The arrival of Dexter Lawrence with the Cincinnati Bengals via blockbuster trade is a move the team hopes can change the landscape of both the AFC North and the broader NFL.
For now, it’s just going to massively change the Bengals’ depth chart and NFL draft outlook.
Lawrence’s position of interior defensive lineman was a heavily scrutinized one for the Bengals this offseason before his arrival. BJ Hill was coming off a down season due to injury and TJ Slaton had a ho-hum season, firmly planting him as a cut candidate.
The Bengals signed Jonanthan Allen this offseason to aid the rotation, putting even more pressure on recent draft picks Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson.
There are only so many roster spots to go around, so two names are now back to full-blown cut candidate status.
Slaton is a fine run defender but wasn’t one of the guys Bengals brass were going to bat for at the combine and other appearances. He’s a $6.6 million cap savings as a pre-June 1 cut, so the Bengals could look to make that happen, especially once we know more about Lawrence’s new contract details.
The Bengals aren’t going to be ready to give up on Jenkins, though. He’s a former second-round pick and could gain much by learning from guys like Lawrence and Allen, never mind Hill.
Jackson, though, might be on the way out. He asked for a trade or release in the middle of last season while being unable to crack the active roster. While a third-round pick from the same draft as Jenkins, things were well headed to cut territory before the Lawrence trade.
Given the cap savings potential, Slaton would happen before Lawrence. But Jackson could be on the hot seat all summer. Jenkins has the potential to join him if they add more names and/or he struggles, too.
DL: Dexter Lawrence, T.J. Slaton, Kris Jenkins, Jordan Jefferson
DL: B.J. Hill, Jonathan Allen, McKinnley Jackson, Howard Cross
DE: Boye Mafe, Shemar Stewart, Antwaun Powell-Ryland
The Bengals will obviously go with a multiple defense on a likely per-opponent basis, kicking edges inside and going with odd and even fronts. This is merely aimed at giving a loose look at the current makeup of the roster in this area before the draft.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals cut candidates, depth chart after Dexter Lawrence trade