Poll: How Good Are The Bengals?
The Bengals entered last season with playoff aspirations, but they were never truly in contention. The team sputtered to a 6-11 record for a couple of obvious reasons: 1.) Superstar quarterback Joe Burrow missed eight games after suffering a toe injury in September. 2.) The defense was an unmitigated disaster.
While the 2026 campaign is still four months from kicking off, Cincinnati looks like a prime rebound candidate. Burrow, who returned in November to fire 15 touchdowns against five interceptions in six starts, is healthy. He will again lead an eminently talented offense that boasts an elite receiver duo (Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins) and a legitimate dual-threat running back in Chase Brown.
Even with the combination of Jake Browning and Joe Flacco filling in for Burrow for a large chunk of 2025, the Bengals’ offense still had enough horses to finish 12th in the NFL in scoring (24.4). The Bengals put up 30-plus points eight times, and the club went 5-3 in those games. When the Bengals scored fewer than 30, they went 1-8.
It is fair to say that if the Bengals are going to snap their three-year playoff drought in 2026, their defense will have to go from abysmal to competent. Since finishing 30th in points, 31st in yards and dead last in pass rush win rate last season, the unit has undergone a significant makeover.
The Bengals’ defense took a couple of notable hits in free agency when edge rushers Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai (Jets) walked out the door. Hendrickson’s exit may be especially unfortunate when you consider he joined the AFC North rival Ravens, though the Bengals already began adjusting to life without him in 2025. A hip/groin injury limited Hendrickson to seven games, four sacks and kept him out from late October onward.
Aside from Ossai and Myles Murphy, nobody did much to fill Hendrickson’s void last season. The Bengals are likely confident that will change in 2026, as they brought in ex-Seahawk Boye Mafe on a three-year, $60MM deal and used a second-round pick on former Texas A&M pass rusher Cashius Howell. They have now Murphy, Mafe, Howell and 2025 first-rounder Shemar Stewart, who did not do much as a rookie, as their top options along the edge.
The Bengals’ collection of pass rushers should get a boost from a vastly improved interior defensive line. In a bold strike atypical of the Bengals, they landed perhaps the premier nose tackle in football when they traded the 10th overall pick to the Giants for Dexter Lawrence. The three-time Pro Bowler only managed a half-sack during a 17-game 2025, but just looking at sack totals doesn’t do Lawrence justice.
As a magnet for double teams, Lawrence makes life far easier on his defensive teammates. Despite drawing extra attention from opposing offensive lines, Lawrence has not had trouble affecting QBs. Dating to 2022, he has piled up 108 pressures as a nose tackle, an incredible 76 more than second place (32), per Warren Sharp of SharpFootballAnalysis.com.
The Bengals expect the best version of Lawrence to show up, which they believe would make a bigger difference than any rookie they could have drafted 10th overall. He is now the face of a strong DT group that also includes B.J. Hill and free agent signing Jonathan Allen. A former Commander and Viking, Allen has started in 125 of 126 games and accrued 45.5 sacks over his nine-year career.
Along with what looks like a quality group of players up front, the Bengals have a steady collection of starters in the defensive backfield. Dax Hill and DJ Turner should be their top outside corners, while former Chiefs safety Bryan Cook came in on a three-year, $40.5MM pact in free agency to pair with Jordan Battle. Cook figures to offer a clear upgrade over the departed Geno Stone, who started 17 games in 2025 but missed a career-worst 20% of tackles (Cook checked in at 4.5%).
As for potential weaknesses, linebacker sticks out. Barring an outside acquisition (Bobby Wagner, anyone?), the Bengals are poised to rely on Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight for the second season in a row. Counting on them as rookies last year did not go well, but the club has done nothing to upgrade over them this offseason. The Bengals also look shaky at nickel corner. Jalen Davis is the frontrunner for the job, but despite being an eight-year veteran, he lacks defensive experience. Davis never approached 100 defensive snaps in a season until he amassed 270 over seven games in 2025.
Turning back to the offensive side, keeping the oft-injured Burrow healthy will be the most important order of business. That will largely be in the hands of a starting line that has not changed since the end of last season. The Bengals are running it back with tackles Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims, guards Dylan Fairchild and Dalton Risner, and center Ted Karras. Pro Football Focus rated the unit the league’s fifth-worst in 2025.
