Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
The Cincinnati Bengals have made their much-needed move of bringing in a pass-rusher this offseason. Michael Johnson, who spent his first five NFL seasons with the Bengals before signing a lucrative deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last year, is heading back to his old stomping grounds.
On Sunday morning, Johnson and the Bengals agreed to terms on a four-year deal worth $20 million. In his prior five years with the Bengals, he recorded 26.5 sacks in 79 games. Unfortunately for Johnson, his production last year fell short of expectations, which led to his release. Perhaps it was a blessing in disguise for both him and the Bengals, allowing a return to his original and more talented team.
The Bengals’ top offseason priority this year was to sign a pass rusher to improve their defensive line production, which was lacking for most of last season. With this move, they can take comfort in the fact that they not only got the job done, but received a defensive end with plenty of ability and potential to help this team get to the next level.
Signing Johnson was the perfect move for the Bengals. There’s already that comfort level and familiarity between Johnson and the team, and they know exactly what they’re getting rather than having to commit money to an unknown quantity on the free agent market. After only being gone for one year, the camaraderie between Johnson and many other Cincinnati defenders already exists. What an easy transition this will be.
