Aug. 12: It’s a done deal, per Mike Garafolo of the NFL Network (via Twitter). Daniels has signed a one-year pact worth up to $2.7MM.
Aug. 11: Mike Daniels‘ Bengals visit will likely lead to a contract. Second-year HC Zac Taylor said Tuesday he expects the team to sign the veteran defensive lineman.
The former Packers and Lions lineman visited Cincinnati over the weekend. The revised CBA restricts teams from conducting visits for exploratory reasons, so a Daniels Ohio trek meant he was squarely on the franchise’s radar. His signing would continue the Bengals’ uncharacteristic offseason.
A team usually cautious with outside free agents has used the market to reshape its defense. Daniels will follow D.J. Reader, Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander to Cincinnati. The Bengals look set to carry a seasoned D-tackle corps, with the team already employing Reader and perennial Pro Bowler Geno Atkins. This stands to help a defense that ranked 30th in DVOA last season.
A Daniels-Bengals agreement would also follow the Josh Tupou opt-out decision. The fourth-year contributor started seven games last season and played 467 defensive snaps. His choice to skip the 2020 campaign left the team lacking for depth on its defensive interior.
The Packers gave Daniels a high-end extension late during the 2015 season but released him last summer. The acclaimed inside pass rusher landed with the Lions and played but ended up playing just nine games and 18% of Detroit’s defensive snaps. The 31-year-old defender landed on IR in December. Overall, Daniels has 30 career sacks. He made the Pro Bowl in 2017.
good fit, nice upside
This season is going to require a lot of Jack Daniels
This was still not enough of a reason to release Tyler Clark..
They could have easily snuck him ok to the PS, but instead they lose out on a talented and versatile DL..
Complete waste. Won’t be healthy for 5 games.