It was not too long ago that the Cincinnati Bengals were right up top in the AFC pecking order. In 2021 and 2022, they got as close as you can get to winning a Super Bowl without actually winning it. There was the 23-20 loss to the Los Angeles Rams in Super Bowl LVI at the end of the 2021 season and the 23-20 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs in the 2022 AFC Championship game.
Of course, after those two 23-20 games in a span of less than a year, things started to come apart. Joe Burrow’s health became
more of a concern in 2023 and 2025, and when Burrow played at a thermonuclear level in 2024, he did so with a Lou Anarumo defense that ranked 25th in points allowed and 27th in DVOA.
Last season, Burrow played in just eight games, and in the first half of the season, Al Golden’s defense was one of the worst… like, ever. According to FTN’s data, Cincinnati’s defensive DVOA of 30.1% in Weeks 1-9 was the worst in the history of the metric, which currently goes back to 1977. Running back Chase Brown and receiver Ja’Marr Chase were yowling about said defense in October, and for good reason.
Then, it all turned around. From Week 10 through the end of the season, the Bengals improved their Defensive DVOA to -2.2% (Defensive DVOA is better when it’s negative), up from 32nd to 13th. And though the sins of the season’s first half would not be erased by that improvement — the 2025 Bengals finished 30th in Defensive DVOA behind only the Dallas Cowboys and the New York Jets — there was enough on the bone for management to spend in both draft capital and actual dollars to improve things on that side of the ball.
Hence, the trade for ex-New York Giants game-wrecker Dexter Lawrence, as well as the signings of former Seattle Seahawks edge-rusher Boye Mafe, veteran defensive lineman Jonathan Allen, former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook, and veteran defensive back Kyle Dugger. Adding Texas A&M edge-rusher Cashius Howell and Washington cornerback Tacario Davis in the second and third rounds of the 2026 draft should provide even more enforcement potential.
So, here’s what the plan for the Bengals this season seems to be: Bank on a healthy Joe Burrow and all of his weapons, and give the defense enough juice to be league average or better after that historical awfulness. It worked not too long ago, and it could work again.
For that to happen, of course, the Bengals will need the best possible performance from everybody on the roster. To that end, I’ve identified three Hidden Gems for the 2026 team — one underrated veteran, one underrated free agent, and one underrated draft pick.
Here are the Hidden Gems for your 2026 Cincinnati Bengals.
Underrated veteran: DB Dax Hill
A primary reason for the aforementioned defensive improvement in the second half of the 2025 season was the decision to move Dax Hill outside from the slot more often. Since the Bengals took the Michigan alum with the 31st overall pick in the 2022 draft, Hill has alternated between the two spots, with varying degrees of distinction. 2024 was a complicated season for Hill: he missed all but the first five games with a knee injury, but he came back strong, especially when the team needed someone to bookend the estimable DJ Turner II.
From Weeks 1-11 last season, Hill took just 20% of his 666 (Iron Maiden riff here) snaps outside; the rest of the time, he was either a slot defender or a box guy. But starting in Week 12 against the New England Patriots, Hill’s outside reps increased exponentially. 76% of his 366 reps in that time period came on the outside, and when targeted there, Hill allowed 12 catches on 19 targets for 6.7 yards per catch, no touchdowns, no interceptions, four pass breakups, and an opponent passer rating of 76.2.
Most importantly. Hill’s outside deployment told opponents that they couldn’t just avoid Turner and get away with THAT all day long.
After the season, the Bengals named Hill their winner of the NFL’s Ed Block Courage Award, which credits players who show “professionalism, great strength and dedication” in the face of adversity.
“I want to thank the entire organization and my teammates for thinking highly of me in coming back from my injury,” Hill said. “Representing the team well, coming back, and making an impact was my big focus. I thank everybody for being in my corner, and I’m happy being back with the guys.”
