Bengals cut candidates, depth chart after Dexter Lawrence trade

The arrival of Dexter Lawrence with the Cincinnati Bengals via blockbuster trade is a move the team hopes can change the landscape of both the AFC North and the broader NFL. For now, it’s just going to massively change the Bengals ’ depth chart and NFL draft outlook. Lawrence’s position of interior defensive lineman was a heavily scrutinized one for the Bengals this offseason before his arrival.

BJ Hill was coming off a down season due to injury and TJ Slaton had a ho-hum season, firmly planting him as a cut candidate. The Bengals signed Jonanthan Allen this offseason to aid the rotation, putting even more pressure on recent draft picks Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson. There are only so many roster spots to go around, so two names are now back to full-blown cut candidate status.

Bengals cut candidates after Dexter Lawrence trade The two names should be obvious at this point: TJ Slaton McKinnley Jackson Slaton is a fine run defender but wasn’t one of the guys Bengals brass were going to bat for at the combine and other appearances. He’s a $6. 6 million cap savings as a pre-June 1 cut, so the Bengals could look to make that happen, especially once we know more about Lawrence’s new contract details.

The Bengals aren’t going to be ready to give up on Jenkins, though. He’s a former second-round pick and could gain much by learning from guys like Lawrence and Allen, never mind Hill. Jackson, though, might be on the way out.