Grading the Deal: Cincinnati Bengals Land Former Cleveland Browns Defensive Sort out Larry Ogunjobi

March 19, 2021

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Defensive Tactics Larry Ogunjobi doesn’t have to travel far if he moves to Cincinnati after agreeing to a one-year deal with the Bengals.

The Browns’ earlier third-round election was the last outside free agent to agree to the Bengals on Wednesday.

He achieved 47 tackles, 2.5 sacks and 17 pressures in 2020. Ogunjobi joins a defense that will have many new faces in 2021, including two starting cornerbacks.

Here’s a breakdown of what the newest Bengal is about to bring to Cincinnati.

Overall grade: B-

Position impact: Ogunjobi brings some athleticism to the middle of the Bengals defense. At 6-3, 305 pounds, the Charlotte product will be the Start 3 tech alongside DJ Reader. He won’t turn 27 until June and has played 60 out of 64 possible games since the Browns first picked him in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Ogunjobi’s availability has been consistent, but his performance on the field varies from snap to snap.

One game could be an explosive bag, and the next three make it gaffes in tech or show varying degrees of effort. Ogunjobi has seen a dramatic drop in his Pro Football Focus rating since his rookie season due to his troubles.

Despite the downtrend, Ogunjobi is an instant talent upgrade within the Bengals defense. According to Sports Info Solutions, Ogunjobi saved a total of 16 points in 2020. Xavier Williams, Mike Daniels, Christian Covington and Geno Atkins saved a total of 11 points. The Bengals were released from their line of defense after the injury bug started to bite early in training camp.

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Ogunjobi is slightly taller than Atkins (6-1) and has demonstrated the ability to compete against doubles, as the Bengals legend has done so many times during his 10-year career in Cincinnati.

Ogunjobi’s athleticism makes him a versatile pawn, but fans are hoping the defensive front stays healthy enough to keep his role in the middle simple. He should play his best football next to an entrenched nasal device like Reader.

Stat (s) to know: Ogunjobis Pass Rush score of 57.0 ranks 104th out of 133 qualifiers since 2018, according to PFF. He ranked 37th among interior decorators at ESPN’s Pass Rush win rate last season.

Value: The likely replacement for Atkins on the roster means Cincinnati should eventually give up the veteran to save $ 9.5 million in space. Ogunjobi arrives to Queen City on a year-long flight for $ 6.2 million, with $ 4.6 million guaranteed. According to Spotrac, his guaranteed money ranks 48th among active defensive tackles. Atkins wasn’t healthy in 2020 and ended up with just one tackle and three presses. There is no downside to adding ogunjobi. The Bengals hope he can bring some tasty soil to the middle of their defenses.

Check out our sheet music here for the free agent supplements of the other Bengals.

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