News Bengals Team Notes

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals free agency: Top defensive ends for Cincinnati

The Cincinnati Bengals will have two of their own highly regarded free agent defensive ends this year. Let’s take a look at how they stack up with some of the other free agent edge players for 2026.

Trey Hendrickson (6’4” 270 lbs.)​

Hendrickson only played in parts of seven games during the 2025 season due to injury. He was still able to record 16 tackles and 4 sacks on the year. He had 23 pressures and just a 7.7% missed tackle rate. The 31-year-old posted a 90.0 pass rushing grade and a 56.8 run defense grade.

Joseph Ossai (6’4” 263 lbs.)​

Ossai will be turning 26 years old. He returned to Cincinnati on a one-year deal ahead of the 2025 season. This year, he accumulated 43 tackles and 5 sacks on the season. He had a 62.4 pass rush grade and a 70.7 run defense grade. Ossai missed a couple of games late in the season due to injury. He still ended up leading the team with 43 total pressures.

Odafe Oweh (6’5” 257 lbs.)​

These early lists typically fall apart rather quickly with extensions and franchise tags for players to remain with their current team. Oweh is likely to be a prime candidate for that happening with him. If he hits the open market, he is going to make a ton of money with how he played after being traded to the Chargers from the Ravens this year. The 27-year-old finished the season with an 81.0 pass rush grade. He had a 64.1 run defense grade. He finished the season with 43 tackles, 51 pressures, and 10.5 sacks.

Dremont Jones (6’3” 281 lbs.)​

Jones has the versatility to play on the edge or the interior. He recorded 43 tackles with 7 sacks in 2025. He had a 69.6 pass rush grade and a 57.8 run defense grade. Jones had 19 pressures in 9 games with the Titans. He was then traded to the Ravens for the second half of the season. In 9 games with the Ravens, he tallied 32 pressures. Jones is approaching 30 years old, which is something that typically gives the Bengals some concern with free agents.

Jaelan Phillips (6’5” 263 lbs.)​

Phillips will be turning 27 at the end of May. He recorded 53 tackles and 5 sacks between Miami and Philadelphia in 2025. He ended the season with a 76.2 pass rush grade and a 60.3 run defense grade. Phillips generates pressure at a high rate. Racking up 76 total pressures on the year.

Joey Bosa (6’5” 280 lbs.)​

Bosa signed a one-year deal with Buffalo in 2025. Could he be looking for a similar short-term contract in 2026? If so, the Bengals should have some interest here. Bosa will be turning 31 this year, but he still recorded 32 tackles, 54 pressures, and 5 sacks on the season. He had an 85.5 pass rush grade, along with a 52.0 run defense grade.

K’Lavon Chaisson (6’3” 245 lbs.)​

Chaisson’s season is still ongoing for the Patriots in the playoffs. The 26-year-old currently has 68 pressures, 37 tackles, and 10.5 sacks on the season. He has a 63.0 pass-rush grade and a 48.4 run-defense grade. Chaisson’s lack of size and his 37.8% missed tackle rate are noteworthy.

Kwity Paye (6’2” 265 lbs.)​

Paye had just a 56.8 pass rush grade on the season in 2025. He still recorded 38 pressures, 39 tackles, and 4 sacks. Paye recently turned 27 years old. He had a 65.8 run defense grade on the year. The former first round draft selection has spent all five seasons of his career with the Indianapolis Colts.

Jadeveon Clowney (6’5” 255 lbs.)​

Clowney will be turning 33 years old in February. Based on his 2025 season, he is showing no signs of slowing down. Clowney finished the season with 41 tackles, 8.5 sacks, and 40 pressures. He had impressive PFF grades on the season. He had an 80.6 pass rush grade, along with a 70.6 run defense grade.

Khalil Mack (6’3” 269 lbs.)​

Mack is the oldest player on this free agent list, at 35 years old. He put up 42 pressures, 5.5 sacks, and 33 tackles this year. While still a solid season for the veteran, he is not as dominant as he once was. It is also possible that Mack decides to call it a career. If not, someone could still use a guy who had a 67.5 pass rush grade and a 77.2 run defense grade in 2025.

Arden Key (6’5” 240 lbs.)​

Key will be turning 30 in February. He had a 56.7 pass rush grade and a 71.1 run defense grade in 2025. He posted 22 tackles, 4 sacks, and 33 pressures on the year. Key has 30.5 career sacks prior to the 2026 season.

Boye Mafe (6’4” 261 lbs.)​

Mafe recently turned 27 years old. He is still playing in the conference championship games this coming weekend with Seattle. Mafe had a 68.0 pass rush grade. He also posted a 68.1 run defense grade. He has accumulated 34 tackles, 41 pressures, and 2 sacks so far this year.

