Bengals make surprising player their first offseason roster cut, and the move only amplifies a need in the 2026 NFL Draft
The Cincinnati Bengals waived backup center Matt Lee, making the former seventh-round pick the first player Cincinnati removed from its roster this offseason. Replacing should be a priority in the 2026 NFL Draft.
The Cincinnati Bengals waived backup center Matt Lee Tuesday morning, bringing their offseason roster down to 70 players.
Lee was taken with the No. 237 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bengals. He appeared in 22 games, and only played 27 snaps on offense during his two years in Cincinnati. He never took a snap at the center position.
Lee began the 2025 season as Ted Karras‘ backup at C, but suffered an injury during the season and spent several weeks on the Reserve/Injured list. During that time, Lucas Patrick was Karras’ backup. Patrick agreed to terms Monday on a one-year contract with the New York Giants.
In less than 24 hours, the depth behind Karras has almost entirely gone. Jacob Bayer, who was signed to the practice squad last year directly following Lee’s injury, is the only other C on the roster behind Karras. Bayer was an undrafted free agent signing of the Buffalo Bills following the 2025 NFL Draft. He didn’t play a regular season snap during his rookie year.
Bengals absolutely need to invest in another center behind Ted Karras
The Bengals’ offensive line will have approximately 15 members at the start of training camp. Around three players at each of the five positions will be accounted for on the depth chart.
That alone is why a third C is needed, but the context of who Karras and Bayer are only amplify the importance.
Karras has been a very durable player in his four years with Cincy. He’s played in every single game, both regular and postseason, since coming from the New England Patriots in 2022.
He also just turned 33 years old. Durability always has to be weighted against age, and the idea of drafting a potential successor can’t be dismissed outright.
Karras has signed two extensions since 2024, and is once again entering the last year of his contract. No one would be surprised to see another one-year deal come his way, but preparing for life after him is also entirely foreseeable.
Clearly, the Bengals didn’t see Lee as the guy to take up the mantle for their veteran captain. Removing the young backup is the first step toward bringing in the player they believe could take over for Karras.
Centers the Bengals could select in the 2026 NFL Draft
This is not a great draft to take a C early, but that’s not normally Cincinnati’s M.O. outside of drafting Billy Price in the first round back in 2018.
Auburn’s Connor Lew, Kansas State’s Sam Hecht, Iowa’s Logan Jones, and Flordia’s Jake Slaughter are all projected to come off the board between the third and fourth round of this month’s draft.
Duke’s Brian Parker II and Texas A&M’s Trey Zuhn are offensive tackles who also project as interior players and could develop at C. Both are rated similarly to the natural players at the position.
Indiana’s Pat Coogan was a key member of the 2026 College Football Playoff National Championship team. He’s projected as a late Day 3 pick.
The Bengals now need a real answer behind Karras. It may come in free agency, but the far more likelier outcome is outside the first two rounds of the draft. Find your own with the A to Z Sports NFL Mock Draft Simulator!
Cincinnati Bengals News
Three things I think I know about the Cincinnati Bengals’ plans with three weeks remaining until the 2026 NFL Draft
The Cincinnati Bengals’ plans are becoming more and more clear as the 2026 NFL Draft gets closer. Here’s what I think they’re focusing on with three weeks to go.
