The Bengals spent the offseason loading up on proven help for a defense that needed reinforcements, and the new-look group comes with a mix of size, physicality, and veteran know-how. From the secondary to the interior line, Cincinnati added pieces that should change how this unit looks snap to snap.
Start with the back end, where Bryan Cook stands out as the clearest upgrade. The Cincinnati native should bring a different feel to the safety spot than Geno Stone did.
Cook is tougher, more dependable as a tackler, and much better at setting the table before the snap. That communication piece matters, especially for a defense that has needed more stability.
Last season, Cook posted an 83.2 coverage grade and an 80.1 run defense grade, while missing tackles at just a 5.6% clip. Stone, by comparison, finished with a 50.7 coverage grade, a 53.9 run defense grade, and an 18.7% missed tackle rate.
Kyle Dugger gives the Bengals another useful piece in the secondary, even if he is not expected to take Jordan Battle’s starting job opposite Cook. The expectation is that Dugger will still carve out 15-20 snaps a game, with a lot of that work coming down in the box.
That is where he really pops, especially against the run. For a team that still has questions about its young linebackers, that kind of rotational help could matter.
Dugger, a former second-round pick, finished the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers and put up 59 tackles, a sack, and two interceptions.
The biggest name, and the biggest body, is Dexter Lawrence. At 6’4” and 342 pounds, he is the kind of interior force that changes the math for everyone else around him.
He did not record a sack in 2025, but he was still a constant problem for opposing offenses with the Giants. His presence helped create opportunities for others, and the same idea should apply in Cincinnati, where he can free up the rest of the defensive line and make life easier for the young linebackers behind him.
Lawrence is a stout run defender with a powerful bull rush, and he moves better than most players his size. He also posted just a 5.6% missed tackle rate in 2025.
Jonathan Allen brings another veteran presence to the interior. A former first-round pick with two Pro Bowls on his résumé, Allen spent the 2025 season with the Minnesota Vikings after starting his career in Washington.
He finished last year with 68 tackles and 3.5 sacks, and he now has 45.5 sacks in his career. The pass-rush dominance may not be what it once was, but there is still enough left for him to matter, especially with BJ Hill rotating beside him and Lawrence soaking up attention.
The tape showed a player who was better against the run than his PFF grades suggested, with strong awareness, good work down the line, and reliable tackling. After playing more than 800 snaps in 2025, he should be fresher this season with a lighter load.
Boye Mafe is another edge addition who could benefit from a bigger role. He came from a deep Seattle defensive line during the Super Bowl-winning 2025 season, and while he logged only 2 sacks, he was still generating pressure at a strong rate.
The sack numbers have been there before: 6 in 2024 and 9 in 2023. With the Bengals, he should see more snaps and a bigger chance to finish plays.
The expectation is for him to get back into the 8-10 sack range. He is also not a run-game liability, which is something some people said about Trey Hendrickson during his Bengals run.
Mafe plays hard, moves well, and uses his hands effectively to shed blocks. Cincinnati should have a solid rotation at defensive end with Shemar Stewart, Cashius Howell, and Myles Murphy, but Mafe is the one expected to lead the pass-rush charge in 2026.
With training camp nearing, the Bengals have plenty to feel good about on defense. The group still has to prove it once the pads come on and the games count, but the front office clearly went outside its usual comfort zone to add real help.
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