Obinna Ekezie Jr. a five-star center in the class of 2027... just committed to Louisville!
Will reclass to 2026 and play college hoops next year
Continues just an ASBURD summer for the Cards - who also have the No. 1 portal class in America
Pat Kelsey has CRUSHED this spring
“I think they have improved as much as any football team in the NFL this off-season…this is the most complete team that Joe Burrow has had since the Super Bowl run.”
-Dan Orlovsky on the Bengals
They talk about Dexter Lawrence in 2025 as a down year.
His down year was still the 10th best DT for PFF
5th in Pass Rush Grade
His 14% pass rush win rate was 6th
His 19.7% win rate in True Pass Sets was also 6th best
All while playing over 373 snaps at Nose Tackle - The most in the league
He had the 8th highest pass rush grade in 2024.
13th in Win Rate
6th in True Pass Set Win Rate
If 2024 wasn't a down year, why is 2025 a down year?
He's never had a bad year. That's for sure.
"It's been a long process. But once I heard Cincinnati was an option, I got excited immediately."
"Playing with guys like Ja'Marr and Joe and Tee, and then alongside my best friend BJ. I'm excited, man."
"I'm ready to let my light shine and go win some games."
(via @Bengals)
Dexter Lawrence contract with Bengals will be 3-for-70 ($23.3M/year). That is below market and team friendly.
There are 9 DTs making more per year, and Chris Jones is at $31.7M per year as an older player.
Compensation update: Now that he has passed his physical and the trade is official, newly-acquired DT Dexter Lawerence is signing a one-year, $28 million contract extension with the Bengals, per @WinSportsGroup
So in the end, Lawrence gets the trade he wanted while being contractually tied to Cincinnati for the next three seasons.
In the last 4 years, here’s where PFF ranked Dexter Lawrence among interior defensive linemen:
2025: 9th (dealt with elbow injury)
2024: 2nd
2023: 1st
2022: 1st
Worth noting that in ‘22 and ‘23, Aaron Donald was still active
The #Bengals are expected to hammer out a significant long-term deal with DT Dexter Lawrence as part of the trade, once he passes his physical, per sources.
A very un-Bengals move … but this is a changing organization. And their actions confirm it.