The Bengals still haven’t brought in a veteran linebacker during training camp, but one of the league’s best-fit lists just put a familiar type of option in their orbit.
NFL.com’s staff recently sorted through the top remaining free agents and matched Cincinnati with Kyle Van Noy, one of the second-level names still on the board. The fit makes sense on paper because the Bengals have been willing to let their young linebackers absorb the bumps that come with playing time, even if there are experienced options available to shore up the room.
Van Noy’s 2024 season came with plenty of production, but not the kind that suggests he’s coming off a clean peak. As the article put it: "Like the majority of the Ravens defense last year (which was notably playing without Nnamdi Madubuike), Van Noy struggled," the article stated.
"His two sacks, 20 tackles and four tackles for loss were all his worst numbers in those categories since 2016. Still, he was a Pro Bowler in 2024 on the strength of a career-best 12.5 sacks.
The 35-year-old can still be an asset on third down."
That’s the appeal with a player like Van Noy: even with the dip, there’s still value there if a team wants a veteran who can help on obvious passing downs. Cincinnati hasn’t made that move yet, but the possibility remains if the Bengals decide they want more insulation behind their young group.
Bobby Wagner would bring a different kind of buzz, though he wasn’t tied to Cincinnati in the piece. The article pointed out that he’s coming off a stronger season by the numbers, with a 78.6 Pro Football Focus grade compared with Van Noy’s 63 PFF grade, which was his lowest since 2023.
Wagner’s résumé still looks sturdy. "Questioning how much the 36-year-old has left in what should be a Hall of Fame career is fair, but statistically speaking, Wagner wakes up with 100 tackles," the article noted.
"He's got 14 seasons under his belt and in each one he's hit triple digits, with 10 straight eclipsing 130. After 162 tackles last season, including 4.5 sacks, there's run left."
For now, Cincinnati is leaning on what it already has. The Bengals have a stronger defensive tackle group in front of Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight this season than they did a year ago, and that, along with expected Year-2 growth from both linebackers, could be enough to keep the team from making a veteran addition at all.
Still, the logic for adding a proven voice is easy to see. In a league where attrition always finds somebody, an extra veteran presence and a little more impact on the field never hurts.
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For Joe Burrow, the appeal goes beyond names on a list. He has already praised Lawrences impact and pointed to the way the defense has improved around him, which matters for a team trying to keep pace in a loaded AFC. Cincinnati has spent plenty of time over the years talking about offensive firepower, but this feels different, with the front office clearly betting that a sturdier defense can make the Bengals more complete when the games start to matter most. [Read more 🡒]