Extension of Dunlap leaves Johnson in limbo

The Bengals agreed to a contract extension with one of their defensive ends yesterday. The extension was not the one that had to get done with Michael Johnson before the deadline of the franchise tenders officially going through for the 2013 season. Instead, Carlos Dunlap got the big five year extension worth $40 million. It's an interesting signing for the Bengals more based on potential than production at this point.

No doubt Dunlap is the most talented defensive end on the roster. He has freakish pass rushing ability with a combination of a quick first step and brute power. However, Dunlap has had trouble staying healthy and consistent since his rookie season. Dunlap was unstoppable in 2010 when he recorded 9.5 sacks in just twelve games after becoming the team's second round pick out of Florida. Dunlap followed that year with 4.5 sacks in 2011 and six in 2012, and he also picked off a pass for a touchdown last year.

The problem with giving Dunlap a pay raise at this point is he has failed to start more than a single game in each of the past two seasons. Dunlap is still just twenty-four years old and will undoubtedly grow in Mike Zimmer's defense, but although he looks like one of the best defensive ends in the NFL at times with his 6'6, 280 pound frame, he also plays too fragile during games and has never made it through an entire regular season. Dunlap has taken plays off during his career, although that may be due to not being one hundred percent healthy during a few games. In order for this extension to be worth the money for the Bengals franchise, Dunlap will certainly be counted on to start at one defensive end spot for the next several years starting in 2013.

Michael Johnson is probably the more deserving player of an extension right now. The Bengals could have waited until the end of the year to re-sign one of their two players in order to find out who had the better 2013 season. The Bengals wanted to get one player extended or the other before training camp, and the fact that Johnson is playing on a one year deal worth over $11 million could end up haunting the Bengals after the season. The Bengals were negotiating with Johnson along with Dunlap, but the final offer for Johnson that was close to the dollar amount that Dunlap received was not sufficient for a veteran still coming into his own after 11.5 sacks. Johnson, the 6'7, 270 pound fifth year player out of Georgia Tech can play his way to the ultimate pay day in free agency next year if he follows up last season with a similar 2013. Johnson is the more consistent option for the Bengals at defensive end right now. He started fifteen games last season and along with the sack total of 11.5, he also had fifty-two tackles, a pick, two pass deflections, and a fumble recovery.

Michael Johnson will be playing with a massive chip on his shoulder this year after the Bengals decided to stick with the franchise tag contract and pay the player behind him on the depth chart. I predict Johnson will have a historically great season for a Bengals defensive end and like Jonathan Joseph a few years ago, leave the Bengals to become a premier defensive player on a team with more salary cap room.

Rich Hidy
Cincy Sports Spot