Running back Jeremy Hill scooped the Bengals on the news of his signing, but the second-rounder wasn’t the only draft pick to agree to a contract with the Bengals in the last few days.
The Bengals have announced that third-round defensive end Will Clarke has agreed to a four-year contract with the team. Clarke is the seventh member of the draft class to agree to a contract and his deal leaves first-round pick Darqueze Dennard as the only unsigned draft pick.
Clarke had 17 tackles for loss and six sacks at West Virginia last season and, at 6-6 and 277 pounds, has intriguing size as the Bengals begin sorting through their options at defensive end. Carlos Dunlap has one job nailed down, but the Bengals saw Michael Johnson leave as a free agent and they’ll be looking for a replacement among the pieces on hand.
Clarke will compete with Margus Hunt, Wallace Gilberry and Robert Geathers for snaps in that role and his potential should earn him a long look, although it may take some time before the rookie’s performance catches up to his potential.