“There is not a more deserving player than Dax Hill for the Ed Block Courage Award,” said Bengals Director of Sports Medicine/Head Athletic Trainer Matt Summers. “Dax is a very consistent ‘everyday’ guy. His unwavering work ethic and trust in the rehab plan allowed him to return to the field in 2025 without hesitation. Dax is also very gracious with the time he commits to community service, and his humility further reflects the values he poses for his teammates to vote him as this year’s recipient.”
If Hill’s on-field community service continues to be the ability to shut receivers down as that outside guy, that’s one more box for the team to check off as they fight for relevance again.
Underrated free agent: IDL Jonathan Allen
Dexter Lawrence was obviously the big move the Bengals made this offseason, but it wasn’t the only contract signed to bolster the defensive line. Getting nine-year veteran Jonathan Allen on a two-year, $25 million contract with $7.5 million guaranteed should provide some sneaky dividends.
Last season in Brian Flores’ crazy-quilt defense for the Minnesota Vikings, Allen had four sacks, 34 pressures, 44 solo tackles, 34 stops, and seven tackles for loss. That was Allen’s first season in Minnesota after eight with the Washington (YOUR NAME HERE) franchise, which selected him with the 17th overall pick in the 2017 draft out of Alabama.
At his peak, Allen lived up to all that draft capital spent, and while he may not be the pressure machine he was in 2021 and 2022, he’s not that far off. At 6’3” and 300 pounds, he brings all the movement skills and a surprising amount of power to displace double teams for his size.
As long as Sexy Dexy is on the field, Allen won’t see as many doubles as he did in 2025 — 190— and 17 of his 34 pressures came when he had more than one guy on him. So, there could be a bump in the numbers for the veteran. And the run defense is already *chef’s kiss.*
Allen is certainly happy about the prospects for that interior line.
“I don’t think there’s ever been a guy to play like Dexter,” Allen said in June. “Dexter is a unique guy, and I’m just excited for the opportunity.
“It’s funny. After I left Minnesota (last season), I just sat down and had to really think what I wanted. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want to come up here and put up great numbers. That proves your worth and why they brought you in. But, honestly, I just want to play meaningful football in December, and I want to help the team any way I can. I believe if I do that, the numbers will come.
“At this point in my career, it’s all about winning, man.”
It’s been a while since anybody voiced that reason for signing with the Bengals, but here we are, and it could happen more quickly with Allen’s contributions.
Underrated draft pick: Center Connor Lew
You obviously don’t know how NFL teams feel about your draft binkies until one actually selects one of them. In the case of Auburn center Connor Lew, I mocked him to the New England Patriots at the end of the second round, so I was pretty surprised that Lew lasted until the 128th overall pick in the fourth round, which is where the Bengals took him.
Another reason for positivity in Cincinnati this season is that the Bengals are returning all five of their starters on the offensive line. Still, that kind of continuity can be a two-edged sword — it’s great if everybody’s good and on the same page, but it can be a thing if one or more of the linemen struggles. Not that center Ted Karras has been a garbage fire or anything, but the veteran can struggle to stay on his blocks at times, and when he hits the second level… well, sometimes, the second level can hit back.
Enter Mr. Lew, whose presence has already put Karras on notice, to a degree.
“I hope for the sake of the program this kid can be it,” Karras said in April of Lew. “I’m excited to meet him, help him out. Everything I hear about this kid, I think he’s going to do great.”
One reason Lew lasted as long as he did in the draft was the torn left ACL he suffered last October. That kept him out of the draft process, though the timeline for Lew’s return appears to be positive. The 6’3”, 303-pound rookie has a bit of work to do with the fundamentals, but hey — he’ll turn 21 on August 30, so there’s time to marinate before he needs to know everything. For the most part, he looks like a future NFL foundational player.
“You have to be able to pass protect to play for us, and you have to know at the center position how to get everybody else pointed in the right direction,” offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher said of Lew. “He does that. He can anchor and solidify the interior of the pocket. He’s smart, he’s athletic, and he has a lot of tools to work with.”
We’ll see how long it takes for Lew to take those tools to the field. My bet would be sooner rather than later.
