There isn't much doubt as to what the Bengals' deepest position is this year.

Sure, the offensive line is talented and deep, while the secondary features as many first-round corners as some teams have drafted in their entire history. But while those areas are stacked, defensive tackle is so loaded that quality tackles may not even make it onto the practice squad.

This was actually one of the more highly contested positions last year when DeShawn Williams, Pat Sims and Brandon Thompson were fighting to secure the final two spots behind starters Geno Atkins and Domata Peko.

Williams who joined the Bengals as an undrafted free agent out of Clemson last year was one of the biggest stories of training camp in 2016 as he impressed on a near-daily basis. As good as Williams was, he was ultimately waived in favor of the two veterans, who he's once again battling this year for a spot on the final roster.

Williams spent the entire regular season on the practice squad, despite being offered a 53-man roster spot with the Saints mid-way through the season. After the final week of the season, he was activated to the roster, though he was inactive for the Wild Card playoff game. Now, Williams is looking to earn a spot on the Bengals' final roster and give the team another viable body behind Peko and Atkins.

Sims, who was re-signed to a two-year deal this offseason, figures to be in good position for a roster spot seeing how productive he's been in Cincinnati. Primarily a run stuffer who does offer somewhat of a pass rush, Sims ended up not playing much last season, appearing in just eight games while making 16 tackles.

When he did play, Sims made his presence felt and helped contribute to a Bengals defense that finished seventh vs the run in 2015 after finishing 20th in 2014. Sims' 69.4 PFF grade in 2015 was just decimal points shy of their 'starter' tier of players, meaning he was a quality backup who probably could have been a serviceable starter, if needed.

However, with merely a $250,000 dead cap hit if cut this year, Sims will once again have to earn his spot on the final roster. At 30-years-old and turning 31 in November, it's not like Sims has many years left to play in the NFL, so maybe if it's a close battle between him and a guy like Williams, the Bengals will opt to keep the younger of the two options.

As for Thompson, the Bengals would be very wise to put him on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list to start the year. That would allow him six to eight more weeks to recover his ACL injury, suffered in Week 17 of last season, and then join the roster after Week 6, or simply go on injured reserve.

Either way, I can't seem him on the 53-man roster when the season opens. That injury just isn't going to allow him to perform well enough to start out the year to beat out the other tackles. He needs as much time as possible to get as close to 100 percent as he can before trying to crack the roster with the depth at tackle this year.

Joining the fray this year is fourth-round rookie Andrew Billings. Once thought to be a first round pick in this year's draft, Billings somehow fell to Round 4 before the Bengals scooped him up. He's a very unique talent with the potential to be the best run-stuffing tackle on this roster.

Given that fourth-round picks usually make the final roster, Billings' roster security is pretty good heading into camp. It's hard to see him not making the cut unless there are unforeseen circumstances between now and September.

That means Sims, Williams and undrafted free agent David Dean are likely the main contenders for the final two to three spots at the position. Dean is a quality tackle who was signed as an UDFA out of Virginia this year. He may be good enough to push for a spot on the final 53-man roster, but challenging for a practice squad spot is more likely.

A big x-factor at this position battle will be second-year lineman Marcus Hardison, who can play both tackle and end, but still does not have a defined position heading into training camp. A one-year wonder who was impressive along Arizona State's defense, Hardison had just one productive season of D-1 football under his belt after a stint in junior college began his college career.

It was a big one though as Hardison racked up a team-high 10 sacks and 15 tackles for loss to go with 53 tackles, three forced fumbles, two interceptions and a fumble recovery. Then at his Pro Day, Hardison clocked in a 4.8 second 40-yard dash, ran the short shuttle in 4.65 seconds and 3 cone drill in 7.29 seconds. That rare blend of quickness and explosion is something you don't often see in 330-pound lineman.

That made Hardison too tantalizing of a prospect to pass on in Round 4, even though he's yet to play significant snaps for the Bengals. He did show flashes of being a solid contributor at both tackle and end in the preseason, and is expected to make the final roster again this year.

The big question will be the position at which is Hardison listed, and where the Bengals value him more? If it's at tackle, that's bad news for Dean, Sims and Williams, not to mention Thompson once he's healthy enough to be on the roster. This makes the roster battle at backup defensive tackle even more intriguing to watch as training camp nears.