Let’s face it. The Cincinnati Bengals have spent the last few years wasting Joe Burrow’s prime with a defense that couldn’t stop a nosebleed, let alone a modern NFL offense. With Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins eating up massive chunks of the salary cap as they age, the front office had no choice but to get aggressive. They had to.
The biggest culprit? A defensive line that was softer than wet tissue paper. Last year, Cincinnati ranked dead last in the league with a pathetic 28.8% pass rush win rate. You can’t win championships like that.
So, they blew it up.
According to ESPN’s Ben Solak, the Bengals pulled off a massive four-for-two roster shuffle upfront. Out went Trey Hendrickson to the Ravens and Joseph Ossai to the Jets. Losing Hendrickson hurts, sure, but the return package is a massive net positive.
They brought in four new faces. First, they traded the 10th overall pick in the 2026 draft for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, an absolute mountain of a man. Then they drafted Cashius Howell in the second round, and signed veterans Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen.
It is a massive upgrade.
These four join a returning rotation that includes Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart, B.J. Hill, T.J. Slaton, and Kris Jenkins Jr. Suddenly, a unit that was a glaring liability looks incredibly deep. Solak ranked this defensive line overhaul as the seventh-best positional upgrade in the entire league this offseason.
It had to happen. If this group can actually pressure the quarterback in 2026, the Bengals might finally stop wasting their expensive offensive firepower. If not, it’s going to be another long, frustrating winter in Ohio.
