Former Cincinnati Bengals All-Pro Tackle Issues Warning to Franchise Ahead of 2026 NFL Season

It has been three straight years of missing the playoffs for the Cincinnati Bengals, and they are on a mission to end the streak in 2026. After making the Super Bowl and AFC Championship in back-to-back seasons, the undeniable offense led by Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins has failed to play meaningful football since 2022. 

With the immense turnover this offseason in the general manager, coaching, and coordinator positions, it was somewhat surprising to see the Bengals stick with general manager Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor in 2026. It should be noted that they are in the hot seat, and this season will be vital for the direction of the Bengals’ future if they fail to produce yet again.

They started the offseason by making three key defensive signings; this is vital considering the Bengals’ defense was one of, if not the worst, in the NFL in 2025. Former Seattle Seahawks defensive end Boye Mafe and former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook both signed three-year deals with the franchise within the first four hours of the legal tampering period. As the two rising stars head into their fifth seasons in the league, they add three combined Super Bowl wins and four appearances to a young defense that is desperate for leadership and on-field guidance. 

Former All-Pro offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth gave his thoughts on the current state of his former team, and his honesty should send a message to the Bengals’ front office. 

"Here you are in another window where you've got some young talent on the team,” said Whitworth. “Don't let it go by and not shoot your shot." 

Fans have criticized the Bengals for their approach to being conservative when spending in the offseason. They have regularly been hesitant to re-sign key players because of the large amounts they are expected to receive, and now they are front-loading contracts to save money in the future. As the saying goes, scared money is dead money. Teams that are afraid or unwilling to spend money on the best rosters or coaching staffs struggle to reach the top of the summit, and the Bengals have been no different in the past several years. 

Assigning the majority of players’ contracts in the earlier years significantly limits the franchise from signing more impactful pieces in free agency. The two young guns and former Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Jonathan Allen will provide several key contributors to success for this Bengals’ defense, but they need more to go from missing the playoffs three years in a row to contending for Super Bowls. Time will tell if they can effectively utilize the draft on April 23rd to get them back to the top in the AFC.