With the Super Bowl officially behind us, it is time to look towards the 2026 season, and it is the most important year in Cincinnati Bengals history.
It is no secret that this offseason is crucial to the franchise’s future, and the front office will need to hit in free agency and the NFL draft to get this team back on track.
The Bengals have managed to miss the postseason in three straight seasons and now must do everything they can to break that incredibly frustrating streak in 2026.
ESPN NFL Nation recently shared their early 2026 power rankings going into the offseason, and the Bengals aren’t exactly getting much love, but it’s actually in a reasonable spot, all things considered.
The Zac Taylor-led squad comes in at No. 16 with the three offseason words stating, ‘improve the defense.’
“Cincinnati failed in its attempt to fix the defense. After a rough 2024 season, it actually got worse in 2025. The Bengals finished 27th in points allowed per drive (down from 26th the previous season). The Bengals need playmakers at each level, and defensive coordinator Al Golden needs to continue developing ascending players, such as defensive end Myles Murphy and cornerback DJ Turner II. Cincinnati cannot be passive in free agency when it comes to adding impactful players to the defense,“ Ben Baby wrote.
The front office has its work cut out for it with serious needs on the defensive side in almost every position, including DT, DE, LB, S, and CB.
On the flip side, nearly the entire offense will be returning in 2026, led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins.
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