"It sounds like the Bengals are going to be more active in free agency"

[SunsetBengal]

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Quote:"The idea is to get better at all three levels. There's a bunch of different things I think we need to improve, but you start with helping all three levels." Anarumo said.

If you think that sounds like best available player, you're probably right. Linebacker is clearly the biggest need, but with starters William Jackson (shoulder surgery) and Dre Kirkpatrick (knee) coming off injuries and Darqueze Dennard a free agent, cornerback has to be addressed at some point. Their two best pass rushers, one inside and one outside, are older than 30, and that's going to get a look. It looks like they can hold the fort with safeties Shawn Williams and Jessie Bates III.

The Bengals may not be able to quench their thirst for linebackers in this draft and the corners are going to go fast, although they may be able to make some hay up front. Anarumo points out that his 3-4 is interchangeable because 65 to 70 percent of the time they're in some kind of a four-man line on passing downs.

So he's not looking for a classic 4-3 end like left end Carlos Dunlap or 3-4ish right end like Sam Hubbard. What he's looking for are three traits in those guys. No. 1 is pass-rushing ability.

"Who can affect the quarterback the most? That's the premium," Anarumo said. "And then, who can set the edge on the run? Then, oh by way, if they can drop a little in coverage, that would be great. Those three things are what comes into evaluating outside backers slash college defensive ends that potentially translate into an outside linebacker. There's a ton of them out there in free agency and the draft. We've got some pretty darn good ones on our team in Sam Hubbard, Carl Lawson, Carlos Dunlap."

Lawson is a prime example of how Anarumo's scheme has impacted players. After dabbling at linebacker early in his rookie year, Lawson became solely a nickel rush end in his first two seasons. Under Anarumo, Lawson began dropping some as the season went on. In his second season, Hubbard had to sharpen up his dropping skills from Ohio State.

Anarumo isn't looking for a certain peg to fit into a certain hole.