Players:
57. Germaine Pratt
55. Logan Wilson
59. Akeem Davis-Gaither
50. Jordan Evans
51. Markus Bailey
49. Joe Bachie
47. Keandre Jones
LB had been a need for the Bengals for a while, going back to the Vontaze Burfict days. They addressed the issue by using a high pick or two in both the 2019 and 2020 drafts. Now, the team heads into the 2021 season with a young, but promising group.
Germaine Pratt was a do it all prospect coming out of college. He could play in coverage and also had the frame and ability to stop the run. You saw the flashes in his rookie year, but also some mistakes. Last year, he quietly took a step forward and had a solid year. Pratt will once again be a starter for the Bengals, and more progress seems likely as he continues to gain experience.
Logan Wilson started out slowly in his rookie year, but he came into his own as the weeks went by. He is not as athletic as Pratt, but his instincts showed as he was able to put himself in good position to snag a couple of interceptions. As of this moment, he will not have the cushion of Josh Bynes, or any other veteran that could take the load off. He will be relied on to be the starter next to Pratt.
Akeem Davis-Gaither was picked in the same draft as Wilson, only one round later. He is still a bit more on the raw side, but he has the tools to break through. Last season, he was used mostly on special teams and as a situational blitzer. However, his talent in coverage, and the Bengals lack of veteran depth, could allow him to see more time on the field.
Jordan Evans hasn’t lived up to his upside, but has still been able to make minor contributions as a depth player. He is athletic and provides value on special teams. As well, he has been used by the Bengals as a situational blitzer, with some success. Although still only 26, as the “veteran” of the group, he has a good chance to make the team.
Markus Bailey didn’t play much in his rookie year and didn’t look great when he was on the field. That being said, you shouldn’t expect big things from a rookie 7th rounder. With a year under his belt and a full offseason to prepare, he now has a shot at claiming a full time roster spot. The Bengals don’t have a lot of depth, so if he can, at the very least, prove himself on special teams, he might be able to lay down a foundation that he can build on.
Joe Bachie and Keandre Jones, both 2020 undrafted free agents, round out the position group. Bachie is a sub-par athlete, but a strong tackler. Jones is a good athlete, but raw in most aspects. A lot of his production in college came as an edge rusher, something he doesn’t have the size for in the NFL. I don’t see either as guys that can make an impact on the team, but the current lack of depth leaves open the door for a spot on the practice squad or even a backend roster spot, if they impress.
As a whole, the position group does not have a lot of mileage, but if the young guys can continue their growth, it could be one of the bright spots for the Bengals defense.