There hasn't been a lot to be excited about over the last three years, but Taylor wants that narrative to change going into 2026.
The Cincinnati Bengals are on the hunt to produce the best possible roster this offseason to erase their three-year playoff absence streak. General manager Duke Tobin and head coach Zac Taylor are in charge of initiating the shift back into playoff and Super Bowl contention, and the focus is on upgrading the defense.
They started by solidifying the offensive unit, re-signing offensive guard Dalton Risner, so superstar quarterback Joe Burrow will have the same starting five linemen heading into 2026. Already coupling him with Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Chase Brown, the offense has all the potential to be one of the best in the NFL next year, so it is all up to the defense to hold its weight.
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase (1) and quarterback Joe Burrow (9) | © Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
After being among the league's worst statistically, Tobin and Taylor will be joined by defensive coordinator Al Golden in utilizing the draft and free agency to make upgrades across the board. It has already been determined that superstar defensive end Trey Hendrickson is leaving in free agency after the Bengals chose not to use their franchise tag, so the defense will need a new group of leaders to skip the rebuilding phase.
Before any defensive acquisitions were made, Taylor wanted to show his appreciation for some of the rising stars of the 2025 defense when he appeared on the Fitz & Whit podcast.
“I think I saw a lot of guys grow significantly in the last half of the year on defense,” said Taylor. “DJ Turner’s a guy for me that had a monster year. Now we know going into next year, we can really lean on [him] from a leadership standpoint, and how he’s brought guys along, too. Myles Murphy, I thought, took a huge jump last year as a defensive end. Shemar Stewart continued to come along; we had two young linebackers that played tons of snaps for us, [and] that’s gonna reap dividends. And then you acquire talent over the next three months. These next two phases of free agency and the draft, you get to add to all that, and so [we’re] really excited about the process we’re going through right now [with] everybody on the same page. It’s a really exciting time to be a Bengals fan.”
It’s important to have the head coach publicly and privately praise his players, especially in this situation. Everyone in this defensive unit has heard the noise all season about how poor they were and how the Bengals need to upgrade, so any sort of praise is essential for their confidence and individual growth.
Obviously, Cincinnati cannot upgrade every position on the defense, but the overall continuity of the unit can be impacted by the approach the coaching staff takes this offseason. Golden has already discussed his excitement to have a great offseason with the group and how important it is to get off to a hot start in 2026. Before they get there, Tobin has to prove his worth as a general manager with his selections in the draft, including the No. 10 pick, and free agency with the seventh-highest available cap space.
Cincinnati Bengals general manager Duke Tobin | © Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Regardless of who is on the field, stringing wins together from week one is vital for a playoff-aspiring team. Cincinnati has notoriously started the season off slow in the Burrow era, so there is no time to waste. After coming off a 6-11 season, the time is now for the Bengals to make their mark early and prove they belong among the league’s best.