One of the Cincinnati Bengals’ biggest free agent acquisitions this season was at linebacker. That doesn’t mean the team is through making changes to linebacker corps, however.

Starting with the weak side, Vontaze Burfict is back and will likely continue his All-Pro level of play. In only 11 games last season, he made 101 tackles with two sacks and two interceptions. He’s the heart and soul of the Bengals’ defense and elevates everyone’s play when he is the field. As long as he can stay healthy and focused, the defense will be a better unit.

Newly signed Kevin Minter figures to compete with Vincent Rey to start at middle linebacker. Minter comes to Cincinnati from the Arizona Cardinals, where he started for three seasons at MLB. He is on a one-year deal, so he figures to play his best ball possible to earn a bigger contract. Rey has proven himself to be more than capable at multiple linebacking roles. He’s filled in for Burfict and the recently released Rey Maualuga many times over the past few seasons.

Related Bengals release LB Rey Maualuga

On the strong side, Rey could start. The rest of the linebackers on the roster are largely unproven. Nick Vigil and Marquis Flowers will compete for starting time. Guys like Paul Dawson and Bryson Albright will work to make the 53-man roster and get snaps in games.

Come draft weekend, the Bengals could look to add a linebacker prospect, as early as the first round.

Alabama’s Reuben Foster has been considered a can’t miss prospect at linebacker by many people. He’s been mock drafted to the Bengals by many analysts over the past few months. He brings major athleticism to the position and can go sideline-to-sideline to make impact tackles. His pass coverage skills and instincts will need some work, but he has the physical tools to become one of the best in the league in the future. The Bengals could take him at ninth, as he’d be an enticing prospect to put in the mix.

If the Bengals wait until Day 2 to add a linebacker, they could look to take Temple’s Haason Reddick at 41. He’s another prospect who has serious potential to be a star in the NFL. The converted defensive end has shown he has a knack at playing OLB, and has the athleticism that has many scouts salivating.

Cincinnati could also look at players like OSU’s Raekwon McMillan, Wisconsin’s T.J. Watt and Florida’s Jarrad Davis. They all could fill a need for athletic players in the Bengals’ linebacking corps.