Baylor defensive tackle Andrew Billings was one of the biggest steals of the entire 2016 NFL Draft by the Bengals, but the team isn't done adding pieces to their defense. Per reports, the Bengals are signing interior defensive lineman David Dean as an undrafted free agent from the University of Virginia.
#UVA senior DT David Dean joining the Cincinnati Bengals as an undrafted free agent... https://t.co/6vv2gaDWtV
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) May 1, 2016
I just looked in the mirror we closer than we appear! Blessed to be a member of the Cincinnati Bengals organization #WhoDey
— David Dean (@DEANOntheVILLE) April 30, 2016
Dean (6'0", 290 pounds) is one of those smaller, penetrating defensive linemen in the mold of current Bengals players at the position in Geno Atkins and DeShawn Williams. As a senior, Dean had 4.5 sacks and 8 tackles for loss, along with a forced fumble. He had 10.5 sacks and 24.5 tackles for loss in four seasons with the Cavaliers.
Williams impressed as a free agent last year, so Dean will get the same opportunity in 2016. He has an uphill battle to make the final roster, but Williams hung on to the team's Practice Squad last year, so Dean will likely need to use that route as an initial foot in the door with the team.