Mike Daniels to the Bengals makes for one ferocious defensive line

Mike Daniels gives the Cincinnati Bengals’ defensive line even more bite.

The Cincinnati Bengals added another piece to their defensive line with Mike Daniels.

According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, “Former Packers’ and Lions’ DT Mike Daniels officially agreed to terms with the Bengals on a one-year deal worth up to $2.7 million.” Daniels had been a Pro Bowler with the Green Bay Packers in 2017, spending the 2019 NFL season as a member of the Detroit Lions. This is another signing illustrating all the big changes coming for the Bengals.

The Mike Daniels addition helps solidify the Bengals’ defensive identity.

For a team that went a pitiful 2-14 in 2019, the Bengals made several big moves this offseason to bolster their roster. In 2020 NFL free agency, Cincinnati added defensive tackle D.J. Reader, strong safety Vonn Bell and cornerback Trae Waynes. While Waynes will be out with a pectoral injury, Reader, Bell and now Daniels will help give this Bengals defense some pieces to work with.

Offensively, we might get a bit of a fireworks show, as 2019 Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will be starring for them at quarterback. He’ll hand the ball off to the reliable Joe Mixon. At receiver he has fellow draft classmate Tee Higgins, an on-the-rise Tyler Boyd and a borderline Pro Football Hall of Famer in A.J. Green coming back from injury. Perhaps the Bengals won’t be atrocious again?

But the real big key here for the Bengals tonight is Daniels gives this defense a real identity. Cincinnati is about to be all sorts of nasty along the defensive line. They added Reader to a defensive line that features a multi-time Pro Bowler in Carlos Dunlap, as well as future Pro Football Hall of Famer in defensive tackle Geno Atkins. Cincinnati is loaded on the defensive line.

Daniels was a former fourth-round pick out of the University of Iowa in the 2012 NFL Draft by the Packers. He spent his first seven NFL seasons in Green Bay before playing last year with the division rival Lions. Entering his age-31 season, the Bengals are hoping he can bring some veteran leadership to a defense that has a shot at being shockingly good this fall. Things are looking up.

While Daniels won’t make them a playoff team, Cincinnati might be pushing .500 this fall.