The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2026 NFL offseason armed with financial flexibility, anchored by elite offensive talent, and still searching for the missing pieces that keep derailing their postseason ambitions.
After finishing 6–11 and absent from the playoffs for the third time in four years, Joe Burrow and Co. enter a disappointing January with plenty to unpack.
According to ESPN’s comprehensive offseason outlook, the Bengals have one overriding issue they must confront if they want to return to contention — and it’s a decision that will ripple across free agency, the draft, and the future of one of the franchise’s most productive defenders.
With nearly $61 million in projected cap space, the No. 10 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, and Burrow firmly entrenched as the face of the franchise, Cincinnati has the resources to reset quickly. The question is whether the Bengals are prepared to use them decisively — or repeat a cycle that has left the roster unbalanced when it matters most.
The Bengals’ draft outlook aligns almost too neatly with their needs.
ESPN draft analysts pinpointed edge rusher as a strength of the 2026 class, with multiple prospects projected to be available around Cincinnati’s draft slot. Whether the Bengals choose to invest immediately at No. 10 or attack the position in waves — pairing a rookie with a veteran free agent.
NFL analyst Aaron Schatz went a step further, predicting Cincinnati will sign more than one veteran pass rusher this offseason. Names like Joey Bosa, Yetur Gross-Matos, and Charles Omenihu were floated as examples of the type of calculated gambles the Bengals could pursue.
With cap space available and Burrow’s championship window wide open, the margin for conservative decision-making is shrinking.
A Problem Bengals Just Can’t Seem To Fix
ESPN’s NFL Nation reporters narrowed it down to a recurring issue that has quietly defined the Bengals’ recent seasons: the inability to consistently disrupt opposing quarterbacks.
While Cincinnati’s young pass rushers flashed late in the year, the production never matched the investment. Through Week 17, the Bengals ranked near the bottom of the league in both pass rush win rate and total sacks — a troubling reality for a team that has relied heavily on Burrow and the offense to compensate for defensive shortcomings.
The lack of pressure showed up in the box score and in late-game collapses.
Recreating the formula that helped fuel the Bengals’ 2021 Super Bowl run is clearly on the table. That year, Cincinnati added interior disruptors who didn’t need to rack up sacks to change games. ESPN noted that finding similar “juice” up front — whether through free agency or the draft — could be the difference between hovering around .500 and reentering the AFC’s upper tier.
Uncertain Future of Trey Hendrickson
Complicating matters is the uncertain future of edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, one of the most productive players on the roster.
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the relationship between Hendrickson and the Bengals appears to be nearing its end after a year of contentious contract negotiations. Cincinnati technically has the option to franchise-tag him, but league sentiment suggests the veteran pass rusher is poised to capitalize on a booming market elsewhere.
If Hendrickson walks, the Bengals will be losing a lot of sacks, as well as a ton of reliability. And the current group of young edge rushers hasn’t done enough to inspire confidence as full-time replacements.
That looming departure shapes nearly every other offseason decision Cincinnati must make. It affects how aggressively they pursue veteran help and how they approach the draft.
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