Geno Atkins receives 4-year contract extension from Bengals

The Bengals and Geno Atkins have agreed to a three-year contract extension, keeping the All-Pro defensive tackle in Cincinnati through the 2022 NFL season.

According to Adam Schefter, the deal is worth $65.3 million over the four new years added to Atkins’ contract, which was set to expire in 2019. Most of the money will come to Atkins within the first two years.

Minutes after the deal was announced, the Bengals also extended defensive end Carlos Dunlap.

Atkins, who is heading into his ninth NFL season, appeared in all 16 games in 2017 and finished with 46 total tackles, nine sacks, and was ranked second among interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus (accounts for 4-3 and 3-4 defensive tackles). He was named to the 2017 Pro Bowl.

This comes after Atkins played all 16 games in 2016 and finished with 32 total tackles, nine sacks, and was ranked sixth among interior defensive lineman by Pro Football Focus.

After playing in over 70 percent of snaps the previous two seasons, Atkins only played in roughly 65 percent in 2017. The Bengals adopted more of a rotational approach to the defensive line, which allowed Atkins to get more of a breather during the games. Despite this, he was still able to record nine sacks, matching his 2016 total.

Regarded as one of the best pass-rushing defensive lineman in football, Atkins has recorded 29 sacks over the last three seasons.

This offseason, NFL.com senior analyst Gil Brandt ranked Atkins 11th in his latest all-time list for defensive tackles.

Here is a look at Atkins’ career numbers entering the 2018 regular season:

• Sacks: 61 (second-highest in team history)
• Forced fumbles: 8 (fifth-highest in team history)
• Tackles: 190 (third-highest in team history by an interior defensive lineman)
• Pro Bowls: 6 (2011-2012, 2014-2017)
• All-Pro designations: 3 (2011-2012, 2015)

Who Dey!