Cincinnati Bengals: Projected To Add Houston Texans Defensive Lineman in 2024
The Cincinnati Bengals have been largely disappointing this 2023 season, and while they are not totally out of playoff contention just yet, their postseason odds aren’t that great. Even if they make it, the absence of Joe Burrow will make it difficult for them to make a deep run.
With that being said, the Bengals really need to set their focus on the future and see what they can do to improve in the offseason and make sure Burrow has better tools around him to help steer the Cincinnati ship to Super Bowl glory.
Bleacher Report recently came up with free agency suggestions for all NFL teams, and for the Bengals, it has them chasing for a defensive lineman in Houston Texans tackle Teair Tart.
The Bengals actually tried to claim Tart off waivers after he was waived by the Tennessee Titans in mid-December. Unfortunately, the Texans were higher on the waiver priority list.
“Tart would have been a huge help in the wake of D.J. Reader’s season-ending quad injury, but the Bengals will have to wait until the spring to have a chance at adding the 6’2″, 304-pound interior defender,” the Bleacher Report article noted.
Teair Tart played 11 games for the Titans this 2023 and started in nine, registering 21 combined tackles, eight tackles for loss, four QB hits and one sack. For a Cincinnati Bengals defense that is one of the worst in the NFL–having allowed 38 touchdowns and a defense yards average of 383.3 (31st in the league)–Tart would be a solid addition for the team if they are able to get him in the offseason.
Cincinnati Bengals Could Have Some Concerns About Houston Texans’ Teair Tart
While the Cincinnati Bengals’ interest is there, they might still want to check how Teair Tart performs with the Houston Texans before they make a push to sign him in free agency.
There’s a reason the Titans released him during the season. While Tart did request to get released from the team, the fact of the matter is he has been displeased after not getting a contract extension with them, and he didn’t hide his frustration at all.
As for the Titans, they were reportedly not happy with his attitude, as well as effort and conditioning, leading them to grant his release, per Paul Kuharsky.
Perhaps Tart did it because he really wants to get out of his situation in Tennessee. However, that surely raises some red flags.