Five Position Battles to Watch During Bengals Training Camp
By Rory Daniels
5. Darqueze Dennard vs. B.W. Webb
Darqueze Dennard was allowed to test the market this offseason. Bryce Callahan’s contract appeared to set the market for nickel corners, but Dennard couldn’t find a similar offer. He settled for a one year $4.5 million deal to stay with the Bengals.
Dennard has been a reliable starter for the Bengals. The nickel spot is now a starting one in the NFL. That means Dennard holds a certain value to the team.
However, he has been regularly beaten when played on the outside. As a first round corner, the Bengals expected Dennard to be the eventual replacement to Dre Kirkpatrick, but that now seems unlikely.
His physicality allows him to work in tight spaces where his speed and coverage ability can be hidden. If he can put a consistent year together, a team will likely feel comfortable committing more money to him.
With uncertainty surrounding Dennard, the Bengals moved for a player Anarumo knew well. B.W. Webb signed a three year deal and will be key to getting the new defensive game plan across to his new teammates as explained below by Fletcher Page of the Cincinnati Enquirer
Webb spent last season in New York with Bengals DC Lou Anarumo. That obviously helps. "I’m very confident," Webb said. "I know what (Lou) wants. I know how he sees the defense... so I’m here to help the younger guys and even some older guys if they have questions on anything."
— Fletcher Page (@FletcherPage) June 4, 2019
Page followed this up with a quote from the head coach praising Webb’s impact:
Zac Taylor rarely singles out anybody for good performances -- "who's impressing you so far?" types questions -- but he raved about #Bengals free agent newcomer B.W. Webb today after practice.
— Fletcher Page (@FletcherPage) June 4, 2019
Webb was far from being an elite corner, but handled a number of roles for the Giants last year. The Bengals may feel more comfortable moving Webb to the outside should one of the starters go down.
Verdict: Dennard is the favorite to start at the nickel spot, but Webb’s familiarity with the system could put pressure on him. If Webb performs anywhere close to the level of Dennard, it would be no surprise to see him take over. The Bengals made a three year investment in Webb. Dennard is likely gone at the end of 2019 no matter what. It is hard to see Webb getting to that level, but he has shown early promise.