Free agent defensive lineman Vinny Curry visiting Bengals on Monday

The Bengals have awoken from their early free agency slumber. Aside from re-signing their fourth internal free agent in Tyler Eifert this weekend, they are also hosting a veteran edge defender.

Per Geoff Mosher of 973 ESPN Radio, Vinny Curry is set to visit Cincinnati at the onset of next week. Curry was most recently with the Buccaneers and was released in February.

He signed a three-year deal with Tampa Bay last offseason, only to rack up just 2.5 sacks in 2018. With those low numbers and the Bruce Arians era being ushered in down south, Curry was shown the door.

He was previously with the Eagles and won a championship with them in Super Bowl LII. In his six seasons in Philadelphia, Curry racked up 22 sacks, including nine in 2014.

There has been chatter of Curry being used out of position at times—particularly with the Eagles. He’s 6’3” and 279 pounds, but was asked to play an outside linebacker role at times with Philadelphia.

The veteran defensive lineman fits the free agent profile the Bengals often covet in outside free agency. He was released by his last team, so he won’t count against the compensatory pick formula, and he is a former high pick as a 2012 second-round selection.

Curry isn’t the first defensive end the Bengals have shown interest in this spring. The club brought in Shaquil Barrett, only to see him sign a one-year deal with Tampa Bay on Friday.

If he signs with Cincinnati, it will be undoubtedly as a rotational player. The Bengals appear to be moving on from Michael Johnson, as they allow Sam Hubbard, Carl Lawson and Carlos Dunlap to get the glut of snaps going forward.

We’ll keep you updated on any movement upon the conclusion of the visit.