Cincinnati Bengals
· 2026-06-29
The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2026 offseason with much to prove, and they made some uncharacteristic moves to build a competitive roster around Joe Burrow.
The Bengals signed Bryan Cook, Boye Mafe, and Jonathan Allen to multi-year deals in the first week of free agency, improving the roster.
They also traded for Dexter Lawrence, a 28-year-old, three-time Pro Bowler, a week before the draft.
The Bengals restructured Joe Burrow's contract, saving $13 million in current salary cap space.
These moves were unexpected, as the Bengals have been conservative in the past.
The trade for Lawrence and the restructure of Burrow's contract show that the front office is willing to push boundaries when necessary.
The Bengals are currently 16th in the American Football Conference with a 3-14 record, on a L2 streak.
The Bengals will face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on September 13, 2026.
The team is looking to improve its roster and make a push for the playoffs.
Coach Zac Taylor and director of player personnel Duke Tobin have pledged to focus on roster retooling.
The Bengals have a lot of work to do to turn their season around, but the offseason moves are a step in the right direction.
And with the restructured contract, the Bengals have more salary cap space to work with.
But the team still needs to address some key positions, including linebacker.
So the Bengals will look to make some more moves before the start of the season.
The Bengals' next game will be a test of their new roster, and fans will be watching closely to see how they perform.