Bengals hosted free agent defensive linemen for visits
Free agency is still an on-going process for the Cincinnati Bengals. The team currently has 65 players on their roster, and at least one more could enter the picture. Per ESPN's Field Yates, the Bengals hosted defensive end Tarell Basham and defensive tackle Kentavius Street for visits Monday. Basham, originally a third-round pick out of […]
Free agency is still an on-going process for the Cincinnati Bengals. The team currently has 65 players on their roster, and at least one more could enter the picture.
Per ESPN's Field Yates, the Bengals hosted defensive end Tarell Basham and defensive tackle Kentavius Street for visits Monday.
Basham, originally a third-round pick out of Ohio in the 2017 NFL Draft, has bounced around quite a bit in his six years as a player. Now 29, He's played in 82 career games and has 70 tackles, 11 sacks, and five forced fumbles to his name for four different teams.
The Colts drafted Basham in 2017 and then waived him in the middle of the 2018 season before the Jets claimed him. Basham would last there for two years until the Dallas Cowboys signed him in the 2021 offseason. Dallas waived him during the 2022 season. The Tennessee Titans were his latest team, as he played five games last year for the two-toned blue.
Street was drafted a year and round later than Basham in 2018 by the San Francisco 49ers. He missed all of 2018 with a torn ACL he suffered prior to entering the NFL. He made his debut late in 2019 and stayed with the club through the 2021 season. The New Orleans Saints signed street to a one-year deal last offseason.
In four seasons, Street has played in 52 games, recording 71 tackles and 6.5 sacks. He had arguably his best season last year with the Saints, registering 3.5 sacks at defensive tackle.
Cincinnati is looking for a pass-rushing boost for their defensive line. There's a need behind B.J. Hill at 3-technique, and the soon-to-be 27-year-old Street would fit in as the first interior rusher off the bench. It should be noted that Street and Hill played together at NC State as well.
Basham has almost strictly been an edge defender for his career, so he'd compete with the likes of Cam Sample and Jeff Gunter behind the Bengals' three main edges in Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, and Joseph Ossai.
A lack of pass rush against Patrick Mahomes is one of the main reasons why the Bengals lost to the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC Championship game. Neither Basham or Street would completely solve that issue, but they'd be welcomed additions to a position group that needs more depth.
