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+--- Thread: 2026 Needs? (/thread-40486.html)
2026 Needs? - ochocincos - 05-02-2025
Because I love seeing Draft Central always have something being discussed and it usually dies down from May through August...
The 2025 draft is in the books.
We know what the 53 will likely end up being (barring injury and maybe a couple fringe guys), and we know who is in contract year.
Question for y'all is...given the offseason the Bengals have now had, what are you seeing as the needs going into next year?
Mine:
- DB - CTB and Stone are set to hit FA after this year. Bengals didn't address DB at all in the draft. I expect one if not multiple DB additions next year.
- OL - While Bengals did add two OL in the draft and signed Ford to a 2-year deal, they have Karras, Volson, and Patrick entering contract year. OBJ will also enter contract year next year. I could see Bengals potentially wanting to draft an OT early to groom behind OBJ for a year before potentially taking over at LT in 2027, plus I am not confident the IOL will be covered well.
- TE - Another position I am surprised they didn't add any new faces this offseason was TE. All will be out all year, and we won't know how ready/well he will be going into 2026. Sample is expendable. Grandy and Hudson are on 1-year deals. Bengals could use another TE to add to the mix.
- DE - While we wait to see what happens with Hendrickson, Bengals have Ossai, Sample, and potentially Hendrickson all hitting FA next year. Their only DEs under contract next year currently are Murphy, Johnson, and Stewart. If Ossai does well, he'll want a bigger contract, and I'm not sure the Bengals pay him and Hendrickson both. I can see them adding another DE next year, and it might need to be a starter depending on this year's performance and extensions.
RE: 2026 Needs? - J24 - 05-02-2025
FS- we need a guy that can patrol sideline to sideline.
Interior rusher- we do not have a dominant athletic DT that can rush the passer
Boundary CB- even if CTB has an outstanding season I don't think he will be re-signed.
RE: 2026 Needs? - ochocincos - 05-02-2025
(Yesterday, 02:10 PM)J24 Wrote: FS- we need a guy that can patrol sideline to sideline.
Interior rusher- we do not have a dominant athletic DT that can rush the passer
Boundary CB- even if CTB has an outstanding season I don't think he will be re-signed.
I thought about putting interior rusher in there, but I held off.
I figured well they decided not to this year (despite my feelings they really needed to), so let's see just how much Jenkins and Jackson grow in that aspect this year.
If they haven't, that's also one I would for sure add.
They do have all 4 of their DTs signed through 2026 though.
RE: 2026 Needs? - J24 - 05-02-2025
(Yesterday, 02:18 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I thought about putting interior rusher in there, but I held off.
I figured well they decided not to this year (despite my feelings they really needed to), so let's see just how much Jenkins and Jackson grow in that aspect this year.
If they haven't, that's also one I would for sure add.
I actually think Jackson can be a good NT long term but I have doubts about Jenkins long term as a 3T. Honestly , I don't like what the FO did with the DT position this offseason.