CINCINNATI SURGE: Can Dexter Lawrence TRANSFORM the Bengals' Pass Rush and Defense This Year?

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4.6 • 966 Ratings

🗓️ 1 May 2026

⏱️ 27 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Do the Cincinnati Bengals now boast a top-10 pass rush after adding Dexter Lawrence and Cassius Howell? Joe Marino and Kyle Crabbs break down whether the Bengals’ new defensive line, alongside emerging talents like Myles Murphy and Dax Hill, can elevate Cincinnati’s defense into the NFL’s upper echelon. The co-hosts debate how pressure rate and defensive depth shape postseason contenders, and analyze how an offense that plays with a lead could unlock the Bengals’ full potential. Other hot topics include draft evaluation strategies—should teams agonize over “what-ifs” in late rounds? Plus, find out why edge rush depth is critical for sustained Super Bowl runs, and whether the rise of tight end usage signals a linebacker coverage revolution or the need for hybrid safety types. The conversation wraps with candid takes on NFL Draft Day traditions and a bold preview of the 2027 quarterback class featuring names like Darien Mensah and Arch Manning.

Transcript

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0:00.0	Do the Cincinnati Bengals now have a top 10 pass rush?
0:05.2	We're exploring that today and more on takes on takes.
0:13.0	You are locked on NFL scouting with the draft dudes,
0:18.1	your daily podcast for NFL and college football scouting, part of the
0:22.5	Locked-on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:27.6	What's better than this?
0:29.1	It's guys being dudes.
0:31.5	I'm Joe Marino.
0:32.6	That's Kyle Crabs.
0:34.2	Today's episode is brought to you by Fandul.
0:36.4	Right now, new customers can bet just $5 and get $150 in bonus bets.
0:41.3	If your first bet wins, head to fandul.com to get started on today's episode.
0:46.7	It's takes on takes, the weekly episode where we give our take on your take.
0:50.5	And we have some good stuff to dive into, including a little tease for the 2027 quarterback
0:55.3	class, some draft philosophy type stuff, including pass rush. But we'll start with this one,
1:01.6	speaking of pass rush on the Cincinnati Bengals from Cincinnati. That's the Twitter handle,
1:08.2	Cincinnati. Okay. Dexter Lawrence, that's the nose tackle they traded for.
1:14.0	And Cassius Howell, give the Bengals a top 10 pass rush in the league.
1:18.7	And because the offense will consistently let them play with a lead, it'll make their defense a top 16 unit overall.
1:27.2	Kyle, welcome. Top 16.
1:29.1	Top 16. After all that, they said, oh, well, we'll be, we'll take that part of this take.
1:33.9	Yeah.
	...

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