Too early but here you go...by the way this roster is DEEEEEP. Need a veteran T and LB and I fully expect them to add there. Bold free agents

QB	Burrow 29	Flacco 27			2
RB	Brown 27	Perine 27	Brooks 29		3
WR	Chase 30	Young 30			2
WR	Higgins 29	Tinsley 27			2
WR	Iosivas 27	Williams 27			2
TE	Gesicki 28	Sample 27	All 28	Endries 30	4
LT	Brown 29	FREE AGENT			2
LG	Fairchild 29	Rivers 29			2
C	Karras 27	Lew 30			2
RG	Risner 27	Parker 30			2
RT	Mims 29	Ford 27			2
LE	Murphy 28	Howell 30			2
LT	Lawrence 29	Jackson 28			2
RT	Allen 28	Hill 28	Jenkins 28	Robinson 30	4
RE	Mafe 29	Stewart 30			2
WLB	FREE AGENT	Knight 29			2
MLB	Carter 29	Heyward 27	Giles-Harris 27		3
S	Battle 27	Dugger 27			2
S	Cook 29	Jules 27			2
CB	Hill 27	Newton 28			2
CB	Turner 27	Davis 30			2
NB	Davis 27	Ivey 27			2
K	McPherson 28				1
P	Rehkow 27				1
LS	Wagner 28				1
					53

The Practice squads

QB	Johnson 27
RB	Haynes 29	Milton
WR	Meyers
WR	Thomas 29
WR
TE	Hudson 27	Grandy 27
LT	Foster
LG	Jones 29
C	Bayer
RG
RT
LE	Powell-Ryland
LT
RT
RE	Foskey 27
WLB
MLB	Gentry 29
S	Nwokobia 29
S
CB
CB	Wright 29
NB	Lux

Potential trades

Jones 27

Johnson 28

Slaton 27

Burks 27

Anthony 28

Cuts

Clifford

Bullock 29 Brightwell

Moore

Johnson

Pryor

Kattus 29

Robinson 29

Coker

Jefferson 28

Cross

Anderson

Dingle 29

Yeast

Kimber

Taylor 27

You don't see Ford as the reserve for both OT spots? Id be surprised if they bring in a better option from the remaining FA pool. Not expecting anyone above tackling dummy for TC level, outside of (hopefully) a vet LB

I agree that the Bengals will try to bring in a free agent LB, but I think it will be to take Carter’s starting job rather than Knight’s. Golden asked Knight to do too much last season as a rookie, sometimes using him to support a weak d-line. The additions of both Mafe and Howell should make Knight’s role more pure LB.

Bobby Wagner may be 35 years old, but he still graded out very well against the run and his tackling was as strong as ever. Wagner isn’t as good in pass coverage as he was in his prime, but Carter could be used in obvious passing situations.

I would think Wagner would love an opportunity to play behind a force of nature like Lawrence. Would make his job so much easier. Wagner would also be a tremendous mentor for the young LBs.

Yeah I was hoping for DeMario Davis in FA but Wagner is similar in some ways (football IQ, age, leadership …) and actually played pretty well last year. I could see him as a replacement for Carter also, who I like as a player but see more as nickel LB than a starter… at least, right now.

And getting Sexy Dexy definitely makes coming to play LB a lot more appealing, since he should be able to eat up blockers and keep big dudes from getting to the second level, and allow the LBs to flow more freely.

Edit: after reading my post, I realize I pretty much just said what Dex already did. So, nothing to see here :)

Of course some talking hesds had to bash our draft not many but espn saying sext dexy had a foot injury also what a joke!

Tomorrow is when they can add free agents without it affecting the comp pick formula for next year's draft.

So we should be expecting a FA LB to be added. I thought they'd check on swapping DJ Reader for Slaton, but after drafting the Navy kid that's probably dead. As of now, they need to trim a DT or 2 off of the roster anyways (assuming no injuries during camp and preseason).

1 hour ago, dex said:

I agree that the Bengals will try to bring in a free agent LB, but I think it will be to take Carter’s starting job rather than Knight’s. Golden asked Knight to do too much last season as a rookie, sometimes using him to support a weak d-line. The additions of both Mafe and Howell should make Knight’s role more pure LB.

Bobby Wagner may be 35 years old, but he still graded out very well against the run and his tackling was as strong as ever. Wagner isn’t as good in pass coverage as he was in his prime, but Carter could be used in obvious passing situations.

I would think Wagner would love an opportunity to play behind a force of nature like Lawrence. Would make his job so much easier. Wagner would also be a tremendous mentor for the young LBs.

If they're looking to replace/sub for Carter (as I agree they should) I think Okereke might be a better fit. I think he's still available & has more tread left on the tires.. Consequently may be looking for more than a one year contract, however.

