Cincinnati Bengals' Young Core Falls Short in New ESPN Rankings

ESPN released its ranking of each team’s young core, using only players under 25 years old. The Cincinnati Bengals made a five-spot jump from 2025 but still found themselves lower than they would have liked.

The Bengals landed at No. 20 this year after graduating much of their secondary over the offseason, with Jordan Battle, Dax Hill and D.J. Turner II no longer qualifying for consideration. The youth now resides mostly on the offensive and defensive lines, and the consensus is that Cincinnati’s young players simply are not there yet.

ESPN recognized tackle Amarius Mims as a blue-chip talent on the offensive line. At just 23 years old, he is joined by fellow lineman Dylan Fairchild. Both are expected to repeat as starters this season, while Jalen Rivers, who made seven starts in 2025, and Connor Lew will likely serve as second-stringers who could carve out larger roles with strong training camps.

If Mims can ascend to a Pro Bowl-caliber tackle this season, he can raise the team’s ceiling, and the Bengals could have the right tackle position locked down for the long term.

The defensive line is another position to watch, with several young players looking to make an impact, particularly on the edge. Myles Murphy is one of the older players on the list at 24, but if he wants to remain a key contributor on the defense, he needs to make 2026 his best season yet. Shemar Stewart and 2026 second-round pick Cashius Howell are two other young players expected to play significant roles rushing the passer this season.

Behind them, second-year linebacker Barrett Carter and rookie cornerback Tacario Davis should both see starter-level playing time at 23 and 21, respectively. The young core on defense could become one of the biggest storylines of the season if the Bengals find great success.

Yes, Cincinnati ranks fairly low on the list, but the franchise is not built on young talent — it is built on experienced veterans who are either entering or still in their prime. The Bengals remain well-positioned to compete because many of their elite players are in the prime of their careers, even if they are just a year or two older than the age threshold for this ranking.

If players such as Mims, Murphy and Stewart have breakout seasons, not only will the Bengals be contenders in the AFC, but they should also find themselves much higher on this list at this time next year.