Following the departure of D.J. Reader in free agency the Bengals are in the market for a new interior defensive lineman. In a conference full of star quarterbacks, putting pressure on the most important position in football is paramount. After the signing of veteran tackle Trent Brown, the argument is there to be made for defensive tackle being the most pressing need for the Bengals. Cincinnati will have more than enough opportunities to find a day one contributor by the end of day two of the draft. The Bengals currently hold four top 100 draft picks. Which defensive tackle should the Bengals invest in?

Johnny Newton

Johnny Newton has been a popular mock draft target for Bengals fans. Reminiscent of Geno Atkins, Newton would fit right in here and provide a much-needed boost to the Bengals pass rush. Newton’s film should come with a ‘R’ rating, at least if you’re a quarterback. Newton’s violent play style and impressive strength make him a fit in the AFC North. As this year’s best 3-tech penetrator, Newton meets a need for the Bengals. Newton may no longer be a lock for a top 20 pick, but he certainly won’t last long enough for the Bengals to scoop him up in the 2nd round. They’ll need to feel comfortable with his size and role to take him at 18th overall. If Newton’s name is called however, the Bengals have turned their interior pass rush in 2023 from a weakness to a strength in 2024.

Byron Murphy II

As exciting as Johnny Newton is there is no denying Byron Murphy II brings something that Newton doesn’t. Versatility. Murphy has the ability to rush the passer from 3 tech and be able to anchor down at nose tackle vs the run. His lower body strength is impressive as is his explosive first step making him a potential three down player. Murphy’s mix of explosiveness, athleticism, and strength make him a very dangerous player in the middle of the line. Murphy’s ability to play the run as well as rush the passer may push him past Newton in the Bengals rankings.

T’Vondre Sweat

T’Vondre Sweat could be the Bengals answer to replace D.J. Reader, a gutting blow to the Bengals front line defense. Cincinnati will be looking to patch up their 31st ranked run defense, making Sweat literally and figuratively hard to look past. Sweat is hard to move, even on double teams and his low, powerful play style will surely start to plug holes on Cincinnati’s defensive line. There are questions about Sweat’s playing weight and ability to play all three downs, which may push him to the 3rd round. But the Bengals can’t afford to wait around on such a rare profile. No one should be able to move like Sweat can at his size.

Ruke Orhorhoro

The Bengals would be reuniting Ruke Orhorhoro with former Clemson teammate and last year’s first rounder, Myles Murphy. Ruke is a versatile defensive lineman capable of lining up in multiple positions. His instincts, lower body strength, and penetrating ability make him a solid option in the 2nd round and an exciting project considering Orhorhoro didn’t start playing football until his junior year of high school.

Kris Jenkins

If Kris Jenkins is a Cincinnati Bengal by the end of day two of the NFL Draft, it won’t be hard to see why. A team captain of the national champion Michigan Wolverines, Jenkins has the strength and athleticism to be a versatile interior defender. His high motor and football IQ land him around the football 24/7. Jenkins is exactly what the Bengals defensive line needs. He does a lot well but not necessarily anything great, which may drop his stock a little. If Jenkins can develop a better pass rush plan, he can be a stalwart wherever he goes.

Brandon Dorlus

Oregon’s Brandon Dorlus is a versatile weapon on the defensive line. With over 700 snaps at defensive tackle and over 1,000 snaps at defensive end, Dorlus has the athleticism to play all over the defensive front. Dorlus’ pass rush moves and counters make him a true threat to get to the quarterback. Dorlus is better off inside the defensive line where his athleticism and technical refinement in the way he uses his strength make him a mismatch on the inside.

Leonard Taylor III

Leonard Taylor III shares a similar pre-draft path to Bengals 2023 first rounder Myles Murphy. Both have an impressive size and athleticism combination to work with. But both struggled with production and putting moves together and saw their stock gradually decrease. The difference between the two being Murphy is a much better run defender. But for the potential, it’s not hard to see why the Bengals would be comfortable betting on their development and trying to turn the Miami Hurricane into a mid-round steal for a defensive line that badly needs help.

Maason Smith

Maason Smith is full of potential waiting to be molded by an NFL franchise. Smith has a lot to his game as an agile run defender running off of a high motor. Having the athleticism and strength to survive in the NFL is half the battle and Smith is halfway there. Where he needs to improve is his pass rush repertoire to truly unlock his versatility. Due to an ACL injury, Smith’s colligate experience has been limited. With more experience under his belt, he can break into a prominent role on a defensive line.

Mekhi Wingo

Wingo will be a project at the next level given his smaller size and inconsistencies in his pass rush. Still, Wingo is an exciting defensive prospect thanks to his explosive athleticism and high motor. Wingo pairs his lightning with some thunder. His powerful core is his base of leverage to set the edge and anchor vs the run. Wingo is a mid round target who can contribute in multiple ways.

Michael Hall Jr.

If the Bengals are looking for an explosive pass rusher they’ll find it in their own backyard in Ohio State’s Michael Hall Jr. Hall, who be just 21 as a rookie possesses an impressive amount of explosiveness and agility in his game to make him a threat to all Quarterbacks. Hall has enough to work with vs the run to make him worth trying to develop into a three-down player.

The Bengals watched their Super Bowl end by Aaron Donald getting to Joe Burrow one too many times. One year later they saw Chris Jones bring some Deja vu and prevent the Bengals from going back to the Super Bowl. For two straight years the Bengals season was ended by an elite interior defensive lineman. It is past time the Bengals to take the next step as a contender and ‘get their own’ in the words of de facto GM Duke Tobin.