Bengals free-agent targets: Defensive lineman Leonard Williams
Through 11 games, the Bengals have just 11 sacks, making it no secret that they are in desperate need of players capable of consistently rushing the passer. Priority number one in this regard will be to re-sign Carl Lawson, but they’ll need more talent outside of him.
Thankfully, the prospect pool for the upcoming draft offers plenty of top-end talent as well as some nice depth in terms of pass rushers. Make no mistake about it, Cincinnati will dip into the collegiate ranks in an attempt to crank up the pressure on opposing quarterbacks next season. However, it would be nice to add another veteran to the mix.
That’s where Leonard Williams comes in. The former sixth overall pick has seven sacks on the season and ranks among the best in the league at generating pressure.
Spotrac has his valuation at $8.2M a year. If the Bengals could truly get him for that number, they should jump at the chance. Williams has all the talent in the world and adding him to a mix of Lawson, D.J. Reader, and another early-round pass-rushing prospect could allow him to flourish even more than he has in New York.