Noah

Spence

Spence was released from New Orleans last week. The 27-year-old missed 2020 to ACL surgery and has just seven appearances over the past two seasons. With DE Joseph Ossai (knee) likely out for the season, Spence gives the Bengals veteran depth that can contribute on special teams.

Spence, 27, missed the 2020 season with an ACL injury he suffered in May. The ex-Bucs second-round bust made seven appearances for the Saints in 2019. Spence’s base salary will be the veteran minimum of $990,000. He’ll count for $850,000 against the salary cap in 2021.

Spence suffered the injury working out on his own. The ex-Bucs second-round bust made seven appearances for the Saints last season before re-signing a few weeks into free agency. Although he is still only 26 years old, it’s the sort of injury a fringe NFLer is going to have a hard time coming back from.

The 2016 second-rounder of the Bucs began last season with the Redskins but was cut in November before latching on with the Saints in December. He didn’t play a single defensive snap for New Orleans and will compete for a spot on the end of the roster this summer.

With DE Marcus Davenport (foot) done for the year, Spence will try to help provide some depth. He appeared in seven games for the Redskins this season, recording just one sack across 85 snaps. Spence was cut shortly before Thanksgiving.

The ex-Bucs second rounder had played 85 snaps this season, registering one sack. Although Spence is still only 25, the fact that he could not carve out a spot with the tanked Redskins is a very poor sign for his NFL future.

The No. 39 pick in the 2016 draft, Spence recorded 5.5 sacks as a rookie but reached new lows with just one QB takedown the last two seasons before being cut by the Bucs this summer. He doesn’t need to start in D.C. and will provide a sub-package rusher to the Skins behind Ryan Kerrigan and Montez Sweat.

Tampa Bay recently waived Spence following two underwhelming seasons that resulted in a total of one sack, a far cry from his productive 5.5-sack rookie campaign. He’s a better fit as an EDGE presence in Leslie Frazier’s defensive scheme. A 25-year-old with a second-round pedigree, Spence will find a home quickly even if it doesn’t work out with Buffalo.

Spence was the No. 39 overall pick in the 2016 draft but never became a consistent presence off the edge and was quickly passed on the depth chart under new DC Todd Bowles. Spence didn’t record a sack across 12 games last year and has just one since notching 5.5 as a rookie. He’ll get another shot elsewhere as a 25-year-old reclamation project.

McDonald said Spence brings an “X factor” to the line, and Ayers said the rookie “has a lot of ability” and is “willing to learn.” Off-field concerns caused Spence to slip on draft day, but there is little question about his ability between the white lines. He should provide a spark as a situational pass rusher this season.