Bengals sign Atkins, Dunlap to contract extensions

The Cincinnati Bengals signed two defensive linemen -- defensive tackle Geno Atkins and defensive end Carlos Dunlap -- to contract extensions, the team announced Tuesday. Atkins agreed to a four-year extension worth $65.3 million, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN, who also reported that Dunlap has agreed to a three-year, $45 million extension. "We're very happy to sign Geno and Carlos," said Bengals executive vice president Katie Blackburn. "We think very highly of them. They have been such great players for us, and we're excited to have them continue their careers as Cincinnati Bengals." Head coach Marvin Lewis said, "Geno and Carlos have worked hard to improve each season, and we're expecting 2018 to be their best seasons yet. We have worked diligently to develop and retain talent over the years, and these contracts keep two of our best players with us for the foreseeable future." Atkins' current contract was set to expire in 2019, but now he is under contract through the 2022 season. He has been named to the Pro Bowl six of the past seven years and was a first-team All-Pro in 2012 and 2015. The 30-year-old Atkins has accumulated 61 sacks in eight NFL seasons, and he had nine sacks each of his last two seasons. He also had 2.5 sacks in four postseason games. Dunlap was heading into the final year of his contract, and he was scheduled to make $7 million in base salary this season. The 29-year-old Dunlap has been named to the Pro Bowl twice (2015, 2016), and he has recorded 64.5 sacks in his eight pro seasons. His best season was 2015, when he had 13.5 sacks, and he followed that with eight sacks in 2016 and 7.5 sacks last year. Dunlap has started all 16 games each of the last four years. For at least two more seasons, the Bengals have Atkins, Dunlap, defensive end Carl Lawson, defensive end Jordan Willis and defensive end Sam Hubbard under contract.