The Cincinnati Bengals are on the couch for the AFC Championship for the third straight season, but that saying doesn't apply to the organization's higher-ups. Their beefed-up scouting staff is in Frisco, Texas for Tuesday's East-West Shrine Bowl before director of player personnel Duke Tobin will attend workouts in Mobile, Ala. ahead of the Panini Senior Bowl on Jan. 31. 

Tobin hired veteran scouts Josh Hinch and Tyler Ramsey to the staff last spring as well as scouting research analyst Trey LaBounty, which assistant general manager Mike Potts says will make the team "more efficient," per Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. 

"More efficient and more eyes on more players," he said. "Multiple looks at more players on both the college and pro side, and that's through seeing them in person on visits and watching them on tape as well."

Ramsey brings years of experience from his days with the Seattle Seahawks, while Hinch was with the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, LaBounty has a master's degree in data science and will be helping with the technical aspect. He analyzes information to determine which prospects are more worth the staff's time based on what the organization is looking for. 

"Guys who are maybe more under the radar that we haven't got as much of a look at. Guys who got flagged for some reason, statistically, or whatever made them pop up," LaBounty said. "Hey, this is a guy you should take a look at. Maybe this guy's not worth taking a look at. Kind of like a filter. Time is precious."

The question is: will this new scouting personnel and process yield results for Cincinnati?

It's usually best to draft the best player available rather than filling team needs, but Cincinnati might want to mix in both strategies this spring. If there's an offensive player that's too good to pass up at No. 10 overall, then so be it. But the organization desperately needs help on defense.

The Bengals ranked 30th with 28.9 points allowed per game in 2025, and star pass-rusher Trey Hendrickson is hitting unrestricted free agency this offseason. The veteran is their best defensive player, so one of the league's worst units will become even worse if he leaves.

Adding talent through free-agency and trades before the NFL Draft would give the Bengals clarity, but there's no guarantee they'll land top-flight players in a competitive market. If they fail to do so, they might be forced to take a defensive prospect at No. 10 given their roster imbalance.

Franchise quarterback Joe Burrow and star wideout Ja'Marr Chase are under contract through 2029, while fellow receiver Tee Higgins is signed through 2028. That gives the offense an elite, but Cincinnati must mix that with at least an average defense to have a chance of winning a ring anytime soon.