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The Bengals began free agency targeting an edge rusher, and they’re targeting at another one a week into the new league year.
Per NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are hosting free agent DE Ryan Kerrigan for a visit on Wednesday.
Washington Football Team Pro Bowl DE Ryan Kerrigan will take a free agent visit to the #Bengals today, source said, another potential addition to Cincy's revamped defense. WFT also has interest in having Kerrigan, the team’s all-time sack leader, return.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 24, 2021
Kerrigan, who is entering his 11th year in the league, has amassed four Pro Bowl nominations and 95.5 sacks in his career. He’s only missed four games since being drafted 16th overall by the Washington Football Team back in 2011.
2020 was the first season that Kerrigan was used as a rotational pass-rusher as Washington used Chase Young and Montez Sweat as their starters. That said, Kerrigan still produced a Pro Football Focus pass rush grade of 68.8 for the season, which would’ve been second amongst Cincinnati defensive linemen. In their Week 11 matchup last year, Kerrigan had a sack and a tackle for loss.
Now 32 years old, Kerrigan is likely in the market for a one-year deal, and he does have a connection with the Bengals. Kerrigan was a four-year player at Purdue University while Bengals current defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was there as the team’s defensive backs coach. Both of them left for the NFL by 2012, but a reunion could very well be in store.
The Bengals still very much need another edge rusher and Kerrigan makes a ton of sense as a rotational piece. We’ll see if a contract comes in to play.