Nothing wrong with Knight that not being asked to fill the role of a veteran team captain halfway through a losing season won't fix. That was pretty fucking stupid of whoever made that decision. Should've traded Wilson for another meh sort of vet if it was really that urgent to run him out of town. Makes me question Golden, or at best his authority if that was forced on him from above. That sort of coach-player drama does smell kinda NCAA though. Did Logan fart during Mass or something (thats a notre dame joke tyvm tip the bartender)

2 hours ago, T-Dub said:

If they're looking to replace/sub for Carter (as I agree they should) I think Okereke might be a better fit. I think he's still available & has more tread left on the tires.. Consequently may be looking for more than a one year contract, however.

Nothing wrong with Knight that not being asked to fill the role of a veteran team captain halfway through a losing season won't fix. That was pretty fucking stupid of whoever made that decision. Should've traded Wilson for another meh sort of vet if it was really that urgent to run him out of town. Makes me question Golden, or at best his authority if that was forced on him from above. That sort of coach-player drama does smell kinda NCAA though. Did Logan fart during Mass or something (thats a notre dame joke tyvm tip the bartender)

I know it’s ancient history but what a total cluster eff at LB last year was.

Then this year, they do isht in FA and don’t draft anyone. I get they will use Duggar and Howell , and even if Carter and Knight are better (which I fully expect), the depth still blows … and are you really gonna expect that both year two guys are gonna be healthy all year? That’s a shaky bet.

I’d feel a lot better with someone like Okereke than Loren Burks or Joe Giles-Harris. Someone who has solid starting experience in the league. Good STs guys, yes they have them … but they are not guys I’d want playing many defensive snaps.

56 minutes ago, texbengal said:

I know it’s ancient history but what a total cluster eff at LB last year was.

Then this year, they do isht in FA and don’t draft anyone. I get they will use Duggar and Howell , and even if Carter and Knight are better (which I fully expect), the depth still blows … and are you really gonna expect that both year two guys are gonna be healthy all year? That’s a shaky bet.

I’d feel a lot better with someone like Okereke than Loren Burks or Joe Giles-Harris. Someone who has solid starting experience in the league. Good STs guys, yes they have them … but they are not guys I’d want playing many defensive snaps.

Whoever they bring in (if anyone) only needs to be good enough to establish some kind of standard. Average most of the time instead of terrible half the time with flashes of greatness. That would allow them to pull the young guys aside & coach them up to hopefully get them back on track without the wheels completely coming off when they miss a few downs. Doesn't have to be anyone exceptional, all they have to do is play the position at a consistently OK level to provide some stability.

Gotta say though, if Carter had any flashes of greatness I must have missed them. Backup QB threw a floater right at him in Washington & that's about it. With Knight it looked like he had something, at least, but again clearly unprepared for the role they gave him.

This battle at DT will be very interesting.

NT - Dexter Lawrence, TJ Slaton, Jackson

3T - BJ Hill, Jon Allen, Kris Jenkins, Robinson

Seven bodies where we normally keep, what, four?

Locks: Lawrence, Hill, Allen…outside of that it comes down to how many do we keep, and who’s worth it?

Jenkins looks like JAG

Robinson is a 7th round rookie

Slaton would be a top-tier backup nose, but expensive

Jackson hasn’t shown anything

Maybe you roll with the potential of Robinson and keep Slaton and Lawrence’s backup…that would be my guess.

1 hour ago, WRAPradio said:

This battle at DT will be very interesting.

NT - Dexter Lawrence, TJ Slaton, Jackson

3T - BJ Hill, Jon Allen, Kris Jenkins, Robinson

Seven bodies where we normally keep, what, four?

Locks: Lawrence, Hill, Allen…outside of that it comes down to how many do we keep, and who’s worth it?

Jenkins looks like JAG

Robinson is a 7th round rookie

Slaton would be a top-tier backup nose, but expensive

Jackson hasn’t shown anything

Maybe you roll with the potential of Robinson and keep Slaton and Lawrence’s backup…that would be my guess.

Normally keep 5

We have had recent years where we have been decimated with injuries on the DL, so the best we could do now is project based on no injuries.

Also have Cross who may develop in year 2?

2 hours ago, MichaelWeston said:

Normally keep 5

If that's the case, maybe keep Slaton and Robinson (depending on how he looks in TC) and try to trade Jenkins for a 4th or 5th next year.

On 4/27/2026 at 12:26 PM, I_C_Deadpeople said:

Also have Cross who may develop in year 2?

FWIW...I was watching him closely at the last CFT game. He's smallish...but a relentless rusher. Seemed to have no issues shedding blocks and never let up the pressure. Hurried Prime Time, Jr. several times, causing him to either throw off balance or run out of the pocket. I liked him.