Arnold Ebiketie (6’3” 256 lbs.)​

Ebiketie is a former 2nd round draft pick for the Atlanta Falcons who recently turned 27 years old. He had a 73.4 pass rush grade. His run defense grade was a 65.2 in 2025. Ebiketie had 36 tackles, 25 pressures, and 2 sacks this year. He has 16.5 sacks through his first four seasons in the NFL.

Other free agent defensive end players of note: AJ Epenesa, Logan Hall, Charles Omenihu, David Ojabo, and Cameron Thomas

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...free-agency-top-defensive-ends-for-cincinnati

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Dax Hill’s strong finish to 2025 season should keep Bengals from going CB early in 2026 NFL Draft

If you’ve been following the NFL Mock Draft season, you’ve probably noticed several projections with the Cincinnati Bengals going with cornerback Jermod McCoy at pick No. 10.

While McCoy has the potential to be a great NFL player, cornerback is not a need for the Bengals in 2026.

And frankly, it doesn’t have to be a need anytime soon if the Bengals get contract extensions done with Dax Hill and DJ Turner, both of whom are entering the final years of their rookie deals.

Sign both, and there’s no need to take a cornerback in the first two rounds of a draft anytime soon, and that’s especially true with a top-10 selection that could be used to address an immediate need.

I think the Bengals will prioritize getting a deal done with Turner since there’s more good tape of him playing boundary cornerback, where he’s been since being a second-round draft pick in 2023.

Hill, however, has been a bit of an enigma since being a first-round pick in 2022, largely due to playing three different positions. After starting off his career at safety, it went so badly that the Bengals moved him to boundary cornerback for the 2024 season. While he had a decent showing there, Hill suffered a season-ending ACL tear in Week 5.

Thankfully, Hill would recover and play in every game this past season. However, it got off to a rocky start after he began the year as a slot cornerback, a role he primarily played for the first nine games. But once he moved to the boundary full-time, that’s when Hill really started to shine.

From Weeks 11-18, Hill primarily played on the boundary and registered a 78.9 Pro Football Focus grade during that span, the 16th-best mark of any NFL cornerback.

And we all know how great Turner is, as he had a year worthy of a Pro Bowl selection. We already know the Bengals are working to extend both corners, but it is unlikely a deal will be reached anytime soon. These types of extensions aren’t normally done until training camp or the preseason when it comes to the Bengals.

If the Bengals spend a first or second-round pick on a cornerback in this year’s draft, it likely signals that one of Hill/Turner will be elsewhere in 2027. The Bengals are better off getting both deals done and spending their picks on positions of immediate need.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati-bengals-nfl-draft/185219/dax-hill-strong-finish-2025-season

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bill Belichick not making Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026 is good news for a Bengals nominee

Cincinnati Bengals legend Ken Anderson is vying for a senior nominee spot in the Pro Football Hall of Fame Class of 2026. His bid to finally get into Canton just got some good news, albeit of the very shocking variety.

According to ESPN, former New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick was not selected for this year’s class. Belichick, along with Anderson, was one of five senior nominees, and up to three will make it into Canton. The other three senior nominees are current Patriots owner Robert Kraft, former San Francisco 49ers running back Roger Craig, and former Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end L.C. Greenwood.

While three nominees will likely make it, the selection committee only has to vote for one senior nominee to make it into this year’s class.

Still, with Belichick out of the running, that means Anderson is one of four nominees still in the running and has a much better chance of making it now. Voting for this year’s class has already taken place, and the official announcement of who made it will come on February 5 during the NFL Honors broadcast on NBC and the NFL Network.

Of course, there could be more leaks about who makes it before then, but for now, we’ll learn whether Anderson is going into Canton next week. Over his 16 NFL seasons, Anderson was a four-time Pro Bowl selection and was named NFL MVP in 1981.

We also can’t forget about former Bengals offensive lineman Willie Anderson, who is among the 15 modern-era player finalists for this year’s Hall of Fame class. The selection committee may elect up to five modern-era players, and this is ironically the fifth time Anderson, regarded as one of the best right tackles in NFL history, is a finalist.

Will we see the Andersons make it into this year’s class? We’ll find out on February 5!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...all-of-fame-class-of-2026-ken-anderson-willie

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Former defender deals a harsh truth about Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals have had issues for a very long time in the NFL Draft. Certain positions just feel like they are throwing picks away, even trying. I mean, look how long it took to get a decent offensive line. Not just for Joe Burrow but since Andrew Whitworth left following the 2016 season.

Another area, the defensive line. It is such a problem that former Bengals linebacker Germaine Pratt called out the team via Twitter in response to a fan talking about selecting a defensive lineman.

