Bengals Defensive Line Makes Massive Jump in PFF Rankings Ahead of 2026 Season

The Cincinnati Bengals were ranked the eighth-best defensive line in the NFL per Pro Football Focus, just behind the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos, and just ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Detroit Lions. 

This is a huge jump from their final ranking by PFF last January, when they placed 30th in the NFL, signaling that a lot of changes were needed. 

The front office took care of business in the offseason, trading for Dexter Lawrence and signing Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen. Both Mafe and Lawrence have been lighting up training camp, with a lot of fans raising their expectations for Lawrence now, thinking he could be one of the best defensive tackles in the NFL. He’s been playing so well that fans are starting to doubt the ability of the offensive line. 

Dalton Risner didn’t give much credence to that thought when asked by Fox 19’s Jeremy Rauch after Tuesday’s training camp. Risner said trying to decide who won each day is fickle because of the nature of different drills and team periods; there is never a clear winner, and he has to watch the film before judging a given day. 

Nevertheless, what has pushed the Bengals' defensive line isn’t just the front-office signings; it’s the depth they will enter the season with. Yes, they have the All-Pro-level defensive tackle, Dexter Lawrence. But Boye Mafe could be one of the more underrated signings of the entire offseason across the entire league. He had a great season in 2025, winning a Super Bowl with the Seahawks. 

Jonathan Allen is a veteran with plenty left in the tank on the inside. From there, you go down the list of younger players who the Bengals will take into 2026. Shemar Stewart is a first-round pick talent who a lot of people are high on going into the season. He’s going through an injury at the moment, but it shouldn’t impact him long-term. 

Myles Murphy had his best season in 2025 with 5.5 sacks, and will try to play himself to a contract extension this season. BJ Hill is now healthy after having surgery at the end of last season. 

Cashius Howll had a great first preseason game against the Detroit Lions, and he’s shown off his strength despite being mainly known as an undersized speed rusher. Still, you have the high-ceiling, undersized talent of Landon Robinson, who also popped in their first preseason game. They also have Kris Jenkins Jr., who has 4.5 sacks in 29 games played across two seasons. 

The Bengals beefed up their defensive line and added to their defensive backfield, which is a big reason many people think the defense will take multiple steps forward this year, turning Cincinnati into a Super Bowl contender.