The Bengals are in a division with two other playoff hopefuls (Baltimore and Pittsburgh), but they should push for a postseason berth if Burrow stays healthy and the defensive acquisitions pan out as hoped. Vegas agrees, having set the over/under on the Bengals’ win total at 9.5. That ties them with last season’s AFC title game representatives, the Patriots and Broncos, as well as other conference contenders in Jacksonville and Houston. If the Bengals fall short of expectations again, long-tenured head coach Zac Taylor may not get a ninth year in 2027.
How do you expect the Bengals’ season to go? Vote in PFR’s latest poll and weigh in with your thoughts in the comments section.
How many games will the Bengals win in 2026?
NFC Notes: Giants, OBJ, Bates, Seahawks
Giants wide receiver Darius Slayton recently underwent core-muscle surgery, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. The procedure should not affect Slayton’s availability for training camp, per Garafolo. It will also have no impact on a potential reunion with free agent wideout Odell Beckham, Paul Schwartz of the New York Post relays. The Giants hosted Beckham in late April, and while they have left the door open on a deal, they have not made an offer to the 33-year-old. Beckham did not play anywhere in 2025. Meanwhile, Slayton caught 37 passes for 538 yards and a touchdown in 14 games. He will be part of a more crowded receiving corps in 2026. The Giants will get No. 1 receiver Malik Nabers back from a torn ACL, and Darnell Mooney, Calvin Austin and third-rounder Malachi Fields are among their new additions.
More from the NFC…
- Now entering the last season of a four-year, $64.02MM contract, Falcons safety Jessie Bates is due to earn a $16MM salary – the eighth-highest total at the position. The three-time second-team All-Pro is a good bet to stick around Atlanta in 2027, according to Josh Kendall of The Athletic, though he notes it is likely the team will begin extension negotiations at a lower salary figure. While Bates managed his third straight full season last year and once again posted solid production (98 tackles, three interceptions), age is working against him as he seeks his next deal. By the time the 2027 season kicks off, Bates will be 30 years old. In the meantime, he will pair with Falcons safety Xavier Watts for the second year in a row. Those two accounted for defensive snap shares around 99% in 2025, an impressive rookie season for Watts.
- No cornerback taller than 6-foot-4 has ever played a regular-season NFL game. That will change if Seahawks cornerback Tyrone Broden earns a roster spot. The 6-5 Broden joined the Seahawks as an undrafted receiver last year, but he is now transitioning to the defensive side of the ball, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. Broden spent some of last season on the Seahawks’ practice squad and did not get into any games. The reigning Super Bowl champion Seahawks boast a loaded defensive backfield, which works against Broden, but they lost 6-4 corner Riq Woolen to the Eagles in free agency.
- In another position switch, the Buccaneers’ Nash Hutmacher is shifting from defensive tackle to guard, Greg Auman of FOX Sports reports. Undrafted a year ago, the former Nebraska D-tackle spent the season on the Bucs’ practice squad.
- In using a a seventh-round pick on former LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier, the Chiefs took a potential option away from the Packers. Green Bay would have had interest in Nussmeier had he gone undrafted, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN relays. The Packers pivoted to former Virginia Tech QB Kyron Drones on the UDFA market. Drones, Tyrod Taylor and Kyle McCord are their backup options behind starter Jordan Love. Like Drones, Taylor is a Virginia Tech product. The 36-year-old has carved out a long career as an occasional starter/dependable backup since the Ravens selected him in the sixth round of the 2011 draft.
Patriots’ Quintayvious Hutchins Charged With Domestic Assault
Patriots rookie edge defender Quintayvious Hutchins has been charged with misdemeanor domestic assault and battery on a family/household member. The alleged incident took place at a Boston College dorm on Tuesday, according to Mike Toole of CBS Boston.
Hutchins pleaded not guilty in court in Newton, Mass., on Wednesday and was released. He will return to court for a hearing on a date yet to be determined.
The Patriots issued a statement on the matter, saying: “We are aware of the report involving Quintayvious Hutchins. We take these matters very seriously and are in the process of gathering additional information. We will not have further comment at this time.”
