It’s the absolute dead period of the offseason, and the Cincinnati Bengals are resting up before training camp. We’re pushing through our position-by-position breakdown of the Bengals’ 90-man roster and depth chart. Check out previous position breakdowns here.

The Bengals spent a lot of money on their defense this offseason. More cash is going to be spent at cornerback over the next two months. The mystery at the position isn’t who will lead the group, but who will follow?

Bengals Cornerback Depth Chart

Starters: DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Jalen Davis
Backups: Tacario Davis, DJ Ivey, Ja’Sir Taylor, Josh Newton, Bralyn Lux, Jalen Kimber, Ceyair Wright

The Starters

DJ Turner II and Dax Hill are the entering their primes as Cincy’s top CBs. Turner, the club’s second-round pick from the 2023 NFL Draft, emerged as a full-time starter early last year. He ended up completing his best season yet and was in consideration to make the Pro Bowl. The Bengals are looking to extend him to a multi-year contract, locking him in as CB1 for the future. Hill was a first-rounder in 2022 and is firmly established as Turner’s partner on the boundary after starting last year in the slot. He’s also up for an extension as he’s playing on his fifth-year option.

Jalen Davis is (for now) the starting nickelback. Davis held the position at the end of the 2025 season when Hill was moved to the outside following Cam Taylor-Britt’s injury. He’s been with the club since 2020, but made his first starts last year as a member of the active roster.

The Backups

There’s plenty of bodies behind the top three, and training camp will determine which of them are worth making the roster. Tacario Davis doesn’t have to worry about that. Davis was picked in the third round of the 2026 draft and is viewed as a future starter. He’ll be in the mix to be the first off the bench. DJ Ivey and Josh Newton are his main competition as former Day 3 picks from recent drafts.

Ja’Sir Taylor and Bralyn Lux are the two to watch in the slot behind Davis. Both players have gotten reps with the starters during the offseason workout program. They’re very much in the running for playing time this year.

Story to watch

Who’s going to start at nickelback? It’s the only real starting battle the Bengals have this offseason. Davis is the incumbent and therefore the favorite, but they’re going to give Taylor and Lux a real shot if they run with the chances they get.

Preseason reps will be huge for them. The same can be said for Ivey and Newton. It’s not a given both make the team, and stepping up in the face of adversity will determine who makes the cut. CB4 on this roster has almost always played significant snaps. That role will be up for grabs with Davis’ draft status giving him the edge for now.

Projected Players on the 53-man roster

Starters: DJ Turner II, Dax Hill, Jalen Davis
Backups: Tacario Davis, DJ Ivey, Ja’Sir Taylor