Bengals Depth Chart Preview: Major storylines at defensive end overshadow incoming roster battles

The second half of the Cincinnati Bengals' offseason has surrounded the defensive end position. It's why we're closing out Bengals depth chart preview series with this group. You all know the storylines. Trey Hendrickson wants a contract extension. Shemar Stewart needs a rookie contract. Both players are unhappy and have been for weeks, if not months. […]

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Joseph Ossai (58) returns to the bench after celebrating a fumble recovery in the third quarter during a Week 15 NFL game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Sunday, Dec. 18, 2022, at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Fla.
© Kareem Elgazzar/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

The second half of the Cincinnati Bengals' offseason has surrounded the defensive end position. It's why we're closing out Bengals depth chart preview series with this group. 

You all know the storylines. Trey Hendrickson wants a contract extension. Shemar Stewart needs a rookie contract. Both players are unhappy and have been for weeks, if not months. Both are needed if Cincinnati has any hope to rekindle some fire on defense. 

But there is more to this group than the two names constantly in the headlines, so let's go through it all. 

Bengals Defensive End Depth Chart

Right Defensive End

  1. Trey Hendrickson
  2. Myles Murphy
  3. Cedric Johnson
  4. Raymond Johnson III

Left Defensive End

  1. Joseph Ossai
  2. Shemar Stewart
  3. Cam Sample
  4. Isaiah Thomas

The starters: Hendrickson, Ossai. So, there's an elephant in the room here and it isn't Ossai. Hendrickson is going to start only if he plays, which he claims he will not without a new contract extension. The Bengals have seven weeks to hammer that out and get their All-Pro DE back on the field. Ossai is likely to start on the other side of the formation after re-upping with a one-year deal of his own containing production incentives. 

First off the bench: Murphy, Stewart. Murphy is Ossai's biggest competition to start with Hendrickson and is primed for his best year in general, but we have another elephant to address. Stewart has yet to sign his rookie contract and cannot report to training camp until that changes. Placing him fourth on the depth chart at this point feels generous, but his raw athleticism will be too enticing not to use in their rotation once he's in the fold. 

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The rest: Sample should be considered a roster lock for how much the coaching staff appreciates him, even after all the changes on that side of the ball. He's coming back from an Achilles injury suffered almost exactly a year ago, but looked further along than expected during the offseason workout program. Johnson is right beside him in the depth chart and flashed late in his rookie season. Thomas and Johnson have been on the practice squad before and both could be gunning for the same spot this year. 

Who will make the 53-man roster: Hendrickson, Ossai, Murphy, Stewart, Sample, Johnson. I think Hendrickson and Stewart missing the offseason and potentially most of training camp will implore the staff to go with six here. It helps that Sample and Johnson are roster worthy, and Stewart specifically will need plenty of time to catch up to speed.

Practice squad prediction: Thomas. It'll be a two-man race presumably, and Thomas was brought back to the practice squad midseason last year. 

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