ESPN writer delivers a strong warning to the Cincinnati Bengals with free agency only a month away
Free agency will be put up or shut up time for the Bengals.
Take it from Ja’Marr Chase. It’s pretty obvious what the Cincinnati Bengals need to do this offseason in order to better the roster for 2026.
Fix. The. Defense.
No ands, ifs, or buts about it. Cincinnati has a simple mission that begins in free agency. The Bengals’ attempt at restoring a bad defense last year involved signing nose tackle T.J. Slaton and backup linebacker Oren Burks.
Repeating that level of inactivity cannot be condoned, and it’s a message worth emphasizing.
Bengals warned to aggressively fix defense
With respect to Slaton and Burks, Cincinnati needs to do more in terms of adding to its defense in free agency. Glaring holes cannot be left open when the 2026 NFL Draft rolls around. Proven talent and leadership is missing at multiple spots. Acquiring that takes effort and the willingness to attack. Being passive, as ESPN Bengals beat reporter Ben Baby puts it, isn’t acceptable.
“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.” — ESPN’s Ben Baby
The Bengals hired a new DC in Golden and watched their defense go from bad to worse in a year’s time. Sure, Trey Hendrickson missing most of the season played a part, but Golden and Co. had to rely on a plethora of young players, including a handful of rookies, to take remarkable leaps and only got those leaps from Murphy and Turner.
Waiting on development can work when only parts of the unit are reliant on it. Cincinnati’s entire defense depended on internal growth and got minimal external support. Expecting that strategy to work after failing once is a losing strategy.
Baby is 100% correct. The Bengals can’t be reactionary when it comes to fixing their defense. Multiple free agent additions need to materialize next month so an inordinate amount of pressure doesn’t weigh on their 2026 draft class like it did for last year’s crop of rookies.
Fielding a bad defense yet again in 2026 isn’t an option if Cincinnati wants a return to the postseason. Coming out swinging when March rolls around is a must.
Cincinnati Bengals News
NFL insider believes Joe Burrow’s words will spark the Bengals to do exactly what he wants this offseason
And no, that doesn’t mean trade him away.
