Story perspectives

Bengals Enter 2026 Offseason Still Without Linebacker

4/28/2026

Summary

Bengals Miss Linebacker

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2026 NFL offseason without signing a linebacker, leaving a key need unresolved.
The team added cornerback, safety and edge-rusher talent via the 2026 NFL Draft and early free-agency moves.
Defensive tackle depth improved with the trade for Dexter Lawrence and the signing of Jonathan Allen.
Assistant GM Steve Radicevic said the market and draft produced no viable linebacker, prompting the Bengals to consider free agents.

Summary

Bengals Draft Reinforcements

Cincinnati traded its No. 10 overall pick to the New York Giants for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II, bolstering the interior.
The Bengals selected Texas A&M edge rusher Cashius Howell at No. 41 after 26.5 college sacks.
The Bengals drafted Auburn center Connor Lew in the fourth round despite an ACL injury, viewing him as Ted Karras’s heir.
Defensive tackle Landon Robinson from Navy, selected No. 226, fits the Bengals’ gap-integrity scheme.

Summary

Bengals Signings

The Bengals signed free agents Corey Robinson, Kentrell Bullock, Isaiah Nwokobia, Ceyair Wright, Eric Gentry, Christian Jones, Josh Kattus and Jack Dingle.
Coach Zac Taylor said scouts live in the city and give input while GM Duke Tobin makes final decisions in an environment.
Projections say half of the seven drafted rookies could make the 53-man roster, with T.J. Slaton’s $9.6 million cap hit making his spot a focal point.

Summary

Bengals Trade Slots

The Bengals traded a sixth-round pick to the New York Jets for an extra fourth-round slot, selecting two starters at No. 128 and No. 140.
Assistant GM Steven Radicevic said the team had 32 center prospects and would accept any two, while senior staff kept constant phone contact as the clock ran down.
A new “cockpit” system run by analysts Francis, Gross and LaBounty displayed live opponent tendencies and trade histories to guide decisions.

History

Historical Context

When the NFL introduced a hard salary cap in 1994, Commissioner Paul Tagliabue set it at $34.6 million, forcing teams to reshape rosters. The cap’s growth has made linebacker spending a strategic lever; in the 2025 offseason Cincinnati Bengals GM Duke Tobin allocated only $12 million to that position, the AFC’s lowest, echoing the cap-driven trade-off trends seen since the 1994 reform.

1 of 5

Bengals Miss Linebacker

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2026 NFL offseason without signing a linebacker, leaving a key need unresolved.
The team added cornerback, safety and edge-rusher talent via the 2026 NFL Draft and early free-agency moves.
Defensive tackle depth improved with the trade for Dexter Lawrence and the signing of Jonathan Allen.
Assistant GM Steve Radicevic said the market and draft produced no viable linebacker, prompting the Bengals to consider free agents.

1 / 5