Bengals DE breakdown: Dunlap goes for the record and Lawson hopes for health

Let's take a closer look at the Bengals defensive ends

The Bengals added to what was already considered one of their strongest position groups this offseason when they signed D.J. Reader in free agency

The 26-year-old defensive tackle should make life easier on Geno Atkins and the rest of the defensive line. The ends should also benefit from his presence.

The Bengals have a talented group of pass rushers, which is rare for a team that won just two games last season.

Carlos Dunlap is set to anchor a defensive end group that hopes to bounce back in 2020. Dunlap led the team with nine sacks. Sam Hubbard wasn’t far behind with 8.5.

No other player had more than five sacks.

Let’s take a closer look at the defensive ends.

Carlos Dunlap – 6’6”, 285 pounds

Dunlap enters his 11th season eager to cement his name in Bengals’ history. He’s currently second in team history with 81.5 sacks, which is just two shy of Eddie Edwards’ record of 83.5.

Since entering the league in 2010, Dunlap has been a consistent problem for opposing quarterbacks. He has 58 passes defended and a combination of 231 sacks and quarterback hits over that span according to Pro Football Focus. That ranks him third behind J.J. Watt and Cameron Wake for the decade.

PFF named Dunlap to their All-Decade Team and their analyst Sam Monson said Dunlap is one of the most underrated players of his generation.

The 2019 season started rocky for Dunlap. He had just 20 total tackles through the first eight games and missed two games. Missing time was significant. Dunlap had been active for every game from 2013-2018.

He rebounded from his slow start to lead the team in sacks. Eight of his nine sacks came in the second half of the season.

The 31-years-old has shown no sign of slowing down, despite his start to last season. Expect Dunlap to easily break Eddie Edwards’ record in 2020.

Sam Hubbard – 6’5”, 265 pounds

Hubbard was a bright spot on the Bengals defense last season.

He had 8.5 sacks, 19 pressures, 75 tackles (45 solo), and one forced fumble. After tallying six sacks as a rookie, Hubbard leads the 2018 draft class with 14.5 sacks.

His versatility is one if his biggest strengths. He’s able to drop into coverage and play on the interior of the line in a five-front formation.

He played safety in high school for Cincinnati’s Archbishop Moeller. He was recruited as a linebacker by Ohio State and spent a short time playing tight end for the Buckeyes. Ultimately, he ended up at defensive end.

The former third-round pick has quickly become a key member of the Bengals’ defense. Hubbard played in 80% of the defensive snaps this past season, after only playing in 45% of snaps as a rookie in 2018.

Expect Hubbard to start at defensive end opposite of Dunlap.

Carl Lawson – 6’2”, 265 pounds

Lawson enters his last season of his initial four-year rookie deal. His future in Cincinnati will depend on his health.

Lawson put up 8.5 sacks as rookie in 2017 while only playing 42% of the defensive snaps. He led the team with 22 quarterback hits last season, even though he only appeared in 12 games.

Injuries have plagued Lawson throughout his football career. He’s only played in 19 games over the past two seasons.

The Bengals want to see a consistent, healthy Lawson before signing him long-term.

Expect him to be a situational pass rusher seeing time on both edges. A healthy Lawson will be a difference maker on an already stout defensive line.

Khalid Kareem – 6’4”, 268 pounds

The former Notre Dame Irish captain landed in a great position to learn and develop from Dunlap, Hubbard, and Lawson.

Kareem has an act of getting after the football racking up 46 tackles (ten for loss) 5.5 sacks, eleven quarterback hurries, and three forced fumbles during his senior campaign last season.

The physical attributes for an edge rusher are there for Kareem in size and length, but he lacks in explosiveness for lateral and directional change.

There is no rush for Kareem this season. Expect him to fill a backup role and develop. The Bengals drafted him with the future in mind.

Andrew Brown – 6’3”, 290 pounds

Officially listed as a defensive end, Brown was a rotational lineman last season. He saw action at each position across the defensive line.

The 2018 fifth-round pick spent his rookie season on the practice squad and injured reserve. Brown played in fourteen games for 23% of the defensive plays recording fourteen total tackles.

Expect Brown to compete for a rotational backup role. He could play inside more than he did last season.

Kendall Futrell – 6’2”, 226 pounds

The undrafted free agent could play both defensive end and outside linebacker if needed.

Futrell had 63 total tackles (16 for loss), 11 sacks, and one pass defended last season at East Carolina.

Expect Futrell to compete at both edge and outside linebacker for a spot on the practice squad to give him time to develop.

Freedom Akinmoladun – 6’3”, 278 pounds

Akinmoladun appeared in two games for the Bengals last season, but didn’t show up in the box score.

He went undrafted in 2018 after tallying 106 tackles (16 for loss) and 11 sacks in four seasons at Nebraska.

He’ll compete for a back end roster spot, but remains a long-shot after spending time on the Bengals practice squad in 2019.