Sorry they won’t draft no dogs on the dline

— Germaine Pratt (@GermainePratt7) January 26, 2026

Here is the thing. Fans can call it sour grapes after Pratt was released this past offseason, but he is absolutely right.

You have to take a look at the track record, and it really isn’t great. If you take out Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap (fourth and third round pick,s respectively). They have only drafted one other player to even reach the 10 sack mark since 2000. That was Michael Johnson, who did it one time and then never got past five sacks the rest of his career.

Sacks are not the only stat that matters for defensive linemen, obviously. Even then, any attempts to get interior linemen who can stuff the run have usually never received a second contract or gone on to do much in the league.

Sam Hubbard is probably one of the best recent linemen they have drafted, but he was mostly a run stopper on the edge. Joseph Ossai has been a rotational guy, and we are going to have to wait and see on Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart (the pair of first round picks from the last few seasons).

The best defensive linemen of late have been Trey Hendrickson, DJ Reader, BJ Hill, and, even to an extent, Larry Ogunjobi. All of those guys were either free agents or acquired via trade.

It is the kind of thing that would usually cause a pretty sizable shakeup in the front office of a normal team, but we know the Brown family and Duke Tobin are not about to do anything drastic.

People can have their opinion about Pratt as a player, but he has an eye for talent, apparently. He can at least call a spade a spade.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...er-defender-deals-a-harsh-truth-about-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Why Saints standout Demario Davis is a realistic free agent target for Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals need to add a quality veteran to the defense in free agency.

And now, with the New Orleans Saints’ Demario Davis apparently available, they could have their top target.

Have mentioned him multiple times due to connection to current #Bengals LB coach Mike Hodges, who loved having Davis lead his room in NO. Exact type of intelligent, productive leader Cincy would want with Knight/Carter still developing. https://t.co/6Ry5nfh49U

— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) January 27, 2026

As The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. points out in the post above, Davis was coached by current Bengals linebacker coach Mike Hodges back in 2018.

So if Davis does decide to test free agency, he would make a lot of sense in Cincinnati, where tackling and youth presented big problems last year.

Davis, though 37 years old, is coming off a career high in tackles (143), so he seems to have a lot of juice left.

By mentoring Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter, Davis could potentially turn the Bengals’ defense from porous to consistent.

We’ll have to see if he’s ready to leave New Orleans, where he has been for the last eight seasons, and if the Bengals’ front office is willing to win a bidding war for him.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn.../demario-davis-nfl-free-agents-targets-saints

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Tee Higgins and Chase Brown talk Dan Pitcher and Bengals’ Offensive Line

While offensive schemes are often the backbone of NFL success, leadership behind them matters just as much.

During the same interview, both Tee Higgins and Chase Brown had high praise for offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher, offering insight into how his approach has shaped the Bengals’ offensive identity.

We asked the duo, who kindly joined us via Bounty Paper Towels, ahead of Super Bowl LV, about their offensive coordinator, Dan Pitcher, getting some head coaching looks around the league this offseason. Part of Pitcher’s influence also has to do with the offensive line, so we also asked Higgins and Brown about the improvements seen up front last year.

Regarding the offensive line, Brown had a lot of positives to say about the group. It’s understandable, given their 2025 performance, and his role as running back, who works day in and day out with the group.

“I think Ted (Karras’) leadership really showed up in a way that you wouldn’t really expect,” Brown began. “O-Line and the communication is huge, so I think what we did really well and what Ted did really well, between everybody, was we all knew what we wanted to achieve, whether in the run game, the pass game—whatever ID he was making, whatever run game call he was making, everybody knew what we needed to do to make that play successful.”

Karras was one of the quietly integral outside free agent signings the Bengals made back in the 2022 season. He immediately replaced Trey Hopkins in the middle and became a fan favorite for his on-field play, leadership, and off-field charitable endeavors.

Whether it’s with his Cincy Hat venture or his “Right up yours, Tennessee” rant, Karras will long be remembered as a Queen City favorite. Still, it’s great to hear Brown single out Karras, who is entering his 11th season, as a key reason why protection and blocking up front improved quite a bit this year.

“I think we took a really big step there, and you saw that in the second half of the season, for sure,” Brown concluded.

Regarding Pitcher and his run as a hot name in coaching searches, Brown had more to say about him and the hopes of his return. It seems that Pitcher will be staying in Cincinnati as their offensive coordinator, with more head coaching jobs being filled, but both Brown and Higgins noted their admiration for him.

“I think it’s great that he’s getting those opportunities (interest as a head coach), he’s a great coach, and he deserves everything that’s coming his way,” Brown said. “It would be great to have him back—he means a lot to this team, and he’d definitely be missed if he moved on, but we’d be happy for him.”

