The superstar quarterback is making his influence known around the league, with defensive players wanting to be on his end of the sidelines rather than lining up against him.
With NFL free agency underway, the Cincinnati Bengals and general manager Duke Tobin are in the process of transforming the defense into a suitable unit to support the star-studded offense. After being ranked as one of the worst in the NFL in 2025, superstar quarterback Joe Burrow needs his defense to be talented enough to keep the ball in his hands when it matters most.
They lost defensive end Joseph Ossai to the New York Jets and 2024 NFL Sack Leader Trey Hendrickson to the Baltimore Ravens to begin free agency. In response, they were able to acquire former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe and former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook within the first four hours of the legal tampering period. These two young rising stars give the defense an immediate boost in energy, intensity, and championship mentality, as the two combine for three Super Bowls in their four-year careers.
Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Boye Mafe | © Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn ImagesJoining the party on the second day of free agency was former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, who signed a 2-year, $26 million deal with the Bengals. Coming off a tie for his career-high in total sacks with 68 in 2025, the 31-year-old veteran looks to bring an aggressive mentality to a young defense looking for leaders on the field.
After failing to make the playoffs with his former team, largely due to the offense’s inconsistencies, Allen described Burrow as a focal point for his signing this offseason when speaking with Bengals reporters in his introductory press conference.
“Having the ability to play with a guy like Joe Burrow and that offense, you know they’re gonna put points up, you know we’re going to be playing with the lead,” said Allen. “Coach Montgomery, I’ve known him for 15 years; he recruited me out of high school. So, just between Burrow, the offense, the defensive staff here, I thought it was just, honestly, the best fit for me.”
It’s not unusual for a player to sign with a team in free agency because it has one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. However, having a defensive lineman give so much credit to the offensive side is an interesting notion. It could serve as a pitch to other defensive players who may be frustrated with their offense’s struggles, and the Bengals are surely not done rebuilding the defense this offseason.
The NFL Draft is still about five weeks away, and defensive coordinator Al Golden is looking to turn this defense around, not only with roster additions but with training camp as well. There are several young players on the defense in need of increased development, who will be joined by Cincinnati’s newest selected draft picks at the end of April. Missing the playoffs for three consecutive years was not in the plans for head coach Zac Taylor and his team, but they are looking to end that streak in 2026.