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Won't have option year picked up
Thu, Apr 30, 2026, 10:07 AM
The Bengals are declining Murphy's fifth-year option for 2027, Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
Analysis: Murphy set career-best marks across the board in 2025 with 52 tackles (28 solo), including 5.5 sacks, but that wasn't enough to convince Bengals brass to pick up the 2023 first-round pick's fifth-year option. He remains under contract in 2026 on the fourth year of his rookie deal, and Conway adds that the Bengals are still hoping to work out a long-term extension to keep Murphy in Cincinnati despite choosing not to pick up his fifth-year option. |
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Lands with Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 5:03 PM
The Bengals selected Robinson in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 226th overall.
Analysis: Robinson (6-foot-0, 287 pounds) will add depth to Cincinnati's interior defensive line, which got a tremendous boost after the team traded the No. 10 overall pick to trade for Dexter Lawrence from the Giants, and also inked Jonathan Allen to a two-year deal deal in free agency. Though undersized, Robinson boasts impressive strength and is capable of manufacturing pressure, so it wouldn't be shocking to see him carve out a rotational gig early in his NFL career. |
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Drafted by Bengals
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 4:47 PM
The Bengals selected Endries in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 221st overall.
Analysis: Endries (6-foot-5, 245 pounds) began his collegiate career with a redshirt 2022 campaign at California, which he followed up with two consecutive years as a starter from 2023-24 before transferring to Texas. In his sole season as the Longhorns' starting tight end in 2025, Endries compiled 33 catches for 346 yards and three scores, a step down from the 56-626-2 line he logged with the Golden Bears in 2024. Endries has the size to find a role at the NFL level but lacks difference-making athleticism, so as a rookie he could have a difficult time competing for depth reps with Erick All (ACL), Drew Sample, Tanner Hudson and Cam Grandy (chest) behind top tight end Mike Gesicki. |
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Picked by Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 3:25 PM
The Bengals selected Parker in the sixth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 189th overall.
Analysis: Parker (6-foot-5, 309 pounds) was a tackle at Duke who was expected to move to center, not completely unlike former Duke left tackle and current Tampa Bay center Graham Barton, but the NFL obviously regarded Parker as the lesser prospect of the two. Furthermore, the Bengals already drafted a center in the fourth round when they took the distinguished Connor Lew. Perhaps the Bengals will try Parker out at guard rather than center. |
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Picked up by Bengals
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 1:11 PM
The Bengals selected Young in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 140th overall.
Analysis: Young certainly doesn't lack for size at 6-foot-5, 218 pounds, and he moves well for that size, running a 4.49 4-yard dash at the NFL Combine, though he takes a bit of time to get up to speed. Young's height and big frame give him plenty of range, and he's comfortable working down the field, but he doesn't have a special-teams background. That's likely something he'll need to learn with the Bengals, but Young will also get an opportunity to hone his craft behind two star wideouts in Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, the room behind that duo and Andrei Iosivas is largely unproven, so Young could have a chance to carve out a spot pretty high on the depth chart with a good showing in training camp. |
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Bound for Cincinnati
Sat, Apr 25, 2026, 12:36 PM
The Bengals selected Lew (knee) in the fourth round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 128th overall.
Analysis: Lew broke into the starting lineup as a true freshman at Auburn in 2023 and started the final 25 games of his college career before tearing his left ACL in 2025. The injury certainly affected his draft stock to some degree because he couldn't participate in athletic testing, but he's expected to be ready for training camp. Lew is on track to serve as the backup center in 2026 behind Ted Karras, a 33-year-old who has started every game over the past four years but has just one year left on his contract. |
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Picked by Bengals
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 8:48 PM
The Bengals selected Davis in the third round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 72nd overall.
Analysis: Davis is unusually tall for a corner at 6-foot-4, 194 pounds, which is helpful at some times but less so others. Though he was a standout starter for Washington overall, Davis' ability to mirror the routes of shorter, quicker receivers will be tested by the NFL's different enforcement of illegal contact rules. With 4.41 speed in addition to his reach, Davis would be a menacing press-man corner if he can avoid penalties in the NFL. |
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Heading to Cincinnati
Fri, Apr 24, 2026, 6:49 PM
The Bengals selected Howell in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft, 41st overall.
