2014 NFL free agency rumors: Michael Johnson not expected to re-sign with Bengals
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With Michael Bennett off the market, Michael Johnson (right) will be the premier 4-3 defensive end. (Rick Stewart/Getty Images)
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Now that Michael Bennett, one of the top free agent defensive ends, has re-signed with the Seattle Seahawks, the market for defensive ends has gotten a whole lot thinner.
Who stands to benefit most from Bennett's absence in free agency? Likely Cincinnati Bengals DE Michael Johnson, who, according to reports, is not expected to re-sign in Cincinnati.
Without Bennett on the market, Johnson becomes one of the premier 4-3 defensive ends, and the teams who came up short in the race for Bennett could ultimately decide to throw more money in his direction.
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Johnson is receiving interest from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who have long been searching for a star defensive end, and the Chicago Bears are also expected to enter the mix after failing to land Bennett, the brother of Bears TE Martellus Bennett.