Cincinnati Bengals’ biggest remaining need is no mystery with only a couple spots open on their 90-man offseason roster
The heart of free agency and the NFL Draft have each passed, and the Cincinnati Bengals still have a glaring need at the linebacker position. No other part of the roster will be monitored more closely for the remainder of the offseason.
Weeks of free agency passed. Seven round of the 2026 NFL Draft expired. The Cincinnati Bengals did not make a single notable investment in a linebacker.
Sorry, Jack Dingle and Eric Gentry. Reported undrafted free agent signings do not count as “notable” investments.
Linebacker was arguably the Bengals’ biggest weakness in 2025 when Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter held down the starting roles. Weaknesses in a previous season are usually considered needs in the ensuing offseason. Needs that go unaddressed are usually considered problems for the upcoming season.
Is Cincinnati set to have a problem in the middle of its otherwise revamped defense? That’s certainly not what the thought is inside Paycor Stadium.
Bengals Linebacker Depth Chart
Cincinnati currently has seven linebackers on its roster. There are eight if you count EDGE/LB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, who is listed as a LB on the official team website.
- Barrett Carter (MIKE)
- Demetrius Knight (WILL)
- Oren Burks
- Shaka Heyward
- Joe Giles-Harris
- Eric Gentry**
- Jack Dingle**
Will the Bengals finally add a linebacker?
The draft is not the time right time to be filling current roster holes, but passing it is an important checkpoint in the offseason. The free agents who remain available have been passed up by every other team as 90-man rosters are formed for offseason workouts. It’s a rough time to find impact players once the calendar turns to May.
The Bengals rarely add veterans to their roster around this time of year. It doesn’t sound like Knight or Carter will be challenged in the immediate future.
“I am not down on our linebackers,” Duke Tobin said during his post-draft press conference. “I think that their play individually will improve and collectively will improve by what we’ve done and the experience that they’ve gained. If there are others that we think can add to the group, we’ll add to the group. We’re not done roster building. There’s an entire offseason, then there’s training camp, then there’s cut downs, then there’s practice squads, then there is practice squad poaches, and then there’s trades.
“You’re never done roster building, but I feel very good about our roster as it sits right now.”
Tobin wants to empower both Knight and Carter as undisputed starters while also keeping the door open in case contingencies need to walk through it. Cincinnati did have interest in adding a starting-caliber free agent to play over one of its incumbent starters. As is the case many times in free agency, intent doesn’t always lead to results. Players choose different teams and offers. Pivots must be put into action.
The Bengals fully pivoted to the defensive line and got a high-quality safety before the draft. Tobin believes solidifying everything around Knight and Carter will have a positive effect on them.
That’s the plan as the second half of the offseason begins. Cincinnati has a couple roster spots open barring a surprise UDFA signing or two coming later this week. Keeping that flexibility leading into training camp and preseason should allow for a new backer to walk through the door if it’s apparent one is needed.
As Tobin says, roster building is not done after the draft. The linebacker position will be watched under a close eye to see if construction will finally hit impact it.
