With this weekend being Fourth of July Weekend, it seems appropriate to turn the page from the offseason to the actual NFL season. After all, we’re just over three weeks away from the start of training camp, which will start for the Cincinnati Bengals on July 29th at the Kettering Health Practice Fields behind Paycor Stadium.
Offseason grades from national outlets are rolling in, and the Bengals have mostly received positive grades. NFL.com is giving the Bengals a B+.
Here is what Matt Okada had to
say about the Bengals and the offseason they had.
The Bengals entered the 2026 offseason with one major task to complete: Fix the defense. Thus, they put nearly all their eggs into that basket, signing safeties Cook and Kyle Dugger, DE Boye Mafe and others. More big-time moves ensued when they traded their first-round pick for Lawrence and used their second-rounder on promising edge rusher Cashius Howell. Cook, Mafe and Lawrence bring difference-making upside at three key spots, which is exactly what Cincinnati needs after years of defensive incompetence.
Honestly, the only reason the Bengals didn’t earn an A grade is they allowed Hendrickson to hit free agency (and sign with a division rival). Now, Cincinnati will face the four-time Pro Bowler twice a year with no trade compensation to ease the pain. Still, the overall defensive improvements are a big win.
It’s important to point out that Okada listed “allowing Trey Hendrickson to hit free agency.” That puts that particular development of the offseason in a negative light, which it is. However, the Bengals, going into this season, are better without Hendrickson than they were with him last year.
Now, yes, the Bengals didn’t receive anything for him. That isn’t good. They also didn’t change the linebacker room. So those two things are reasonable enough not to give the Bengals an A grade, at least according to Okada.
Regardless, the Bengals had a very good offseason. They also may not be done adding players, as they signed two last year in late July and late August. The Bengals’ defense is much more adequately suited to prevent offenses from taking the top off of them this season. That’s the big thing about this team. It’s a product of all of the offseason moves they made.
