Bengals Free Agency Winners and Losers: Several defensive starters benefit while Al Golden waits for more after first wave of signings

Cincinnati’s defense has undergone change, but much more is needed.

John Sheeran — Cincinnati Bengals News Writer
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Cincinnati Bengals safety Jordan Battle (27) is introduced before the first quarter of the NFL Week 15 game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025.
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The Cincinnati Bengals have filled two needs at the official start of the 2026 league year. They did not only have two needs on their roster.

Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe are great additions at both safety and defensive end, respectively, but they alone will not transform one of the worst defenses of the last three years into a competent unit by themselves. The Bengals as a team cannot be done adding veterans leading up to the 2026 NFL Draft.

Until those additional signings happen, here’s how Cincinnati’s lone agreements from the two-day negotiating window impact the players and coaches around them.

Bengals winners from first wave of free agency

Jordan Battle: It’s felt like everyone has been bullish on the Bengals’ incumbent starting safety, and he’s now set up for success with Cook playing next to him instead of Geno Stone. Cook has been a communicative force for Kansas City over the last couple years and should take over that role in Cincinnati’s secondary. Mental and physical competence next to Battle should do nothing but help him in a contract year.

B.J. Hill: The Bengals were interested in signing John Franklin-Myers to spark their defensive tackle room, but his price tag was far too high for their liking. It’s been crickets ever since for Cincinnati on the DT market, which is great news for Hill, who’s set to earn a $2 million roster bonus over the weekend and be completely locked in to start again in 2026.

Barrett Carter: Carter is the winner at linebacker as his role at MIKE will not change without a significant investment made at the position. The Bengals watched all the top backers sign elsewhere in the first two days. Nothing they do at the position now will impact him.

Myles Murphy: Trey Hendrickson leaving for the Baltimore Ravens puts immense pressure on Murphy to keep ascending, but the arrival of Boye Mafe should give Murphy a reputable partner in crime off the edge.

Bengals losers from first wave of free agency

Al Golden: Cincinnati’s defensive coordinator may’ve gotten two new starters in Cook and Mafe, but there is still much more work to be done rebuilding the rest of the unit. There hasn’t been a LB or DT added yet, and another EDGE could be used since the Bengals lost Joseph Ossai before Hendrickson agreed to terms with Baltimore. The focus should remain on giving Golden as much help as possible.

Demetrius Knight Jr.: The reason why Knight is a loser and Carter is a winner is because Golden specifically wanted a LB added to prevent Knight from playing on the ball so much next season. Knight put out some of his worst tape as a de facto 3-4 OLB as a rookie, and as of right now, Cincinnati hasn’t filled that spot. Perhaps Mafe can help out in a pinch, but another LB is needed to benefit last year’s second-round pick.

Shemar Stewart: The sheer investment the Bengals are making in Mafe confirms Stewart is not considered a starter at this point, and nor should he be. The first-round pick from last year has much to prove entering his second year, and while he’ll surely have an important role, he’ll be behind Murphy and Mafe at the very least.

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