Bengals and DE Carlos Dunlap agree to 3-year contract extension

The Cincinnati Bengals and Carlos Dunlap have agreed to a three-year contract extension, according to ESPN:

This, after signing Geno Atkins to a four-year extension just moments earlier this afternoon.

The Bengals and Dunlap have been working on a contract extension throughout the offseason, and the hope was one gont done before Week 1.

Mission accomplished, as both Dunlap and Atkins are now locked up for the foreseeable future.

Entering his ninth NFL season, Dunlap has 64.5 career sacks, 244 tackles, 42 pass deflections and 16 forced fumbles. In 2017, Dunlap recorded 7.5 sacks, 46 total tackles, seven pass deflections and an interception returned for a game-winning touchdown against the Colts.

Dunlap is already poised to go down as one of the best pass-rushers in Bengals history. If he plays out the rest of his career here and continues to play at a high level, he could go down as the best.

While the Bengals have added guys like Carl Lawson, Jordan Willis and Sam Hubbard to help offset a potential loss of Dunlap in 2019, they still want him to be a leader for this team and an anchor along the defensive line for several more years, which is exactly what he’ll be with his new deal.

For at least two more seasons, the Bengals will have Atkins, Dunlap, Lawson, Willis, Hubbard and Andrew Billings under contract. Those six have been wreaking havoc this preseason and look like one of, if not the best defensive line in football.

Billings is under contract for two more seasons, while Willis and Lawson have three seasons left on their deals.