The Bengals addressed a few major needs on defense to start free agency last week, but a ton of roster work remains if they aren't going to be relying on defensive hopes and prayers this coming season.
The third and final free agency splash made by the Cincinnati Bengals was signing defensive tackle Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million (previously reported as $26 million) contract after he was released by the Minnesota Vikings.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason with a slew of issues to figure out with their roster. For the most part, these issues existed on defense, but it was seemingly the entire defense that needed upgraded.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason with one of the worst defenses in the league, though their offense has been good enough, when healthy, to keep the Bengals in a lot of games.
The Bengals hit the outside of their defense in Mel Kiper Jr.'s latest mock draft for ESPN. The longtime draft analyst had Cincinnati taking LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane with the 10th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Most of the NFL mock drafts focus on the early rounds, but there are still many prominent college players who will hear their names called later. These are just some of the big names that could hear their names in the later rounds.
The Cincinnati Bengals have had an eventful free agency. After a disastrous 2025 season, it’s no surprise that the team is making moves to improve its roster all around.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason with holes all over their roster, notably on defense. They took to free agency to upgrade this defense, adding Bryan Cook, Boye Mafe, and Jonathan Allen in a trio of exciting moves.
CINCINNATI — Hard work pays off, and for Jordan Battle, it pays in seven figures. After logging a staggering 1,006 defensive snaps in 2025—a top-30 mark across the entire NFL—the Cincinnati Bengals safety is seeing his base salary rocket to approximately $4.7 million for the 2026 season.
The Bengals signed quarterback Josh Johnson to a one-year deal over the weekend. Johnson, 39, returns to Cincinnati for a third time. He was on the Bengals' roster in 2013 and 2015.
A Colts secondary loaded with big-ticket contracts will add a former second-round pick to the mix. Cam Taylor-Britt will reunite with former Bengals DC Lou Anarumo.
NFL prospects from major programs get most of the attention, but there are numerous examples of players drafted from small schools who have become difference-makers.
Former Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson signed one of the largest contracts in NFL free agency this year, inking a four-year, $112 million deal with the Baltimore Ravens that can get up to $120 million with incentives.
The Bengals made their first splash signing of free agency with safety Bryan Cook. Cook is a former 2nd round pick from the University of Cincinnati and a 3-year starter for the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the offseason with massive holes on defense. They needed to upgrade every level of the unit. They added Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe early on, which both look like huge additions.
The Bengals did it again this offseason, handicapping the talent ceiling of their team by structuring contracts in ways they don't have to just to ensure they will be as salary-cap-compliant as possible in future years.
Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle is in a pretty good spot entering his fourth year in the NFL. He's coming off his first full season as a starter, and all indications point to it not being his last.
The Bengals signed Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million contract last week according to Over The Cap. Allen should give the Bengals' pass rush a boost.
The 2026 free-agency frenzy is mostly wrapped up for the NFL's 32 teams, and Cincinnati made three big additions along the way. Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, and Jonathan Allen should all slot into big roles for the Bengals' defense this fall.
CINCINNATI — The Bengals aren’t just dipping their toes into free agency this year; they’re cannonballing into the deep end. After a 2025 campaign that evaporated when Joe Burrow’s turf toe injury sent the season into a tailspin, Cincinnati’s front office has a clear mandate: protect the window.
It's been exactly a week since the news of Bryan Cook agreed to terms with the Cincinnati Bengals, starting a week of free agency additions for the team with Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins all in the prime of their careers.
CINCINNATI — Joe Burrow has a new, yet very familiar, insurance policy. The Cincinnati Bengals signed veteran quarterback Josh Johnson to a one-year contract Saturday, bringing the 39-year-old back for his third stint in the Queen City.
The Cincinnati Bengals fielded the NFL’s second-worst defense last season, allowing 380.9 yards per game, and appeared to weaken further when four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson left for Baltimore in free agency.
The Cincinnati Bengals came into the 2026 offseason feeling a sense of urgency. Cincinnati let another season slip through their fingers after Joe Burrow went down with a turf toe injury.
The Bengals have not had a game-changing defensive tackle since Geno Atkins‘ retirement in 2020, a problem they set out to solve this offseason. That made them willing to give Jonathan Allen a two-year, $26MM contract despite his lack of high-end production in the the last two seasons.
Some members of the NFL community were surprised that the first day of the "legal tampering" portion of free agency came and went without Cincinnati Bengals pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson agreeing to a deal with a new team.