T.J.

Slaton

Slaton’s career-best PFF grade was 62.3 in 2023, and he tumbled to 43.0 in 2024. He has three sacks in four seasons and is an early-down interior presence at 330 pounds. The Bengals did not exactly replicate the D.J. Reader signing here, but Slaton can be part of an effective defensive line rotation.

Slaton (6’4/330) was a premium four-star, two-way recruit who also played guard at the esteemed American Heritage High School. He played in 45 games over his four years on campus, but only started 14 while serving as an early-down gap plugger. An athletic super-heavyweight, Slaton posted a very strong 7.96 RAS, despite lackluster agility marks. His super-sized frame and prodigious power make him a boulder-like defender who showcases above average contact balance when taking on blockers. He had problems keeping his weight down, reportedly ballooning up to 380 pounds at times. Slaton isn’t much of a threat as a pass rusher and relies more on his brute strength as opposed to sound technical prowess.