The Cincinnati Bengals kicked off the fifth round of the 2020 NFL draft by making Notre Dame edge Khalid Kareem the No. 147 overall pick.
An edge defender who can create pressure was always a target for the Bengals in this draft given the injury history to Carl Lawson and otherwise.
Kareem is a good value in the fifth round with big power off the edge to dictate running lanes and get after the quarterback.
For the Bengals, call this pick a rotational edge bonus with good value who joins and already-deep rotation and potentially makes an early impact.
This pick comes after the Bengals started Round 4 and Day 3 overall by doubling up on linebacker with Appalachian State’s Akeem Davis-Gaither, who joins third-round linebacker Logan Wilson on a revamped defensive side of the football.