New England used the last of its nine draft picks on Hutchins, whom the team chose at No. 247 overall in the seventh round. The selection enabled Hutchins to stay in the area after a four-year playing career at Boston College.
Hutchins did not record huge production at BC, where he logged nine tackles for loss and 5.5 sacks in 43 games, but was an integral cog on special teams. A similar role may be in store for Hutchins if he makes the Patriots’ roster, though the NFL could discipline the 23-year-old at the outset of his career.
Hutchins signed his four-year rookie contract last week.
Bears Unlikely To Pursue Cam Jordan?
Cameron Jordan has enjoyed a superb 15-year career in New Orleans, but the free agent edge defender is unsure if he will don a Saints uniform for a 16th season. A number of contenders, including the Bears, would do well to pry Jordan out of New Orleans. But it does not appear Jordan will reunite with former Saints head coach Dennis Allen, now the Bears’ defensive coordinator.
When asked about Jordan last week, Allen said (via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times): ‘‘I don’t know that there’s been a ton of discussion about [signing him]. We feel pretty good about where we’re at and what we have. Yet you never know what opportunities might present themselves down the road.’’
Not only was Allen the Saints’ head coach from 2022-24, but he was previously on their staff as a defensive assistant and then coordinator from 2015-21. Jordan posted five seasons of double-digit sacks and earned seven of his eight Pro Bowl trips in that span.
Allen moved to Chicago last year a couple of months after his Saints ouster, but Jordan showed no signs of slowing down. Despite his advanced age, the soon-to-be 37-year-old put up his seventh season with double-digit sacks (10.5). Jordan may have been even more of a force against opposing rushing attacks, as he ranked sixth among edge defenders in run stop win rate. Pro Football Focus gave Jordan the fourth-best grade against the run at his position.
In addition to his ongoing excellent production, Jordan remained remarkably durable during yet another full season. The 6-foot-4, 287-pounder has missed just two of 245 regular-season games in a decade and a half. On the other hand, health was elusive for Bears edge defenders last season, a year in which the team won the NFC North despite surrendering the sixth-most rushing yards and totaling the seventh-fewest sacks in the NFL.
The Bears entered 2025 with high expectations for Dayo Odeyingbo, whom they paid a guaranteed $32MM in free agency, but he registered just one sack in eight starts before suffering a torn Achilles on Nov. 2. Meanwhile, second-round rookie Shemar Turner went down with a torn ACL five games into his season. It also was a truncated campaign for Austin Booker, who began the year on IR with a knee injury and wound up missing seven games.
If Chicago does not use any of its $6.68MM in effective cap space to add Jordan or another available edge defender (Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney, Von Miller and ex-Bear Leonard Floyd are also among those on the market), the team will bank on healthier seasons from Odeyingbo, Turner and Booker. The Bears would also benefit from a second straight full season from Montez Sweat, who recorded a team-leading 10 sacks last year. The rest of their defense accounted for just 25.
As for Jordan, assuming he continues his career in 2026, he will look to build on what could be a Hall of Fame resume. The 2010s All-Decade Team member ranks 17th on the all-time sack list (132). He could approach or break into the top 10 with another strong season.
Panthers To Hold Competition At LT, C
The Panthers lost Ikem Ekwonu to a torn patellar tendon in a wild-card round defeat to the Rams in January, adding left tackle to their list of needs entering the offseason. General manager Dan Morgan has made notable additions at the position since then, having picked up Rasheed Walker in free agency and drafted Monroe Freeling with the 19th overall pick.
Appearing on NFL Network on Tuesday, Morgan revealed Walker and Freeling will compete to open the season as the Panthers’ starting left tackle (via Michael Baca of NFL.com).
“In terms of Monroe (Freeling), he’ll compete with Rasheed (Walker),” Morgan said. “We were lucky to get him in free agency, another guy we think highly about, a veteran who’s played a lot of games in this league. We feel like we have a lot of optionality there and looking forward to seeing those guys compete.”
