Since the Cincinnati Bengals went to back-to-back AFC Championship games – one ending in a Super Bowl appearance – I’ve tried to stay as blunt and honest as possible about where this team stands.
The last two years, to put it simply, have been a complete mess.
Trying to keep it politically correct doesn’t do it justice. The reality is, this team was ass. The front office made questionable decisions, especially on the defensive side of the ball, letting key contributors walk and replacing them with players who never felt like real answers.
It showed. And it cost them.
That’s why this offseason carried so much weight.
People love to throw around “biggest offseason in franchise history,” but this time it wasn’t exaggerated. With visible frustration from Joe Burrow and a roster sitting right in the middle of its prime, the pressure was real.
And for once… the Bengals answered it.
Free Agency Additions
They addressed the defense immediately by adding…
- – Boye Mafe (EDGE)
- – Bryan Cook (S)
- – Jonathan Allen (DT)
- – Kyle Dugger (S)
After free agency, the team was better.
Even letting players like Geno Stone walk felt like addition by subtraction. The defense had more stability and proven talent.
But it still didn’t feel like enough. I was still pissed off they didn’t do more in a window they had to make SIGNFICANT improvements. They improved, but not enough.
If you’re in a Super Bowl window, you don’t go halfway… you go all in.
The Splash Move They Needed
Then came the turning point.
The Bengals traded their first-round pick for Dexter Lawrence.
That was the move.
Not just because of what he brings on the field, but because of what it signals. It told Burrow and the locker room: we’re serious about winning right now.
The Draft
Even after free agency and the trade, the draft still felt like a potential risk.
Would they fall back into old habits? Prioritizing traits over production?
This time, they didn’t.
They shifted their approach and targeted players who actually produced at a high level in college. According to Joe Goodberry’s board, the Bengals had a very strong draft overall. Not even just Goodberry’s board, but multiple other draft experts across the league.
Warren Sharp had the Bengals with the 4th best value of any team in the NFL coming out of the draft.
- Round 2 (41): Cashius Howell, EDGE, Texas A&M
- Round 3 (72): Tacario Davis, CB, Washington
- Round 4 (128): Connor Lew, C, Auburn
- Round 4 (140): Colbie Young, WR, Georgia
- Round 6 (189): Brian Parker II, OT, Duke
- Round 7 (221): Jack Endries, TE, Texas
- Round 7 (226): Landon Robinson, DT, Navy
Draft Takeaways
- – Cashius Howell brings real disruption off the edge
- – Connor Lew could be the future at center after Ted Karras
- – Brian Parker II offers incredible value and depth for a 6th-round pick
- – Jack Endries looks like a legitimate receiving threat at tight end
- – Landon Robinson has upside that goes beyond his draft position. Aaron Donald esque…
The only pick that raises concern is Colbie Young. A traits-heavy receiver with limited production and off-field questions.
Tacario Davis is still a bit of a question mark as well, but there’s more to like there long-term.
Overall, this class looks like it could produce multiple contributors – possibly even long-term starters.
So… How Good Are They?
Coming into the offseason, the goal was simple…
Raise the floor of the team.
The ceiling was already there.
Between free agency, the addition of Dexter Lawrence, and a strong draft, the Bengals didn’t just raise the floor, they raised the ceiling too.
- The defense is now respectable. It has a real chance to finish in the top half of the league. The roster feels balanced again… or at least a lot more than it did before.
Assuming health, this looks like an 11–13 win team.
The rest of the NFL should be paying attention.
The Bengals are back.
They’re aggressive.
And they’re legitimate contenders again.
And honestly, it’s about damn time.
