BJ Hill stands in front of his locker and offers wisdom about playing with savvy. After all, he’s 31 years old with eight years and 129 games of NFL experience to draw on. He understands how to use experience to his advantage.He also didn’t want his point to get twisted when asked if his game has shifted more toward savvy than athleticism.“No, no, no, no,” Hill said with a big smile, shaking his head. “I still got it now.”Cincinnati is betting he’s right. The same for 31-year-old Jonathan Allen, to whom they paid $12.5 million per year to team up with Hill at the three-technique spot. They also didn’t flinch as age concerns surfaced surrounding 28-year-old Dexter Lawrence upon trading the No. 10 pick and then agreeing to an extension into his 30s.Dexter Lawrence trade is proof that 'tide has shifted' in NFLRobert MaysIn a league where general managers squint with a much more critical eye the moment a player turns 30, the Bengals have taken a calculated gamble on modern NFL trends. Success at the center of their rebuilt defensive line depends on it.“We’re open to anybody we think has life left in their NFL body,” de facto general manager Duke Tobin said in February. “They’re playing longer these days, and we’re keenly aware of that.”He would act on that awareness in the months that followed. They’ve seen enough evidence to believe it will pay off.Last year, 34 defensive players with 10 or more years in the league played at least 400 snaps with a PFF grade of at least 60.Half of them were defensive tackles.Cameron Heyward (36) was an All-Pro. Calais Campbell (39) just signed with Arizona for his 19th NFL season. Leonard Williams (32) and Jarran Reed (33) were at the center of the Seahawks’ championship defensive line rotation.Generally, players are sustaining a higher level of play later in their careers. Defensive tackles, specifically, are leading the charge.