The Cincinnati Bengals’ linebacker unit has been under a microscope all season - and not in the way you want. On a defense that’s struggled across the board, it’s the linebackers who’ve stood out for all the wrong reasons. Whether it’s missed assignments, poor tackling, or just a lack of playmaking, this group has consistently come up short.
Let’s start with the rookies. Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter have been thrown into the fire, and so far, they’ve been getting burned.
It’s one thing to expect growing pains from first-year players, but this has been more than that. Knight, in particular, is a concern.
At 25 years old, you’d hope for a more polished product, especially from a second-round pick. Instead, he’s looked overwhelmed and out of sync in a role that demands instincts and execution.
Behind them, the depth hasn’t offered much relief. Oren Burks has seen some snaps, but the impact has been minimal.
Joe Giles-Harris is a standout on special teams, but he’s barely touched the field on defense - just four snaps all year. That leaves a gaping hole in the middle of the Bengals' defense, one that was only widened when they traded away Logan Wilson, their most dependable linebacker, at the deadline.
Now, to be fair, this isn’t a one-position problem. The defense as a whole has had its issues.
But in the secondary, there’s at least some light: DJ Turner II is playing at an All-Pro level, and Dax Hill is finally putting together a healthy, steady campaign. Up front, Myles Murphy is starting to look like the guy they hoped for when they drafted him, Joseph Ossai is flashing, and even rotational players like Cedric Johnson are showing promise.
But linebacker? That’s a different story.
The flashes just aren’t there. Barrett Carter still has upside - he’s young, athletic, and has the tools - but the longer this slump continues, the harder it is to envision a breakout.
So where do the Bengals go from here? If they want to fix this unit - and they need to - the 2026 NFL Draft might offer a solution right in their own backyard.
Enter Ohio State’s Sonny Styles.
Styles isn’t getting the same top-five buzz as some of his Buckeye teammates like Arvell Reese or Caleb Downs, but that doesn’t mean he’s not a difference-maker. He’s been a rock for one of the best defenses in college football, and his production speaks volumes: 180 tackles, 15.5 tackles for loss, and 9 passes defended over the last two seasons. And here’s the stat that should make Bengals fans perk up - zero missed tackles this season, per PFF.
Let’s sit with that for a second. Zero missed tackles.
Now consider this: the Bengals currently have four players in the top 10 for most missed tackles in the league. Two of them?
Knight and Carter. That’s not just a problem - it’s a liability.
Bringing in a player like Styles, who combines high football IQ with consistent tackling and strong instincts, would be a massive step toward shoring up the weakest part of this defense.
Of course, there’s the elephant in the room - the Bengals just drafted two linebackers in 2025. But draft capital shouldn’t stand in the way of fixing a glaring need.
If Knight and Carter don’t show significant growth over the final stretch of the season, Cincinnati has to be honest about the state of the position. Styles isn’t just a safe pick - he’s a potential tone-setter for a defense that desperately needs one.
The Bengals are sitting at 4-9, and while the playoffs are a long shot, they’re not exactly tanking either. With games left against the Dolphins, Cardinals, Ravens, and Browns, it’s likely they pick up another win or two, which could put them just out of reach for the top-tier prospects like Reese or Downs.
But Styles? He’ll likely still be on the board.
And if he is, Cincinnati should be ready. Because when your defense can’t tackle, and there’s a player available who never misses, the decision shouldn’t be complicated.
If the Bengals want to turn this linebacker room from a weakness into a strength, Sonny Styles might just be the answer.