WR Offseason 2026

State of the Position: Jamarr Chase is an All-pro, Tee Higgins had 11 touchdowns in another solid year. Both are signed long term. The rest of the position is messy but interesting.

Andrei Iosivas has failed to take the next step with too many drops at inopportune times. He’s a fine fourth receiver and in a sense that’s what he is. Mike Gesicki plays 78% of his time in the slot. The two of them are a fine tandem at the 3-4 receiver. Charlie Jones was a solid kick returner this year but is often dealing with injuries and hasn’t provided much on offense. Jones and Iosivas are free agents after 2026.

Then we enter into a trio of guys that I am really excited about. Mitch Tinsley flashed although he caught just eight of his 28 targets. He’s 26 but just entering his second year in the league. The team grabbed Dhonte Meyers from the CFL earlier this offseason. Meyers, also 26, caught 65 balls for 1,056 yards last year in Saskatchewan. I am most excited about Ke’Shawn Williams. Williams, a 24-year-old rookie, was picked up by the Bengals in December after being released by Pittsburgh. He wasn’t active on offense but returned both punts and kicks for both teams in 2025. What strikes me most about Williams is how much his skillset matches the team needs. In college he was excellent at turning short passes into big plays, something this offense is missing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dTRD0HOS5fo. His return ability likely makes him a prime threat to take Jones roster spot.

Xavier Johnson and Jordan Moore fill out the offseason roster. Johnson was added midseason. The former buckeye caught just 25 passes in Columbus buried on deep WR units after a switch from running back early in his career. An early walk on Johnson had 899 career special teams snaps and 14 tackles at OSU. He will be 27 in May. Moore has solid size and decent production at Duke after switching from QB. 28-year-old Kendric Pryor was not retained after the season.

The Need: This group is top-heavy but has a lot of potential throughout. Because Gesicki is used more as a wide receiver there is no need for a heavy investment in a third wide receiver. The team could use a third option that could play in the slot and turn short passes into big plays. Joe Burrow has to be a draw for veterans trying for one last year and former high draft picks trying to resurrect or get their career rolling. The team should take advantage of that in week two or three of free agency. It wouldn’t surprise me if Tinsley-Williams or Meyers wrestled that third spot away from Iosivas by season’s end and this is all moot.

The Candidates

The Veterans

Christian Kirk is coming off a huge 4 year 72-million-dollar deal that he hasn’t lived up to after a stellar first season. He did just have a 9 catch 144-yard game against the Stealers in the playoffs. For the regular season he had just 29 catches for 239 yards and a score. A strong playoff run could lead to a decent contract that he won’t get here. He’s 29 years old.

Tyler Lockett will be 34 next September and is winding down a stellar career. His 2025 season was split between the Titans and the Raiders. He caught 32-291 and a score. He primarily played in the slot in 2025. Lockett was on a 1 year 1.25million deal.

Need to do Moore

Skyy Moore is a former Chiefs 2^nd rounder who was traded to the 49ers in the offseason. He has just 48 career catches grabbing just five over the last two years. Moore ran a 4.41 forty at the combine. He returned kicks and punts for the 49ers this year.

Elijah Moore will be just 26 next year but he’s already on his fourth team and is just on the Broncos Practice Squad. The former second round pick ran a 4.35 forty at the combine. His best years were in Cleveland, and they were still frustrating.

Rondale Moore is coming off his second August ACL tear in a row. The 26 year who ran a 4.32 40 also dealt with hamstring injuries while at Purdue. He was solid in Arizona before a trade to Atlanta (for Desmond Ridder).

Might cost a little more

Jahan Dotson is a former 16^th overall pick whose best years came in Washington before a trade to the Eagles. He’s played inside and outside at both stops. He averaged 12.6 yards per catch during his career. Dotson ran a 4.43 forty at the combine. He will be 26 next season. He’s started 42 games over his career.

Tutu Atwell has been one of my favorites for some time. He re-upped with the Rams on a one year ten-million-dollar deal and got hurt, finishing the regular season with just six catches but for 192 yards and a 32-yard average. He’s played in the slot and outside in his five years. The former second rounder played at nearby Louisville.

Jalen Tolbert was a former third rounder for the Cowboys where he started 30 games in his four year career. In 2024 he started 15 games catching 49 passes for 610 yards and seven scores. The Cowboys are in cap trouble and are more likely to focus on paying George Pickens.

This is another position where you wouldn’t sign a player until a few weeks in or maybe even after the draft and the most likely scenario might be a late round pick who competes. With that said I want a veteran at every position and I think Burrow will be a draw for someone to come on a league minimum deal. I’d land on the injury prone Rondale Moore who could come cheap and have a decent upside.

I hope Tinsley gets more opportunities. And he's an absolute fantastic blocker. Actually so are JaMarr and Tee. Nice to have.

1 hour ago, Dautcom08 said:

I hope Tinsley gets more opportunities. And he's an absolute fantastic blocker. Actually so are JaMarr and Tee. Nice to have.

Just needs to carry a football everywhere he goes this off-season. Learn to juggle, maybe. Being able to catch is kind of the job.

Iosivas can’t catch..which is what he is supposed to do

2 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

Iosivas can’t catch..which is what he is supposed to do

Maybe they should go ahead and up it to 8 TE's on the roster.

30 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

Iosivas can’t catch..which is what he is supposed to do

Even worse he can't get open.

I think fixing the D is the most important thing, but if you told me we were to take a WR in the 2nd round I wouldn't be mad about it.

