Some concerns about the Cincinnati Bengals are starting to emerge.
The Bengals and Zac Taylor just missed on another preferred defensive coordinator target with Todd Grantham.
It turns out, among other issues, Grantham didn’t take the job after multiple days within the process because he was concerned about age and talent, according to Fletcher Page of the Cincinnati Enquirer:
In Grantham’s evaluation, according to a source, the Bengals defense had issues that would hamper his ability to be successful from the start in 2019.
Specifically, the source said, Grantham was concerned about the Bengals’ aging defensive line and lack of linebackers. Geno Atkins, the Bengals’ lone Pro Bowl selection this season, is 30. Defensive end Carlos Dunlap turns 30 later this month.
It is very important to point out that the Bengals had “no hesitation” in the money department, per the report. Taylor wanted him, the Bengals were going to pay up. But Grantham likes it at Florida and is a top-five defensive coordinator in terms of pay — his taking interviews was a formality.
The bigger point here is more concerning. Geno Atkins is 30. Carlos Dunlap will be at the end of the month. Dre Kirkpatrick will be during the season. And the Bengals easily had the worst linebacker unit in the NFL a season ago that could really use three new starters.
Granted, some of this ignores bigger points. The Bengals have plenty of younger core pieces like Carl Lawson, Sam Hubbard, William Jackson and Jessie Bates, not to mention free agency and the draft to add additional talent.
But the cornerstones aging plus incredible college pay in a comfort zone equated to Taylor having to cross another coordinator off his list.
