Cincinnati Bengals DL depth chart ahead of 2022 NFL Draft

Backups: Cam Sample, Josh Tupou, Tyler Shelvin, Khalid Kareem

Every good defensive line needs good backups to help them, as they can’t play 100% of the snaps. For the Bengals, the draft will be a way to add some reinforcements when it comes to the reserves on this d-line.

Cam Sample was a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft and appeared in 14 games. He had 14 tackles, five QB hits, and 1.5 sacks during his rookie year. The stripes hope to see him take a step forward in year two.

Josh Tupou re-signed with the team in the offseason. The former Colorado product appeared in all 17 games this past season and made nine starts. He finished his fourth year with the Bengals totaling 12 tackles and a QB hit.

Tyler Shelvin was pretty much invisible during the course of his rookie year. The fourth-round pick out of LSU appeared in just three games and made four tackles. The hope is that he gets more reps in year two.

Khalid Kareem spent the past two years with Cincinnati and appeared in seven games in 2021. Kareem notched nine tackles and two QB hits.

We should see some movement in this department after the draft. I’ll be curious to see what kind of seasons Sample and Shelvin have now that they each have a year of experience under their belts.