Joe Flacco’s expertise and experience are not easy to find, and the Bengals’ offense is benefiting greatly from his arrival.
So what about the defense?
They have struggled this season; perhaps the addition of the right veterans in the right places could be just what they need to get their young talent on track.
These are the three players I think they should add.
Cornerback: Stephon Gilmore
Cam Taylor-Britt has been benched and will DJ Turner, Dax Hill, and Josh Newton have looked pretty good, it raises concerns about their depth.
If there were an injury, would they go back to Cam Taylor-Britt? You would think so, but Taylor-Britt wasn’t even active for the last game.
Do they go to Marco Wilson or DJ Ivey, neither of whom has a significant amount of snaps on defense?
Why not bring in a vet? Especially when a great one like Stephon Gilmore is sitting at home waiting for you to call.
Gilmore was the NFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2019 when he tied for the league lead in interceptions (6). He has 32 in his career.
He is a 2-time Pro Bowler, 5-time All-Pro, and a Super Bowl Champion.
Gilmore would be an excellent mentor for Turner, Hill, and Newton, and maybe he could be just the right guy to get Taylor-Britt back on track. You never know, Gilmore could be the Crash Davis to Taylor-Britt’s Nuke LaLoosh.
Safety: Justin Simmons
Geno Stone and Jordan Battle have each had really good moments this season, but they have both been very inconsistent. Behind them on the depth chart, there is next to no playing experience.
The solution isn’t hard to find. In fact, it is a name we talked about all offseason.
Justin Simmons is a 4-time All-Pro, 2-time Pro Bowler, and tied for the league’s most interceptions in 2022. (He has 32 for his career).
The Simmons we saw last season in Atlanta was not the man we saw in previous years, but that is okay. The Bengals don’t need him to come in and be an All-Pro. They need an experienced depth piece who can provide expertise and guidance to young players. Simmons can definitely be that guy.
They should also consider working out former Ravens safety Marcus Williams, former Rams safety John Johnson, former Bears safety Eddie Jackson, and former Chargers safety Marcus Maye.
Defensive End: Carl Lawson
The Bengals desperately need pass-rush help, and a familiar face just might be the right answer.
It may seem like he dropped off the face of the earth, but Carl Lawson has played the majority of games in two seasons since leaving Cincinnati (One with the Jets, one with the Cowboys), and in each of those seasons, he has had at least five sacks.
That may not seem like much, but it would be a welcome addition to this defense at this point in the season.
Lawson could serve as a pass-rush specialist, playing a limited number of downs in order to maximize his production. He could also teach some of the young guys his famous hump move and how to finish.
Now, Lawson did just sign to the Ravens’ practice squad, but that doesn’t necessarily keep the Bengals from signing him to their 53-man roster.
They should also bring in former Buccaneer Shaquil Barrett and former Cardinal James Luketa for a workout.
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