Analysis: Howell spent the last two seasons of his five-year college career with Texas A&M. He broke out in his senior year in 2025, when he was a Unanimous All-American and the SEC Defensive Player of the Year after posting 31 tackles, including an SEC-leading 11.0 sacks, one forced fumble and six pass defenses across 13 games. Howell served as a boundary edge rusher with the Aggies, and while his shorter reach could be a concern at the NFL level, he has the quick initial burst to give opposing tackles plenty of trouble and the versatility to drop into coverage to mask blitz pressure. Howell will join a new-look Bengals defensive front that includes Super Bowl LX champion Boye Mafe, Myles Murphy, Jonathan Allen and the recently acquired Dexter Lawrence. |
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Playing time in jeopardy
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 1:55 PM
Jenkins will have a hard time earning meaningful playing time in the wake of the Bengals trading for Dexter Lawrence, Charlie Goldsmith of Charlie's Chalkboard reports.
Analysis: The Bengals have now traded for Lawrence, signed Jonathan Allen and retained B.J. Hill as interior defensive linemen, and still currently employ T.J. Slaton. Jenkins hasn't shined in his first two years with the Bengals after getting drafted in the second round from Michigan, tallying a combined 67 tackles and 4.5 sacks. |
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Gets $28 million extension
Sun, Apr 19, 2026, 10:30 AM
Lawrence and the Bengals agreed to terms on a one-year, $28 million contract extension Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Saturday's trade with the Giants -- which saw the No. 10 pick of the 2026 NFL Draft move to New York -- was finalized Sunday after Lawrence passed his physical, and the extension ensures that the 2019 first-rounder will be under contract with the Bengals through the next three seasons. The Clemson product is looking to bounce back from a disappointing 2025 regular season, when he tallied 31 tackles (14 solo), including 0.5 sacks, all of which were career lows. Lawrence was named to the NFL's All-Pro Second Team in both 2022 and 2023, and if he can return to that level, it would be a massive boost to a Bengals defensive front that also includes Jonathan Allen, Myles Murphy and Boye Mafe. |
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Dealt to Cincinnati in blockbuster
Sat, Apr 18, 2026, 7:32 PM
The Bengals agreed to terms Saturday on a trade with the Giants to acquire Lawrence in exchange for the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler heading into just his age-29 season, stands to ink an extension with his new team shortly. He requested a trade out of New York due to dissatisfaction with the four-year, $87.5 million deal he inked with the Giants back in 2023. The standout defensive tackle's arrival in Cincinnati immediately shores up the team's interior defensive line, though after totaling 9.0 sacks in 2024, Lawrence is now working to rebound from a 2025 campaign in which he totaled just a half-sack on 31 tackles across 17 regular-season appearances. The draft capital surrendered by the Bengals in order to acquire Lawrence's talents effectively guarantee that he will be featured by new defensive coordinator Al Golden, providing the veteran DT with a boost to his fantasy value in IDP formats. |
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Headed to Cincinnati
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 6:31 PM
Taylor and the Bengals agreed on a one-year contract Thursday.
Analysis: Taylor will head to Cincinnati after splitting his 2025 campaign between the Chargers and Jets, compiling 21 total tackles (12 solo) and a pass defensed over 17 regular-season contests. The 26-year-old will provide the Bengals with an additional experienced option at slot cornerback behind Jalen Davis and another option on special teams in 2026. |
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Set to sign with Bengals
Thu, Apr 2, 2026, 11:47 AM
Dugger is in line to sign a one-year deal with the Bengals,Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: In 16 regular-season games (seven with the Patriots and nine with the Steelers) in 2025, the 2020 second-rounder recorded a season-low 59 total tackles, as well as a sack and two interceptions. As Charlie Goldsmith of the Dayton Daily News notes, Dugger brings both ample starting experience, as well as positional versatility to a Bengals defense that can use both. |
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Joe Flacco Joe Flacco Staying in Cincinnati
Tue, Mar 24, 2026, 4:43 PM
The Bengals and Flacco agreed to a one-year contract Tuesday, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com reports
Analysis: Flacco kicked off last season as the Browns' No. 1 quarterback, completing 93 of 160 passes (58.1 percent) for 815 yards, two touchdowns and six interceptions in four starts. Cleveland then dealt him to Cincinnati, where he proceeded to fill in for the injured Joe Burrow. In six more starts with his new team, Flacco racked up 1,636 yards and a 13:4 TD:INT on 61.6 percent passing. Once Burrow recovered from his turf toe injury, Flacco saw only spot action down the stretch of the 2025 campaign, a role he figures to fill again this season as long as the former remains healthy. |
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Josh Johnson Josh Johnson Continuing career in Cincy
Sat, Mar 14, 2026, 9:49 PM
The Bengals signed Johnson to a contract Saturday.