The Panthers brought in Walker on a $4MM base deal, a surprisingly low amount for a 26-year-old with significant starting left tackle experience. Walker was Green Bay’s full-time choice on the blind side from 2023-25, during which he made 48 starts. Now entering a second straight contract year, Walker will have a chance to boost his stock, but he will have to beat out Freeling.
Although Carolina was a widely predicted mock draft landing spot for Oregon safety Dillon Thieneman or tight end Kenyon Sadiq, it prioritized tackle over those two positions in the first round. The Panthers had more interest in Thieneman than Sadiq, according to Joe Person of The Athletic, but Freeling won out (Sadiq was already gone by then). Despite only making 17 starts in college, the former Georgia Bulldog saw his stock skyrocket during the pre-draft process. Morgan called Freeling “a franchise left tackle” on Tuesday. Even if he loses the battle to Walker this summer, the Panthers at least regard Freeling as their long-term solution at the position.
As is the case at left tackle, the Panthers are set to stage a competition at center, Person reports. Cade Mays had a career season during a 12-start 2025 for the Panthers, but they did not retain him in free agency. A few hours after Mays joined the Lions on a three-year, $25MM agreement, the Panthers added Luke Fortner on a modest pact worth up to $4.75MM. Fortner has amassed 44 starts in a four-year career divided between Jacksonville and New Orleans, but he will have to fend off rookie Sam Hecht for the No. 1 role in Carolina. The Panthers spent a fifth-rounder on Hecht, who was a two-year starter at Kansas State. Hecht earned first-team All-Big 12 honors last season.
While it is up in the air who will start at left tackle and center, the rest of the Panthers’ 2025 front five could begin next season intact. Right tackle Taylor Moton and the guard tandem of Robert Hunt and Damien Lewis remain in the fold on pricey contracts.
Colts Could Keep Anthony Richardson?
Anthony Richardson and the Colts have seemed destined for a split for almost a year. The first writing appeared on the wall when the team signed Daniel Jones to compete for the starting quarterback job; by midseason, it was covered.
Jones won the training camp competition and led Indianapolis to a 7-1 start, seemingly establishing himself as the Colts’ next franchise quarterback. Richardson, meanwhile, had been sidelined by a freak orbital fracture and was even the subject of some trade deadline chatter that another team could see him as a reclamation project. He requested a trade this offseason, and the club worked to oblige him, but “nothing materialized,” assistant general manager Ed Dodds said this week (via Mike Chappell of FOX59).
Richardson still has just 28 starts and 743 passing attempts in his college and pro careers, presenting the concerns about both inexperience and durability. Dodds reiterated that 24-year-old is “good to go,” but uncertainty about his eye injury was a factor in his lack of trade interest, per ESPN’s Stephen Holder. He is also owed $5.4MM in guaranteed compensation this year, and another team may not want to pick up that tab for a developmental project.
The Colts are not considering a release, Holder adds. They would still owe Richardson that money, and especially with Jones recovering from last year’s Achilles tear, it makes little sense for them to move on from their former No. 3 pick without any financial relief or trade compensation.
“He’s back in the fold right now,” head coach Shane Steichen said at Phase 2 of the team’s offseason program (via Chappell).
Wthout significant interest from other teams, Richardson may now be best served by staying in Indianapolis, where he can compete with Riley Leonard for the backup quarterback gig. Until jones is back on the field, that job comes with first-team reps, though Steichen declined to elucidate any sense of a pecking order.
There are indications that the team is not completely out on Richardson’s talent and ability to contribute to the team. He had his best training camp in 2025, according to Holder, and though his eye injury kept him from returning to in-game action, he impressed as the scout team QB late in the season. In fact, Holder adds, Richardson would have taken over as the Colts’ starter had he been healthy when Jones went down.
Jones has a lengthy injury history of his own, too. Any setback in his current recovery could thrust Richardson back into a starting role this year. Theoretically, the Colts could get out of their contract with Jones next offseason, though that would require a remarkable turnaround from Richardson. More likely, he will be looking to contribute in any way possible this year to boost his stock before hitting free agency in 2027.
Vikings Could Make EDGE Addition
Jonathan Greenard was productive during his first Vikings season and remained a full-time starter in 2025. His Minnesota tenure came to an expected end during the draft, however, with a trade to the Eagles (and subsequent extension) being worked out.
