The Cincinnati Bengals went all out to fix what was one of the worst defenses in the NFL last season, but according to analyst Warren Sharp from Sharp Football Analysis, it was nowhere near enough. Sharp has ranked Cincinnati’s front seven a dismal 26th in the league, claiming their overhaul did little to move the needle. This is the exact same rank they held last season, which is just wild considering some of the moves they made.
The Big Swings That Didn’t Move the Needle
Last season, Cincy’s pass rush was an absolute nightmare, generating pressure in 2.5 seconds or less on just 15% of opponent dropbacks. That was 31st in the entire league, which is basically rock bottom. So, the Bengals went big this offseason. They traded for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants, which everyone thought was a huge splash. They also brought in pass rusher Boye Mafe, who put up 40 pressures last season in a rotational role, and Jonathan Allen to beef up the interior defense and help get to the quarterback. Plus, they needed a reliable veteran for the linebacker group, especially since Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter had rough rookie years surrounded by a terrible defensive unit.
However, Sharp’s big reason for the non-improvement? He says it’s hard to imagine the pass-rush unit drastically improving after losing Trey Hendrickson. It’s a valid point, Hendrickson is a beast, but you gotta look at the whole picture, right?
Warren Sharp’s Math Ain’t Adding Up For Anyone Else
Here’s where Sharp’s analysis starts to feel a little off. Last year, the Bengals were 26th, and they are 26th again. But let’s look at Dexter Lawrence. When the Giants lost Lawrence, their front seven plummeted 14 spots, from No. 4 all the way down to No. 18. So, losing Lawrence absolutely tanks a unit, but adding him to the Bengals means *nothing*? That just doesn’t make sense.
And then there’s the Trey Hendrickson situation. Sharp ranks the Baltimore Ravens as the 10th best front seven in the NFL, even noting their defensive line was bottom-tier last year. Somehow, adding Hendrickson, Calais Campbell, and Zion Young suddenly makes them a top 10 unit. It feels a bit like Sharp is having it both ways. Hendrickson is still a fantastic pass rusher, but anyone watching Bengals games knew opponents ran right at him. With his age, he isn’t getting better in run defense. So, to say the Lawrence trade is somehow equal to the Hendrickson loss, cancelling out any improvement for Cincy, just seems silly and disingenuous. There’s a ton of uncertainty around this Bengals defensive unit, no doubt, but it’s hard to make Sharp’s math work out for anyone other than, well, Cincinnati itself.
The Bengals are going to have to prove Sharp and other doubters wrong when the regular season kicks off. They made some big moves, and now they need those players to step up and show that 26th rank is ancient history.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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