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Cincinnati Bengals NFL Draft 2021: Late-round sleeper targets

By Dillon Appleman

MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Defensive Lineman Shaka Toney #18 from Penn State of the National Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images)
MOBILE, AL - JANUARY 30: Defensive Lineman Shaka Toney #18 from Penn State of the National Team during the 2021 Resse's Senior Bowl at Hancock Whitney Stadium on the campus of the University of South Alabama on January 30, 2021 in Mobile, Alabama. The National Team defeated the American Team 27-24. (Photo by Don Juan Moore/Getty Images) /
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2021 NFL Draft
Cincinnati Bengals 2021 NFL Draft late-round target, Darius Stills (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

1. Darius Stills, DT, West Virginia

After the new league year began, the Cincinnati Bengals released longtime defensive tackle, Geno Atkins. His departure leaves the Bengals without a real interior pass rush threat on the roster, and while they did sign Larry Ogunjobi in free agency, they could look to the 2021 NFL Draft to add talent at the position as well.

If they wait to touch on the need until Day-3, then I think former West Virginia standout, Darius Stills, makes a lot of sense for the Cincinnati Bengals. Stills was a consensus All-American in 2020 and notched 10.5 sacks in his career with the Mountaineers. He’s a smaller guy on the interior, not unlike Geno Atkins, and has that quick twitch ability that the Bengals value at the position.

In fact, Stills was very candid at his Pro Day about Cincinnati’s interest in him saying “…I’ve talked to the Bengals the most. They call me every other day, they like me a lot.” His skillset paired with the obvious interest from the team makes him a clear candidate to be a late-round target for the Bengals.

2. Shaka Toney, Edge, Penn State

Even after the signing of Trey Hendrickson in free agency, the Cincinnati Bengals are still really thin in the pass-rushing department. Hendrickson will join Sam Hubbard as the only two guys on the depth chart with legitimate experience off the edge, as their primary backups are Amani Bledsoe and Khalid Kareem, who total one career sack between them.

If the Bengals don’t address this need earlier in the 2021 NFL Draft, I think Shaka Toney could be a sleeper option early on Day-3. Toney had a productive career at Penn State, tallying 20 sacks in his four seasons and he’s got elite-level athleticism that could make him a moldable depth option for Cincinnati.

He’s a long-armed, bendy player with a springy first step with several pass rush moves at his disposal. Adding a player with the traits of Shaka Toney in the later rounds could give the Bengals a potential steal.

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