OC Karras.................Lew

OG Risner.................Parker

OG Fairchild.............Rivers

OT Mims....................Ford

OT Brown (O)..........(TBD)

TE Gesicki.................Sample..............................Hudson..................All (or) Endries

WR Higgins..............Iosivas

WR Chase.................Young

WR (TBD)..................Tinsley (or) Jones

QB Burrow................Flacco

RB Brown (C)...........Perine..............................Brooks

NG Lawrence...........Jenkins

DT Allen.....................Hill (B).............................Robinson

DE Mafe....................Stewart

DE Murphy.............Howell..............................Johnson

LB Wagner (B) ?....Carter

LB Knight.................Burks...................................Giles-Harris (or) Hayward

NB Davis (J)...........Newton

CB Taylor (D)........Davis (T)

CB Hill (D)............Taylor (J) (or) Ivey

SS Battle...............Dugger

FS Cook................Jules (or) Anthony (or) (TBD)

PK McPherson

PT Rekhow

LS Wagner (W)

TBD = Possible Post Draft FA Signing

FA Priority (IMO)

1. Veteran LB

2. Reserve Vet Swing Tackle

3. Slot Receiver

4. All-around TE

5. Reserve Safety Rotational Depth

On 4/29/2026 at 10:37 PM, buyaharleykellen said:

FA Priority (IMO)

1. Veteran LB

2. Reserve Vet Swing Tackle

3. Slot Receiver

4. All-around TE

5. Reserve Safety Rotational Depth

1. Agreed. Bobby Wagner should be having a press conference at Paycor by now, get er done Mike and Katie!

2. There are a few interesting backups out there I wouldn't mind seeing on the roster; Landon Young, JaMarco James, and Lapham's all time favorite... Hakeem Adenji would all be an upgrade over our current depth at OT.

3. I would say Chase is our slot and we need another outside guy to free up Chase & Mike G across the middle on those slants and crossers. I like Tinsley, he performs when given opportunities in most cases. I think Young can add depth outside and open this offense, I would be surprised if they add to the crowded WR room.

4. We have enough TE's on the roster, we're like 5 or 6 deep at TE and play 2 or 3 at most on Sundays. I like mix of vets like Hudson, Sample, and Geiski and the young guys like Grandy, All, and the rookie with a kill list with the names of every team that past on him in the draft.

I would rather see a veteran RB that can come in be a potential lead back to let Chase handle the 3rd down and passing opportunities. Antonio Gibson or Nick Chubb would make a lot of sense in this offense to compete and compliment with what we already have on the roster.

5. Duggar is a sneaky good addition that isn't getting much attention, but he adds quality depth. I know you it put it last but, I doubt they add anything that room with all affordable young talent that needs reps and snaps to develop.

If we add a vet MLB green dot like Wagner, Okereke, or Murray to shore up the defense, add some depth at OT with starting experience(Landon Young, JaMarco James, Hakeem Adenji,) and add a veteran RB(Antonio Gibson or Nick Chubb) to raise the floor in the RB.....

I would be betting my life savings on the Bengals to win it all this year.

#ALL_IN

Not pay-walled at time of posting

On 5/1/2026 at 3:21 PM, The PatternMaster said:

1. Agreed. Bobby Wagner should be having a press conference at Paycor by now, get er done Mike and Katie!

2. There are a few interesting backups out there I wouldn't mind seeing on the roster; Landon Young, JaMarco James, and Lapham's all time favorite... Hakeem Adenji would all be an upgrade over our current depth at OT.

3. I would say Chase is our slot and we need another outside guy to free up Chase & Mike G across the middle on those slants and crossers. I like Tinsley, he performs when given opportunities in most cases. I think Young can add depth outside and open this offense, I would be surprised if they add to the crowded WR room.

4. We have enough TE's on the roster, we're like 5 or 6 deep at TE and play 2 or 3 at most on Sundays. I like mix of vets like Hudson, Sample, and Geiski and the young guys like Grandy, All, and the rookie with a kill list with the names of every team that past on him in the draft.

I would rather see a veteran RB that can come in be a potential lead back to let Chase handle the 3rd down and passing opportunities. Antonio Gibson or Nick Chubb would make a lot of sense in this offense to compete and compliment with what we already have on the roster.

5. Duggar is a sneaky good addition that isn't getting much attention, but he adds quality depth. I know you it put it last but, I doubt they add anything that room with all affordable young talent that needs reps and snaps to develop.

If we add a vet MLB green dot like Wagner, Okereke, or Murray to shore up the defense, add some depth at OT with starting experience(Landon Young, JaMarco James, Hakeem Adenji,) and add a veteran RB(Antonio Gibson or Nick Chubb) to raise the floor in the RB.....

I would be betting my life savings on the Bengals to win it all this year.

#ALL_IN

Nick Chubb isn't raising the floor anywhere now.

Ask Houston .

As for wideout to compliment Chase at slot go with Iosivas.

It's probably his best position imo

20 hours ago, claptonrocks said:

Nick Chubb isn't raising the floor anywhere now.

Ask Houston .

As for wideout to compliment Chase at slot go with Iosivas.

It's probably his best position imo

Chubb would be the second best back on the roster if he was a Bengal. I would rather have Chubb over Gary Brightwell, Kendall Milton, or Tajh Brooks.

Chubb avg over 4 ypc last season and rushed for over 500 yards. He would be a good goal line and short yardage back.

Yoshi is in a contract year and will probably be gone.