The Cincinnati Bengals are not expected to pursue re-signing Geno Stone as one of the starting safeties for the 2026 season.
While many people have their sights set on adding Caleb Downs in the first round of the draft, it is far from a guarantee that he will even be available when the Bengals are on the clock, or that they would even take him with a top-10 selection, something that rarely happens with safeties.
It would be wise to go out and sign a quality veteran during free agency. Let’s take a look at some of the top free agent safeties this year.
Bryan Cook
Cook played college football at Cincinnati after attending Mount Healthy High School. He was drafted in the 2nd round by the Kansas City Chiefs during the 2022 NFL Draft. Cook was the 4th-ranked safety per PFF during the 2025 season. He finished the year with an 83.2 coverage grade, an 80.1 run defense grade, and an 88.5 tackling grade. He had 85 total tackles on the season. His current contract projection is for him to get around 3 years, $36 million dollars. His 5.6% missed tackle rate in 2025 would be a welcome addition to the Bengals secondary.
Kamren Curl
Curl is a player who has well outplayed his draft position. The former seventh-round selection by Washington has spent the past two seasons as an integral part of the Rams’ secondary. Curl is currently 26 years old. He had an incredible 149 tackles, 2 sacks, and 3 interceptions during the 2025 season. He finished the year with a 71.9 coverage grade, an 87.9 run defense grade, and an 87.0 tackling grade. His current contract projection is for 2 years for a total of $17.5 million dollars. At $8.75 million per year, the Cincinnati Bengals should be heavily interested in signing Curl.
Kevin Byard
Byard may be one of the older players on this list, as he will be turning 33 years old in August. With that said, Byard was spectacular for the Chicago Bears in 2025. He finished the year with a league-high seven interceptions. He had a 72.5 coverage grade, a 76.4 run defense grade, and a 71.0 tackling grade. Byard is expected to command a contract of around $9 million dollar per season.
Coby Bryant
Another former Cincinnati Bearcat is expected to hit the free agent market this year. Bryant will be doing so after being a starter on a Super Bowl-winning Seattle Seahawks team. He finished the year with 76 tackles, 4 interceptions, and a forced fumble. He had a 67.2 coverage grade, a 75.2 run defense grade, but just a 41.4 tackling grade. He had a brutal 18.7% missed tackle rate this year, which was the worst of his career. The Bengals struggled with missed tackles in 2025, and adding Bryant may not be the best route to go in improving in that area. He is expected to command a contract in the 3-year $30 million range.
Alohi Gilman
Gilman is a 28-year-old safety who finished the season with Baltimore after being traded from the Los Angeles Chargers. Gilman had a 71.9 coverage grade, a 71.6 run defense grade, and a 51.4 tackling grade. He finished the year with 90 tackles and a forced fumble. His 16.4% missed tackle rate may be something that scares off the Bengals. He is projected to get a 2-year $13.5 million dollar contract.
Jaylinn Hawkins
Hawkins was part of the AFC Champion New England Patriots’ secondary. He had 74.7 coverage, 79.7 run defense, and 66.8 tackling grades on the season. He finished the year with 86 tackles, 1.5 sacks, 1 forced fumble, and 4 interceptions. Hawkins is projected to get 3 years and $33 million dollars this year during free agency. That is the third-highest per-year average on this list.
Jaquan Brisker
Brisker is a former second-round draft pick of the Chicago Bears. He is still just 26 years old, and he just finished up his rookie contract. Brisker had 54.1 coverage, 79.1 run defense, and 82.5 tackling grades during the 2025 season. He finished the year with 116 tackles, 2 sacks, and an interception. Brisker is projected to get a contract for 3 years and $25 million dollars.
Nick Cross
The youngest player on this list is Cross. Cross is still just 24 years old. He has been a two-year starter for the Indianapolis Colts. Cross finished the season with 120 tackles, 2.5 sacks, and 1 interception. He had a 50.4 coverage grade, 72.0 run defense grade, and a 60.5 tackling grade this year. Cross is projected to get a contract for 3 years and $35 million dollars. His age and projection to keep improving are likely why he is expected to command the second-largest contract of all the safeties on this list.
Other notable free agent safeties: Reed Blankenship, Andre Cisco, Kyle Dugger, Jalen Thompson, Jabrill Peppers, Harrison Smith, Ar’Darius Washington, CJ Gardner-Johnson, Chuck Clark, Donavon Wilson, Dane Belton, and Jordan Poyer.
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