Bengals Depth Chart: Post-NFL Draft Projections on Defense

With the NFL draft and undrafted free agency having passed, the Bengals are now at their 90-man offseason roster limit.

For the most part, the defense is going to look mostly the same from top to bottom, especially with former Bengals like Pat Sims and Michael Johnson back on the roster. That, and having 10 other full-time starters from a year ago has this defense looking very strong in terms of chemistry and continuity.

Even after Cincinnati spent four draft picks on defensive players this year, don't expect many of them to be high on the depth chart as rookies. There's just not many spots needing anything more than depth behind the veterans who will be starting most, if not every game they're healthy this year.

With that said, here's our look at what the defensive depth chart looks like as of now.

*I've essentially got Vontaze Burfict as a non-factor at this point, as I believe he opens the year on PUP and missed the first six games. Anything the Bengals get from him this year should be considered a bonus with him coming off microfracture surgery.

^When Burfict does return, that shifts Vincent Rey to backup MLB, where he shares playing time with Rey Maualuga. Though Maualuga is the start, Vinny still will see the field a lot, most of which being here if Burfict is on the field.

-As for the rest, I think the Bengals open the year with six linebackers, five defensive tackles, five defensive ends, five cornerbacks and four safeties on the 53-man roster with Burfict on PUP and not counting towards the limit.