Chris Smith signs with Panthers

The Cincinnati Bengals thoroughly enjoy reuniting with former players of theirs.

However, there will not be a reunion with free agent edge defender Chris Smith, who agreed to a one-year deal with the Carolina Panthers, according to Adam Schefter. The deal came just hours after the Carolina native visited Cincinnati.

Smith played the best season of his career with the Bengals back in 2017, when he played 401 snaps and recorded 25 pressures and four sacks. When his one-year deal expired, Smith left for the Cleveland Browns, where he’s been ever since.

In two years up in Cleveland, Smith’s only played 480 combined snaps and notched just 16 total pressures and one sack. He was released late last year right before the Browns played the Bengals for the first time in the season.

The Bengals need depth at edge defender, and Smith could have come in and competed for one of the final roster spots along the defensive line. Alas, now the Bengals will have to look elsewhere if they want more frontline depth in the defense.