Jamaal Anderson

Anderson will add depth to the Bengals' defensive line and is coming off a career high in sacks last season with three.

The former first-round bust who had just 4.5 sacks in 47 games with Atlanta will add dept on the defensive line.

With the injury to Peria Jerry (knee) and Jonathan Babineaux's suspension, Anderson might see time at defensive tackle but his days at starting defensive end are all but over.

While a highly-touted defensive end selection in the 2007 NFL draft, Anderson's 2009 campaign may be his last chance to prove that he can make an impact as a starting defensive end. However, he'll have to do better than the 27 tackles and two sacks he accomplished in 2008 to keep his full-time job.

Anderson notched 30 tackles and a forced fumble in his rookie campaign, but has reportedly bulked up to 280 pounds--10 pounds more than his listing in 2007--to go with his 6-5 frame. He'll enter 2008 as a low-end IDP start, but that could change very quickly with his size and talent.

Looking to acquire a franchise defensive end for the second year in a row, the Falcons drafted Anderson in the first round of this past April's draft. The team hopes he can develop into the player their other current defensive end, John Abraham, has become. Though Abraham struggled through injuries last season, he has recorded double digit sack totals three times and has appeared in three Pro Bowls over his seven seasons. If Anderson can post similar numbers through his first seven seasons, the Falcons will have themselves a star defensive end. Playing opposite Abraham and with Grady Jackson usually requiring two blockers on the inside, Anderson could develop into a Defensive Rookie of the Year candidate. He has good size and posted 13.5 sacks last season playing in the SEC, so double digit sack totals at the end of the season are not unthinkable. Anderson isn't quite the prospect Julius Peppers was, but he should definitely be considered among the sleepers at defensive end.