Oct 19, 2025; Inglewood, California, USA; Los Angeles Chargers cornerback Ja’Sir Taylor (36) warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Cincinnati Bengals: Add Potential Defensive Starter for 2026

Originally posted on Gridiron Heroics
By Jackson Loschko | Last updated Apr 2, 2026 6:53 PM ET

The Cincinnati Bengals currently have two of the three starting cornerback spots filled in, with breakout star DJ Turner and Daxton Hill on the outside as the top two players at the position. Cincinnati has a vacancy in the slot, and Jalen Davis and Bralyn Lux are the two leading contenders. Davis was promoted to the active roster after Cam Taylor-Britt’s injury and played in the slot for the final seven games of 2025, including three starts, logging the fifth-most snaps among cornerbacks on the team. Lux, who impressed while on the practice squad, was also promoted and appeared in the final two games.

Cincinnati Bengals add a potential defensive starter for 2026

According to Adam Schefter, the Bengals have signed Ja’Sir Taylor to a one-year contract. Charlie Clifford of NBC 5 Cincinnati reported that the former sixth-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft passed on an offer from another team that included guaranteed money for the opportunity to compete for the starting slot job. Taylor now has the most experience out of Jalen Davis and Bralyn Lux, with 12 starts and over 1,300 defensive snaps.

Bengals signed former Chargers free-agent CB Ja’Sir Taylor to a one-year contract.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 2, 2026

Here’s a quick review of his past two seasons

Bills running back Ray Davis goes airborne as he is upended by the Jets Ja’Sir Taylor during the first half of their game at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park Sunday, Jan. 4, 2026.

Ja’Sir Taylor lost the starting slot position to Tarheeb Still in 2024 but managed to see some playing time due to injury. He recorded 22 tackles, one TFL, and five pass deflections across 15 games, including two starts, and 352 defensive snaps. Taylor was buried in the depth chart to start 2025, logging 16 snaps through the first nine games before being traded just before the NFL Trade Deadline.

The New York Jets acquire Ja’Sir Taylor for a 2028 seventh-round pick. He did not log a single defensive snap in four of the eight games with the Jets but did start in the regular season finale. Taylor totaled 21 tackles and one pass deflection across 17 games, one start, and accounted for a career low 137 defensive snaps.

This article first appeared on Gridiron Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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