Finances were a key factor in the decision by interim general manager Rob Brzezinski to execute the trade. Any big-money move taking place now would thus represent a surprise. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner are still in the fold as edge rushers, but the Vikings could be among the teams which make an addition late in the offseason.
Alec Lewis of The Athletic notes Brzezinski has managed to fill a number of roster holes through free agency and the draft. The team’s pass rush depth chart, however, faces questions in the wake of the Greenard trade. As a result, Lewis notes at least one addition would be viable through trade or – much more likely – free agency leading up to training camp.
Van Ginkel has thrived during his time with defensive coordinator Brian Flores, racking up 18.5 sacks and 29 tackles for loss over the past two years. He missed five games in 2025 and is entering his age-31 season, though. Turner, meanwhile, saw his playing time limited as a rookie before taking on a larger workload last year. The former first-rounder made strides in 2025, posting eight sacks. A return to health from Van Ginkel and continued development on Turner’s part would of course be welcomed, but improved depth would represent a logical target for the front office.
Former undrafted free agents Bo Richter, Chaz Chambliss and Tyler Batty are still in the fold as things stand, although it would come as no surprise if Brzezinski (or his eventual replacement) sought out a more established option. The likes of Cameron Jordan, Joey Bosa, Jadeveon Clowney and Leonard Floyd are still on the market at this time. Any could be available on a short-term pact this deep into the offseason.
Minnesota currently has roughly $12MM in cap space. A portion of that figure will be needed to sign second-rounder Jake Golday to his rookie contract, but a low-cost free agent signing should still be feasible. With the division-rival Bears representing another potential EDGE suitor, it will be interesting to see how the Vikings operate on this front.
Vikings Request GM Interviews With Ray Agnew, Reed Burckhardt, Kyle Smith
The list of candidates for the Vikings GM opening continues to grow. According to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero, the team has requested interviews with three executives: Lions assistant GM Ray Agnew, Broncos assistant GM Reed Burckhardt, and Dolphins assistant GM Kyle Smith.
Agnew had front office stints with the Jets and Rams before following Brad Holmes to Detroit to become the Lions assistant general manager in 2021. The executive has helped spearhead a franchise turnaround; after a three-win showing during the first year under the new regime, the Lions have averaged more than 11 wins per season since 2022. The front office has also pulled off shrewd trades (like the Matthew Stafford–Jared Goff swap) and have hit on some key picks (including Aidan Hutchinson and Jahmyr Gibbs). As a result, Agnew has been mentioned as a candidate to eventually lead his own front office.
Burckhardt earned a promotion to Denver’s assistant GM last offseason. The executive previously served as the team’s director of player personnel. Before his stint with the Broncos, Burckhardt worked alongside current boss George Paton in Minnesota, where he held a variety of scouting and personnel roles. Following Burckhardt’s promotion to assistant GM in Denver, the Broncos proceeded to have one of their most successful seasons in recent history, finishing with 14 victories. According to Mike Klis of 9News in Denver, Burckhardt interviewed for the Vikings gig earlier today.
Smith worked his way up to vice president of player personnel in Washington and assistant GM in Atlanta before taking an assistant GM gig in Miami under Jon-Eric Sullivan. The executive was credited with some of Washington’s draft hits like Terry McLaurin, and he’s currently being counted on to guide a similar rebuild in Miami.
The Vikings fired Kwesi Adofo-Mensah in late January and went through the draft with Rob Brzezinski in place in the interim. In the meantime, the team has been looking high and low for their new front office leader. The latest trio joins a list of candidates that also includes Chargers assistant GM Chad Alexander, 49ers assistant GM RJ Gillen, Bills assistant GM Terrance Gray, Rams assistant GM John McKay, Seahawks assistant GM Nolan Teasely, and Titans assistant GM Dave Ziegler.
Meanwhile, Albert Breer of SI.com recently provided some insight on the organization’s approach. The reporter suggests that Brzezinski could be kept in a role similar to Mike Disner with the Lions or Tony Pastoors with the Rams, with the new GM being tasked with more of a “scouting-focused” role. Jonathan Jones of CBS Sports adds that the team’s search will surely continue through Memorial Day and could drag on into late May.