Pitcher oversaw a top-10 offense in passing yards, the No. 2 offense in passing touchdowns, while also spearheading a career year from Brown and Higgins (in touchdown receptions). The aforementioned improvement on the offensive line should also be credited to both him and Scott Peters and was a major reason the Bengals were competitive under Joe Flacco’s watch in relief of the injured Joe Burrow.

Higgins had a short, but poignant follow-up to Brown’s gushing of Pitcher, stating: “Yeah, I agree with everything he (Brown) just said”.

We’ll see if Pitcher can continue to engineer a high-powered offense in 2026 with many stars returning—including Brown and Higgins. If he can, which most believe is the case, it’s more about the team completing the other areas of the roster to muster another playoff run.

Our thanks to Tee Higgins, Chase Brown, and the fine folks with Bounty Paper Towels. The Super Bowl is about watching the big game with family and friends, as well as some great food, and Bounty is the perfect Wingman for your party.

Whether you’re serving sauced wings, pizz,a or other great foods that could leave a mess, have plenty of Bounty on hand at the party! After all, it is “The quilted, quicker, picker-upper”!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...iggins-chase-brown-dan-pitcher-offensive-line

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Chase Brown and Bengals are working hard on a contract extension

Jan 4, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Cleveland Browns during the first quarter at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images

Cincinnati Bengals fans can spin the wheel of blame wherever they want when it comes to the team missing the NFL Playoffs in each of the last three seasons.

Here’s the reality, though: the wheel of blame has no landing spot.

Let’s go big-picture here. The problem with the Bengals is that they are not a proactive franchise. Rather, they are a reactive franchise. That doesn’t allow for sustained success.

Imagine if they were more proactive in contract extensions. Running back Chase Brown is up for an extension this offseason, and he deserves one. Brown is coming off a season where he rushed for over 1,000 yards while catching 69 passes for 437 yards and five touchdowns. That’s with playing with three different starting quarterbacks and an offensive line that took over a quarter of the season to gel.

Brown might be the turning point, with ESPN’s Ben Baby summing up a recent interview with the breakout running back:

Brown said the Bengals and his representation have been “working hard” and “been in communication” regarding a potential extension.

Talk is cheap, though. If the Bengals want to shed their national perceptions of being cheap, this would be a good place to start. Get out in front by extending a core piece of your offense.

Brown technically has one more year left on his rookie deal at a roughly $3.7 million cap hit. He becomes an unrestricted free agent in 2027.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinnati-bengals-news/185327/chase-brown-contract-extension

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals News (1/30): Chase Brown heaps praise on Ted Karras

CINCINNATI, OHIO - DECEMBER 28: Chase Brown #30 of the Cincinnati Bengals is introduced prior to a game against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium on December 28, 2025 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Ben Jackson/Getty Images) | Getty Images

Chase Brown adds validation to an unsung contract extension Bengals got done with his teammate in 2025
“I think Ted’s leadership really showed up in a way that you wouldn’t really expect,” Brown told Cincy Jungle’s Anthony Cosenza and I. “Like, the o-line and the communication is huge, so I think what we did really well, and what Ted did really well between everybody was we all knew what we wanted to achieve. Whether in the run game, the pass game, whatever ID he was making, or whatever run game call he was making, everybody knew what we needed to achieve to make that play successful, whether it was in pass or run. So I think we took a really big step there, and you saw that in the second half of the season, for sure.”

Bengals 2026 Mock Draft Roundup 3.0
“Adding a multi-faceted playmaker to the lineup would go a long way to boosting this unit, and Downs is a high-IQ defender who excels near the box or in the deep half as a playmaking specialist.”

Gauging whether the Bengals still value traits over production in NFL Draft: Mailbag
This might be the slowest January for Bengals news that I can remember in the recent history of this beat. No playoffs, no coaching searches, minimal trouble with the law and no players popping off to national media (yet).

Bengals Mourn Weight Room Legend Kim Wood, NFL’s First Full-Time Strength Coach
Wood manned the Bengals’ strength room for the 28 seasons that spanned Brown’s last season as head coach in 1975 to running back Corey Dillon’s sixth straight 1,000-yard season in 2002. In between, he was in the boiler room of the first two Super Bowl teams and served as a daily mentor to such franchise legends as Anthony Munoz, Reggie Williams and Tim Krumrie, as well as to a legion of the best-known strength coaches across the country.

Trey Hendrickson free agency projection: Bengals’ choice isn’t easy
Is it totally practical? Maybe not. They need to spread cap space around. He’s 31 years old and coming off an injury. But those last two points could help Hendrickson have a poor free-agency market too, so perhaps a reunion might end up being the best route for both sides.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/cincinn...s-1-30-chase-brown-heaps-praise-on-ted-karras