Something to prove. It can be viewed as a theme heading into the 2026 Bengals season and throughout their offseason program.
Frankly, this team has something to prove after three straight seasons without making the playoffs. And there are individual players on this team with something to prove coming into this season. Shemar Stewart, Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight Jr., Myles Murphy, Andrei Iosivas, Dexter Lawrence.
Wait, hold on. Dexter Lawrence? Something to prove? Isn’t he the best defensive tackle
in the NFL, and that’s why the Bengals traded away the No. 10 overall pick to acquire him?
Well, yes. You’re right. But even the greats find something they feel the need to prove to themselves and the rest of their team and the NFL going into the season.
For Lawrence, it’s improving on the number 0.5. That’s the number of sacks he had in 2025. Yup, just a half a sack.
But Lawrence knows that’s far from his standard.
“If you turn on the tape, you’ll see what you’re supposed to see,” Lawrence said, who noted to ESPN Bengals beat reporter Ben Baby that the numbers aren’t everything. “It’s more about proving myself right. I know who I am. People have been talking about me my whole life. It’s just the way this game goes. It’s just the way I’ve been in the spotlight my whole life.”
Lawrence has indeed been in the spotlight for a long time. The highest-ranked recruit to ever come out of the state of North Carolina, Lawrence was a part of two National Championship teams at Clemson and a First-Team All-American in 2018.
Drafted by the New York Giants in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, Lawrence quickly established himself as a force of nature in the middle of the defensive line. A three-time Pro Bowler, Lawrence is only two seasons removed from a nine-sack season in 2024. Not to mention, he had 7.5 sacks in 2022 for a Giants team that advanced to the Divisional round of the playoffs.
“I’m still out there clangin’ and bangin’,” Lawrence said. “Fresh start is more a retirement. But I would just say continuing my legacy and this is part of my journey.
“At the end of the day for me, it’s how do I want to be remembered when I’m done,” Lawrence said. “Just to continue my dominance and help this organization win the Super Bowl.”
Lawrence may not be viewing this as a fresh start, but any rational, growth-minded person would tell you that a change can do you good. Consider, too, that the Giants were a dismal 4-13 last year, at one point losing nine straight games and constantly losing games they had opportunities to win. That has to be frustrating for any great player.
For Lawrence and the Bengals, this offseason was definitely one of change. Perhaps the Bengals’ stripes and fortunes will change this season as a result of their active offseason, culminating in the splash trade for the big war daddy.
