam Hubbard, DE Jordan Willis
Likely to make it: DT/DE Chris Baker, DT Andrew Billings, DT Ryan Glasgow, DT Andrew Brown
Long shot to make it: DE Michael Johnson, DT Josh Tupou, DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones, DT Chris Okoye

The Skinny: This should be a position of strength with several young players added through the draft over the last couple of years providing a needed boost of ability and athleticism.

Atkins is still among the best interior defensive linemen in the NFL if not the best. Dunlap is in a contract year and is still capable of of providing pressure at times off the edge, but he has slipped a bit the last two seasons after recording a career-high 13.0 sacks in 2015.

Lawson had a strong rookie season as a pass-rushing specialist with 8.5 sacks, but can he prove to be more than that?

Rookie Hubbard and Willis will likely battle to start at the end opposite of Dunlap, while the veteran Baker could be in the mix, but will likely be in the rotation at tackle.

That tackle rotation will also likely include Billings, Glasgow and the rookie Brown.

Veteran Michael Johnson will likely be the odd man out, although that appeared to be the case heading into training camp last year and he found a role as a defensive tackle in nickel situations. That role may go to Hubbard this season.

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BENGALS TRAINING CAMP POSITION PREVIEW SCHEDULE

July 16: Quarterback and Specialists
July 17: Running Back
July 18: Wide Receiver and Tight End
July 19: Offensive line
July 20: Defensive line
July 21: Linebackers
July 22: Secondary.
July 23: Final 53-player roster projection
July 24: Media Luncheon
July 25: Players report
July 26: Training Camp begins with first practice starting at 3 p.m. at fields adjacent to Paul Brown Stadium.
Training Camp Schedule: Click here.

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