Cincinnati Bengals Could Bring Rookie Margus Hunt Along Slowly
By Josh Sanchez
The Cincinnati Bengals selected one of the most athletic players in 2013 NFL Draft class when they selected former SMU Mustangs defensive standout Margus Hunt. There is a lot to love about Hunt when you consider his incredible upside to pair with his size/speed/strength ratio. However, it looks like the Bengals are preparing to bring him along slowly.
Hunt will be buried on the team’s defensive end depth chart thanks to the level of talent the team currently has at that position.
With the surplus of talent, the Bengals can afford to keep Hunt inactive while he learns the ropes of the NFL. It is the perfect scenario for the Estonian American.
From the Bengals official website:
"This weekend should also be a good gauge about just where Hunt is in his development as a relatively new player compared to other top college prospects. A mini Senior Bowl, if you will. Plus, the Bengals can go back and look at other ends they’ve had in this camp recently, such as Michael Johnson and Carlos Dunlap, and make the comparison.The parlor game to play on Hunt is picking the regular-season game they’ll suit him up for the first time. He could go awhile before he gets his shot and that should suit his development."
In essence, the Bengals can “redshirt” Hunt if they don’t believe he is ready for action.
If Hunt were forced in to immediate action, it could hurt his career. You never want to start a player before they are ready for action, so the Bengals would be doing Hunt a favor. You don’t want to hurt the player’s confidence, especially when they have as much potential as a player like Hunt.
With time and the right guidance, he could be poised for stardom in the league.