Analysis: Johnson will turn 40 in mid-May, but he's not yet ready to hang up his cleats. This will be his third stint with the Bengals, who are one of 14 teams he's spent time with during his NFL career. Johnson should have a path to working as the backup to QB Joe Burrow, as Sean Clifford is the only other QB currently signed to Cincinnati's roster following the departure of Jake Browning to Tampa Bay. |
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Coming to Cincinnati
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 1:30 PM
Allen and the Bengals agreed to terms on a two-year, $26 million deal Thursday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: The 31-year-old defensive lineman from Alabama is set to join the Bengals after spending his 2025 campaign with the Vikings. Allen has appeared in 25 regular-season games over the last two seasons, recording 87 total tackles, including 6.5 sacks. Additionally, he earned Pro Bowl selections in 2021 and 2022 while playing for the Commanders. Now in Cincinnati, Allen is expected to operate as the Bengals' top interior defensive lineman during the 2026 season. |
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Inks extension with Cincinnati
Thu, Mar 12, 2026, 11:53 AM
Brown is slated to sign a two-year extension with the Bengals, Geoff Hobson of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: The veteran offensive lineman from Oklahoma has spent each of the last three seasons in Cincinnati and is now under contract through 2028 following his extension. Brown has been a reliable presence for the Bengals, appearing in all 17 regular-season games in two of his three seasons with the team (including 2025). He's expected to remain Cincinnati's top left tackle during the 2026 campaign. |
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Gets $60 million from Cincy
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 3:51 PM
Mafe agreed to a three-year, $60 million contract with the Bengals on Monday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Analysis: Mafe can make his deal official when the new league year begins Wednesday. He worked in a depth role for the Seahawks during their Super Bowl-winning 2025 campaign, starting only four of 17 regular-season playoff games and none of Seattle's three playoff games. Seattle's second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft has made 34 regular-season starts. |
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Brings talents to Cincinnati
Mon, Mar 9, 2026, 2:45 PM
Cook agreed to terms Monday on a three-year, $40.25 million contract with the Bengals, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Cook solidified himself as a starter at safety for the Chiefs in 2024 and further built on that success in 2025, when he totaled 85 tackles (50 solo) and six passes defensed while suiting up for all 17 regular-season games. He's positioned as a locked-in starter for Cincinnati's secondary for the 2026 campaign and beyond. |
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Not being tagged
Tue, Mar 3, 2026, 1:51 PM
The Bengals will not place the franchise tag on Hendrickson (hip/pelvis) by Tuesday's 4:00 p.m. ET deadline, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Analysis: Hendrickson held out in advance of the 2025 campaign before agreeing to terms on a raise that boosted his salary to $30 million, but Cincinnati will now allow the veteran pass rusher to reach free agency. Injuries limited Hendrickson to just even regular-season appearances in 2025, in which span he tallied only 16 tackles (11 solo) including 4.0 sacks, plus one pass defensed and one forced fumble. Still, Hendrickson played all 17 regular-season games in both 2023 and 2024 and tallied 17.5 sacks each of those years, a demonstrable ceiling that will make the 31-year-old defensive end one of the top available free agent son the open market. He's recovering from core-muscle surgery undergone early December, but may already be fully healthy as that procedure carried only a six-week recovery timeframe. |
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