Top-100 free agent rankings demand the Bengals to attack their biggest weaknesses before the 2026 NFL Draft
Plenty of players who fit what the Bengals are looking for.
One of the worst-kept secrets in the NFL is what the Cincinnati Bengals will be looking for during free agency.
If you are a moderately good or better defensive player, the Bengals are interested in signing you.
Cincinnati isn’t going to completely swing for the fences, but attacking multiple needs with competent starters? That is everyone’s expectation inside Paycor Stadium after bringing in a lackluster external free agent class last year.
Lucky for the Bengals, this year’s class of free agents has an abundance of options at two of their biggest needs.
Bengals will have plenty of EDGE and safety free agents to choose from
Cincinnati is expected to let go of defensive end Trey Hendrickson and watch safety Geno Stone leave as well. Replacing them will be high on the Bengals’ list of priorities.
24 of A to Z Sports’ top-100 free agents are either edge rushers or safeties. One of them is, of course, Hendrickson, but damn near a quarter of the list is players Cincinnati should be interested in targeting next month.
15 EDGEs cracked the top-100, with Hendrickson being atop everyone else. Here are the 14 below him:
6. Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Odafe Oweh
8. Philadelphia Eagles EDGE Jaelan Phillips
14. Los Angeles Chargers EDGE Khalil Mack
35. Buffalo Bills EDGE Joey Bosa
39. Seattle Seahawks EDGE Boye Mafe
47. Indianapolis Colts EDGE Kwity Paye
58. New England Patriots EDGE K’Lavon Chaisson
60. Atlanta Falcons EDGE Arnold Ebiketie
67. Las Vegas Raiders EDGE Malcolm Koonce
68. Carolina Panthers EDGE D.J. Wonnum
84. Cincinnati Bengals EDGE Joseph Ossai
90. New Orleans Saints EDGE Cameron Jordan
98. Buffalo Bills EDGE AJ Epenesa
99. Tennessee Titans EDGE Arden Key
Oweh, Phillips, Mack, and Bosa should all make decent money and sign contracts Cincinnati doesn’t typically offer. Mafe, Paye, Chaisson, and Ebiketie are more of the realistic targets for the Bengals.
Ossai is also expected to soon become a former Bengal like Hendrickson, but figures to have a better chance at returning compared to the former All-Pro.
As for the nine impending free agent safeties made the list, Cincinnati should be interested in the lot of them:
21. Chicago Bears S Jaquan Brisker
28. Los Angeles Rams S Kamren Curl
32. Seattle Seahawks S Coby Bryant
36. Kansas City Chiefs S Bryan Cook
40. Chicago Bears S Kevin Byard
49. Arizona Cardinals S Jalen Thompson
63. Philadelphia Eagles S Reed Blankenship
65. Indianapolis Colts S Nick Cross
94. New England Patriots S Jaylinn Hawkins
Brisker and Curl are projected to cash in, but the safety market is a significantly smaller beast compared to the EDGE market. If they become too pricey, the Bengals will have a chance to sign one of two former University of Cincinnati Bearcats in either Bryant or Cook. Thompson, Blankenship, Cross, and Hawkins are all solid options as well.
It would be frankly inexcusable if the Bengals didn’t walk away with at least one EDGE and one safety from these lists. There’s enough cash and salary cap space to fit them in, and both needs are dire. It’s a perfect opportunity for Cincinnati to be set up for the 2026 NFL Draft.
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