Cincinnati Bengals’ Biggest Remaining Roster Concern Gets Named

NFL.com released an article outlining each AFC team's biggest remaining roster concern as they prepare for training camp, and the Cincinnati Bengals' is one that many won't be surprised by. The defense has been an ongoing issue, and the safety position is a crucial one to improve if the unit is going to take the next step.

The Bengals made one of their biggest offseason acquisitions to address one half of the safety room by adding former Chief Bryan Cook to replace Geno Stone. Cook will be an improvement at free safety, but strong safety still leaves more to be desired.

Jordan Battle had a rough 2025 campaign, ranking 67th in coverage, 43rd in run defense and 63rd overall among 98 qualified safeties. The Bengals signed Kyle Dugger in free agency, but he is expected to serve more as a depth piece than compete for a starting role. He also had a down year in 2025, seeing a significant drop in tackles while playing for both the Patriots and Steelers.

Cincinnati addressed other positional concerns this offseason, including making two splash additions on the interior defensive line with Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen. The Bengals also looked to replace Trey Hendrickson on the edge by signing Boye Mafe and drafting Casius Howell in the second round.

For a defense that ranked in the bottom five in almost every major statistical category, the offseason additions are a step in the right direction. The interior defensive linemen and edge rushers will look to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks, distributing the responsibility across the front instead of relying on one player as the Bengals did with Hendrickson for most of last season. They should also help against the run for a defense that was prone to giving up explosive plays on the ground.

Alongside Dax Hill and DJ Turner II, Cook will give the secondary the stability it needs to improve. The defense has a legitimate opportunity to take a big leap in 2026 if the strong safeties can step up.

With training camp on the horizon, Al Golden will need to find a way to get the best out of both Battle and Dugger for his defense to succeed. If the players currently on the roster are not getting the job done, Cincinnati may need to consider making an in-season move to bring in additional help. Too many games last season slipped away because of issues on the defensive side of the ball, and with other positions now addressed, the Bengals' next step is to revitalize the strong safety position if they want to seriously contend in the AFC.