The Cincinnati Bengals have to spend in free agency. They have a little under $50 million in salary cap space available, and by not placing the franchise tag on defensive end Trey Hendrickson, they have so much flexibility to operate with next week.

Spending is the inevitable result, but the goal is to make sure defensive coordinator Al Golden has the pieces he needs to make his unit competent for the 2026 season. The expectation is Cincinnati will bring in multiple veteran players to start, or have significant roles as rotational players and leaders for a young core to lean on.

Now that the plan is in place, let’s go through a mock free agency featuring targets the Bengals would legitimately sign considering their stance against future guaranteed money. Contract projections are via The Athletic’s top-150 free agents list, and if they are not listed there, projections from Pro Football Focus’ rankings are listed.

EDGE Dre’Mont Jones

Replacing Trey Hendrickson should be Cincinnati’s top priority when the tampering window opens. The Bengals should have plenty of options to parse through, but in terms of value, Dre’Mont Jones is one of the best bets to make. He’s an odd body type at 6-3 and 281 pounds, originally starting his career as a defensive tackle, but has found pass-rushing success from both interior and EDGE alignments. That versatility is exactly what Golden wants in his d-linemen, and an Ohio native in Jones would be given every opportunity to start as one of his featured players.

Bengals Rationale: Jones just turned 29 years old and his lone multi-year contract featuring multiple years of guaranteed money was terminated last year before he had to take a one-year deal. Cincy should have interest, and securing him with a strong signing bonus should be obtainable.

Contract Projection: 3 years, $28.5 million

S Jaylinn Hawkins

There will also be ample safeties the Bengals can sign to replace Geno Stone. Jaylinn Hawkins is coming off his first full year as a starter for the New England Patriots and put together an admirable season for the reigning AFC Champions. He’s a free safety by trade, making him a better fit for what Cincinnati wanted Stone to be, but he can come down to the box and tackle better than what the Bengals have seen from their own safeties of late. He’d be an upgrade and bring recent postseason experience to a defense that has close to none.

Bengals Rationale: Hawkins is currently 28 and has never signed a multi-year contract before. He’s gone through waivers and signed two one-year deals over the last few years. His history will be highlighted by Cincinnati for those reasons, and his case to demand for future guaranteed salaries will be weak.

Contract Projection: 2 years, $12 million

LB Demario Davis

The Bengals are looking for a linebacker that can help out second-year starters Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., and also help out as a 3-4 OLB from time-to-time so Knight doesn’t have to fill that role anymore. There are other options to consider, but Davis makes sense as a wily veteran who can lead the likes of Carter and Knight, and frankly fill any role they need him to fill. He has not fallen off at age 37, and has played under linebackers coach Mike Hodges before during his many years with the New Orleans Saints.

Bengals Rationale: Davis is way on the older side, so a one-year deal is basically a requirement. That will help the Bengals in terms of guaranteed money, but the Hodges connection could be useful in negotiations as well.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $9 million

DT DJ Reader

Finally, a reunion. DJ Reader played four years in Cincinnati before signing with the Detroit Lions in 2024. He’s now 31 and may not be able to command a multi-year deal on the open market, but he’s still an effective gap-plugger with some juice against the pass. His return could boot T.J. Slaton Jr. off the roster, or the two could combine forces to solidify the Bengals’ interior run defense for the upcoming season.

Bengals Rationale: Negotiating a new contract with Reader this time around will be a lot easier than it was two years ago. They’ve obviously worked with his agent before, and his age and therefore affordability could make this a reality.

Contract Projection: 1 year, $4.5 million

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