2026 needs?

[Jpoore]

If you’re ranking needs, for me it would be
1. OT(obj is a free agent, big reason I was pushing for Josh Simmons this past draft)
2. Pass rushing 3-tech(most would put egg here, but I really feel Jalen rivers is gonna be a good rg by seasons end. Also a lot of good IOL free agents. Also believe Seth Mcglaughlin is going to be our starting center next year if we let karras go.
3. Cb(even if our cbs take a big step forward, still need a higher level cb for depth and future starter.
4. Safety(we have potentially the worst safety room in the league(or one of) depending on how they play, this could bigger need than cb
5. Lber depth/starter( I like our depth, but if Logan Wilson has another bad year….)

Any issues with this order?

[Goalpost]

S, G, T, CB, C, 3T

[puddycat]

As a starry-eyed dreamer, I say BPA, but if the draft/FA started tomorrow:
CB1: I like the room, but it feels thin at the top.
OL: I don't see a single player right now and say to myself "Yeah, ink his name into the lineup for 17 games."
S: May not even be a need; current starters look unathletic. Prefer a Derwin James to a Jessie Bates.
DL: Disruptor at either DE or DT; someone the OC will need to account for. Trey won't be here forever.

We'll see this year, but I feel the D is sadly lacking an identity, so I'm looking at a big personality.

[J24]

3T- We need a guy that can make plays in both pass rush and run defense.

FS- Notre Dame played more Cover 1 than any team in CFB last season. I expect that Golden envision a similar style of defense in future seasons for the Bengals. To run that style of dense you need a true FS.

RG- Do I really need to explain this one.

Complete TE- We need a TE that can block + Catch at a consistent rate.