With the regular season about to get underway for all 32 NFL teams, ESPN’s Ben Solak took one last swing at identifying the veteran breakout candidates who need to pop in 2026. For Cincinnati, he didn’t split the difference - he went straight to the two young linebackers.
Solak tabbed the Bengals’ second-year linebackers as his top breakout picks, saying he doesn’t care which one takes the bigger step as long as one of them does. He made clear that the defense’s ceiling is tied directly to that group improving after a rough season against the run.
"Doing a two-for-one here because I don't care which Bengals second-year linebacker takes a step forward this season," Solak noted. "I just need one of them to do so.
Knight (a 2025 second-round pick) feels more likely, in that he was forced to play more frequently out of position last season as an on-ball Sam linebacker. That role should be filled this year by rookie Cashius Howell, leaving Knight more time at stack linebacker beside Carter, who calls the plays.
Both rookies started their careers on rocky footing and improved as the season went on, and the Bengals' brass believes that the defensive tackle play in front of them was untenable, hence the splashy Dexter Lawrence II trade.
"But Knight was sixth among all off-ball linebackers in missed tackle rate (14.5%), per Pro Football Reference; Carter was seventh at 13.8%. They weren't the only problem in Cincinnati, but if they don't improve their play through contact against NFL rushers, those runs that leak past Lawrence will continue to churn out dirty yardage.
The Bengals believe they rebuilt their defense in one year, and the lack of investment at linebacker is their biggest leap of faith. If this group doesn't improve, all the other moves will help, but the unit as a whole will reach a hard ceiling."
That concern comes with a reason for optimism, though. Lawrence is expected to make the job easier for both linebackers, and they were already feeling that effect in training camp.
Both players have said in multiple media hits that they can play faster with Lawrence in front of them and with fellow free-agent addition Jonathan Allen alongside him. Allen is trying to rediscover the elite form he showed a few seasons ago, while Lawrence enters the year fully healthy and aiming to rebound from a down 2025.
Ja’Marr Chase described the change last month, pointing to the way the linebackers looked more comfortable and more in command.
"They've just been playing a little faster. As you can tell, they know what they're doing more," Ja'Marr Chase explained last month.
"And then last year, obviously, they were rookies coming in trying to learn and pick it up, and then they're captains of the defense, giving out the plays. So now they're more vocally leading.
They're more confident calling the play. They're more confident running around, making plays.
Their adjustments, and you can see it, man. They're having fun out there, screaming, and that's what you want from linebackers."
For Cincinnati, the middle of the defense has a lot riding on what comes next.
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