NFL analyst raises serious concerns over Bengals’ $18M move

The $18 million cash salary ranks fifth-highest among safeties in the NFL in 2026. Moton points out that elite teams usually pay that kind of cash only to pure ballhawks or game-changers.

He signed a three-year, $40.25 million contract with the Bengals this offseason, including $14 million guaranteed.

Cook is a solid defender, but he doesn’t fit into the top-tier in either of those categories. He recorded 85 tackles (50 solo), one tackle for loss and six passes defended last season.

Each year in his career, he has progressively allowed more receiving yards on completions, with a career-high of 468 yds in 2025.

“Though he’s capable of playing both safety positions and nickelback, the 26-year-old is missing the big plays that separate guys like Derwin James Jr., Antoine Winfield Jr. and Kyle Hamilton from others at the position,” Moe Moton of Bleacher Report wrote.

Perhaps the most alarming metric is Bryan Cook’s allowing a passer rating of 128.5 or higher in three of his four seasons in the league. Those numbers should be enough to question the Bengals, who owe $18 million to the safety.

Bryan Cook’s pedigree and expectations against the Bengals’ premium contract cost

Bryan Cook does bring some championship pedigree to town. He has won two Super Bowls during his four-year tenure with the Kansas City Chiefs. He also has local ties as a former standout for the Cincinnati Bearcats.

However, this doesn’t equate to him being the top-tier safety that the Bengals’ contract suggests he is.

“2025 was his best season to date,” NFL analyst Nick Roesch of Heavy noted. “He was never considered among the top safeties in the NFL, and wasn’t exactly a difference-maker in the Chiefs’ secondary.”

Bengals’ defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo plays a system where players “don’t have to be locked into personnel, body type or position,” as per Geoff Hobson’s 2023 article for Bengals.com about Anarumo.

Anarumo will try to get the best out of Bryan Cook and make use of his versatility, as he can play both safety spots and nickelback.

Moton notes Cook could theoretically help the pass rush or improve on passing downs.

But the Bengals are paying a premium fee to a defender who historically lacks high-end playmaking, as seen with his allowance of high passer ratings over the years.

No doubt he is an important NFL contributor to his franchise’s secondary. But with the kind of contract he is on, the Who Dey faithful will be expecting Bryan Cook to fix his pass coverage issues from day one.