Steelers’ Max Iheanachor To Begin Career At Right Tackle
Steelers first-round pick Max Iheanachor may take over as their starting left tackle one day, but it appears that will have to wait. Iheanachor revealed he will begin his NFL career at right tackle, according to Mark Kaboly of The Pat McAfee Show.
The right side is familiar territory for Iheanachor, who was Arizona State’s starting RT for the past two-plus years. On the heels of Iheanachor’s second-team All-Big 12 showing in 2025, the Steelers drafted him 21st overall. He was one of nine offensive linemen to come off the board in the first round. Guard Vega Ioane, who went 14th overall to the AFC North rival Ravens, is also a member of a large first-round O-line class. The Steelers “had an affinity for Ioane,” Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports, but there is no word on whether they tried to jump ahead of the Ravens for him.
In addition to the Ioane hypothetical, there is another first-round “what-if” centered on the Steelers. As those who follow the draft know, the team thought it was on the cusp of taking former USC wide receiver Makai Lemon at 21. Instead, the Eagles made a last-second trade-up to No. 20 to nab Lemon while he was on the phone with the Steelers. After ending up with Iheanachor with their top selection, the Steelers addressed their receiver need when they chose former Alabama standout Germie Bernard in the second round.
While Iheanachor could win the right tackle spot as a rookie, it is unclear who will man the left side. The job would belong to a healthy Broderick Jones, but his season-opening status is up in the air as he recovers from neck surgery. Pittsburgh declined Jones’ fifth-year option for 2027, meaning the former first-rounder could be entering his last season with the team. Iheanachor may be a candidate to replace Jones if he is off the Steelers’ roster a year from now. In the meantime, if Jones is not ready for Week 1, the Steelers could turn to Troy Fautanu, though Kaboly notes that is not a given. While Fautanu played left tackle at Washington, he has not lined up there during his two-year NFL career.
As the Steelers’ starting right tackle last season, Fautanu played 100% of offensive snaps. But if professional left tackle experience is a must, Dylan Cook could have a shot at the gig until Jones returns. Cook went undrafted back in 2022, though it took until last season for him to get on the field in the regular season. He played in six games and logged five starts, including a wild-card round loss to the Texans. Almost all of his snaps (346 of 348) came at left tackle. Although it was a relatively small sample of work, Pro Football Focus ranked Cook’s performance 20th among 84 qualified tackles.
Lions Had Interest In Kadyn Proctor, Landed On Blake Miller Late
The Lions have overhauled their offensive line in the last two years, with only one of their 2024 starters – tackle Penei Sewell – still on the team.
In 2025, center Frank Ragnow retired and right guard Kevin Zeitler left in free agency. Detroit moved Graham Glasgow to center and installed recent draft picks Christian Mahogany and Tate Ratledge as their starting guards.
This offseason, the Lions released Glasgow and left tackle Taylor Decker, creating more holes to fill along their offensive line. They signed Cade Mays to start at center and acquired Juice Scruggs via a trade with the Texans to provide depth at all three interior spots.
Head coach Dan Campbell said that Sewell would move to the blind side, where he lined up in college, leaving a hole at right tackle. Detroit added Larry Borom on a one-year, $5MM deal, but that price point indicates that he is not a preferred starter.
The Lions were frequently projected to use their first-round pick (No. 17 overall) on an offensive tackle to upgrade over Borom. They were initially linked to Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor – one of the few first-round tackles who played on the blind side – and were even seen as his floor in the first round. Detroit explored moving up for a tackle in the first-round, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, but the Dolphins took Proctor at No. 12, just outside of their range for such a trade.
That worked out just fine for the Lions, who stood pat and landed Clemson right tackle Blake Miller. His name was “magma-hot late in the process,” Fowler notes, adding that an NFC executive ranked him as the top offensive tackle in the 2026 class.
Drafting Miller, who made all but two of his college starts at right tackle, will cement Sewell’s switch back to left tackle. Detroit will be hoping not only that the two can become the league’s top bookends, but also that the entire five-man unit can mesh quickly. The remade offensive line now features no starters over 27 years old, the result of a clear effort by the front office to phase out older veterans and install their next generation of blockers.