Bengals wisely snatch sleeper defensive end Bryce Sterk off waivers

The Cincinnati Bengals have acquired a sleeper defensive end out of Montana State, Bryce Sterk, off waivers from the Miami Dolphins.

The Cincinnati Bengals’ front office has decided to utilize their number one priority on the waiver wire once again. In their most recent transaction, the club acquired a sleeper defensive end, Bryce Sterk, off of waivers from the Miami Dolphins. The 6’5, 261-pound lineman joins the team after going undrafted out of Montana State University.

Sterk was originally a three-star recruit that began his collegiate career with the Washinton Huskies in the Pac-12. After two years of experimentation between the defensive end and linebacker positions, he transferred to find a new home in the FCS. With a fresh start, Sterk found his footing.

In his final season with the Bobcats, the Washington native racked up an astounding 15 sacks with 20 tackles for a loss to go with it. While those statistics come with an asterisk due to the level of competition, those are still extraordinarily impressive numbers.

How Bryce Sterk fits on the Bengals’ depth chart

While Sterk offers plenty of potential, as with any undrafted college free-agent, his spot on the roster is no guarantee. As things stand, Cincinnati seems fairly set at the defensive end position. Carlos Dunlap and Sam Hubbard offer a great one-two punch as the starters and Carl Lawson is a dynamic pass-rusher to complete the trio.

Beyond them, a pair of fifth-round picks, Andrew Brown and Khalid Kareem, present qualities that the team likes.

However, the Bengals have never been shy about keeping an abundance of players in the defensive trenches. Just last year, decision-makers decided to keep a whopping 11 defensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster. At the very least, this gives Sterk a shot at sticking around.

Unfortunately for Sterk, the lack of a preseason will give him less opportunity to impress the coaching staff, meaning he will likely find himself on the practice squad for the first year in order to further develop his game and get up to the speed of the NFL.

No matter how the situation plays out with Bryce Sterk this year, the Bengals are accumulating some interesting pieces along the defensive line. From star veterans, to young players bursting with potential, it has become one of the most exciting and unique units on the entire team.