Bengals Offseason Summary The Bengals entered the 2026 offseason with a clear directive: fix the defense. They addressed the pass rush and secondary early by landing Boye Mafe (3 years, $60M) and safety Bryan Cook (3 years, $40.25M). However, the "post-Trey Hendrickson era" has officially begun, as the star edge rusher signed with the Baltimore Ravens. With Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai gone, and veteran Jonathan Allen on the wrong side of 30, the Bengals still require high-upside youth across the defensive front and secondary.
Franchise Needs
EDGE
CB
LB
IOL
OT
Free Agent Losses
EDGE Trey Hendrickson (Ravens), EDGE Joseph Ossai (Jets), S Geno Stone (Bills), QB Jake Browning (Buccaneers), TE Noah Fant (Saints), CB Marco Wilson (Dolphins)Free Agent Gains
EDGE Boye Mafe, S Bryan Cook, DT Jonathan Allen, QB Josh JohnsonDraft Capital Overview
- Pick 10 (Round 1)
- Pick 41 (Round 2)
- Pick 72 (Round 3)
- Pick 110 (Round 4)
- Pick 189 (Round 6)
- Pick 199 (Round 6) via DET
- Pick 221 (Round 7) via NYG
- Pick 226 (Round 7)
CIN Mock Draft Picks
Caleb Downs
The Bengals have already moved to address safety by signing Bryan Cook, but the larger issue in Cincinnati’s secondary is still range, anticipation, and overall cleanup ability on the back end. Downs gives them a true tone-setter there. His instincts and downhill trigger speed can raise the floor of the whole unit, which still feels like a work in progress even after the first wave of moves.
Gennings Dunker
Trench continuity remains central to Cincinnati’s offensive sustainability. Dunker’s physical run-blocking profile and anchor strength provide developmental reinforcement for a line still balancing durability and performance. He projects as a depth lineman capable of competing for interior snaps.
Dontay Corleone
Interior durability remains foundational to Cincinnati’s defensive structure. Corleone’s mass and leverage control introduce early-down stabilization within the tackle rotation. He profiles as a situational interior anchor.