2 hours ago, Dautcom08 said:

I hope Tinsley gets more opportunities. And he's an absolute fantastic blocker. Actually so are JaMarr and Tee. Nice to have.

i left that off. I think Yoshi is too right?

Stealing Ke'Shawn Williams from the Stealers was one of the best

personel moves tne Bengals made during the season.

Thought he was electric as a kick returner. Anxious to see how

he does from the line of scrimmage after a full Bengal training camp.

For whatever reason, I'm still OK. With Yoshi. Had a bad year during a

bad year. And, yeah, added to it.

Tinsley seems to make a circus catch or nothing. Meh and give him

another year to make poopie or get off the pot.

Yoshi should spend more time with his receiving coach in Georgia.

On 1/16/2026 at 2:11 PM, Jamie_B said:

Even worse he can't get open.

I think fixing the D is the most important thing, but if you told me we were to take a WR in the 2nd round I wouldn't be mad about it.

Rather have a TE if it came to that, like a real one. That's half an OL pick, half WR & likely still a Top 5 TE prospect early 2nd/#41 overall... vs typically well into the 2nd tier of WR by that point.. At least, from what I can remember.

Pretty good FA class of WR's too from what I was reading, possession types that have done the job well enough for our purposes. Maybe get them back on returns here & there.. Unless they're planning to move Higgins taking a WR before day 3, IDK, don't like it. Their usual scratch & dent FA actually makes some sense here, a solid everyday C+ type to push these inconsistent younger guys with all the upside™️.

i think chuck has sizzled for the last time...

Jones is pretty likely to make the roster for 2026. He's a Tobin draft pick and he's been a decent kick returner.

18 hours ago, GoBengals said:

i think chuck has sizzled for the last time...

Did he ever really sizzle ?

Maybe a kickoffs but ran to sidelines as well.

Time to move on

This was the first year that Jones was fully healthy all year. Not saying he stays or goes, but he has been a pretty decent kick returner. Unless he wants to go be a WR too, then I would not think he would move on?

On 1/16/2026 at 11:49 AM, MichaelWeston said:

The Need: This group is top-heavy but has a lot of potential throughout. Because Gesicki is used more as a wide receiver there is no need for a heavy investment in a third wide receiver.

I don't disagree with the opinion that they are top heavy with Chase and Higgins but I don't think this offense has been right since Boyd left. I'm not saying the offense has been bad, it's just missing something which to me appears to be a valid 3rd WR option.

That third receiver position is far more important than you're making it sound and no, Gesicki is not the answer to it. They definitely need a 3rd WR to replace Yoshi. Losing either Chase or Higgins due to injury or suspension causes problems and none of the other receivers have been able to step up enough to cover. There are several good options available in the draft if that's the route they choose to go in.

YoshiDrop was a huge disappointment this year.

5 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

YoshiDrop was a huge disappointment this year.

IosivOOOPS

(I’m amazed Dr Tibor hasn’t come up with a name yet 😄)

On 1/16/2026 at 3:44 PM, T-Dub said:

Maybe they should go ahead and up it to 8 TE's on the roster.

Who can make a first down?
On less than third and two?
Pray he doesn't fumble it or trip on his own shoes...
The Grandy Man - The Cam Grandy man can
The Grandy man can because Tee Higgins drew a double and made a scrub look good.

56 minutes ago, Le Tigre said:

IosivOOOPS

(I’m amazed Dr Tibor hasn’t come up with a name yet 😄)

Yoshit.

As in "Yoshit, he dropped it. That guy is Yogood."

6 hours ago, I_C_Deadpeople said:

YoshiDrop was a huge disappointment this year.

My dog is a Yorkie / Shi Tzu mix... A Yoshi. But at least my Yoshi isn't a BITCH. Yeah, I said it.

(Unless his 6'3" 215lb ass is looking for me. I which case I don't know that "lost" guy.)

Yoshi led the team in drops but there are 30 are so "qualifying" WR's with a higher drop % - assume they need x amount of targets to qualify.

He's alright, I guess, but they've had some really good slot WR's in the past so my expectations are higher. Dude should be feasting with Chase & Higgins on the field. He seems about 50/50 at best against man coverage. Too easy to jam up & reroute, from what I can tell. Soft.

Im less concerned about Yoshi's drops (hope he cleans that up) than his inability to get open.

8 hours ago, BBR said:

I don't disagree with the opinion that they are top heavy with Chase and Higgins but I don't think this offense has been right since Boyd left. I'm not saying the offense has been bad, it's just missing something which to me appears to be a valid 3rd WR option.

That third receiver position is far more important than you're making it sound and no, Gesicki is not the answer to it. They definitely need a 3rd WR to replace Yoshi. Losing either Chase or Higgins due to injury or suspension causes problems and none of the other receivers have been able to step up enough to cover. There are several good options available in the draft if that's the route they choose to go in.

This is exactly how I feel.

10 hours ago, T-Dub said:

Yoshi led the team in drops but there are 30 are so "qualifying" WR's with a higher drop % - assume they need x amount of targets to qualify.

He's alright, I guess, but they've had some really good slot WR's in the past so my expectations are higher. Dude should be feasting with Chase & Higgins on the field. He seems about 50/50 at best against man coverage. Too easy to jam up & reroute, from what I can tell. Soft.

Yoshi isn’t a slot receiver, he’s on the outside. Gesiki is pretty much the slot guy for all intent and purposes. They do move Chase inside quite a bit as well though.