Bengals’ Offseason Heating Up: Key Free Agent Targets, Staff Moves, and Player Perspectives
As the Cincinnati Bengals gear up for a pivotal offseason, the focus is clear: retool, reinforce, and return to contention. With holes to patch and key decisions looming, the Bengals’ front office is weighing its options - and one name on the free agency radar could be a game-changer up front.
A Defensive Fit That Checks All the Boxes
At 6'4", 288 pounds, John Franklin-Myers brings the kind of versatility that defensive coordinators dream about. He’s lined up inside, outside, and everywhere in between - and in a three-down role, he offers exactly what the Bengals need: a disruptive presence who can help tighten up both the pass rush and run defense.
Over the past two seasons with the Denver Broncos, Franklin-Myers has quietly been one of the more productive linemen in the league. He’s tallied 65 tackles, 14.5 sacks, 44 pressures, and 14 tackles for loss - numbers that speak to both consistency and impact.
At 29 years old, he’s in that sweet spot of experience and physical prime. For a Bengals defense that needs more push up front, especially alongside Trey Hendrickson, Franklin-Myers could be an ideal fit.
Familiar Territory for Jordan Salkin
There’s been a bit of a shuffle on Zac Taylor’s coaching staff, but one move feels more like a homecoming than a shakeup. Jordan Salkin, who spent last season as the assistant wide receivers coach, is heading back to the quarterbacks room - a space he knows well.
Salkin played a role in helping Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins become the Bengals’ first Pro Bowl wide receiver duo in nearly two decades. Now, he’ll return to working with the signal-callers, a transition that aligns with his background and could provide a fresh perspective in the QB room alongside Joe Burrow.
Joe Flacco Weighing His Options
Veteran quarterback Joe Flacco, who spent time with the Bengals last season, is taking a measured approach to free agency. In a recent conversation with Ross Tucker, Flacco laid out two potential paths: wait for a possible starting opportunity elsewhere or return to Cincinnati in a backup role behind Burrow.
Flacco made it clear that he’s in no rush. He’s keeping his options open, and while a return to the Bengals isn’t off the table, it’s not a done deal either. For Cincinnati, that means the backup quarterback spot remains an open question heading into the spring.
Ja’Marr Chase Keeps It Real on Offseason Needs
If you’re wondering what the Bengals need to address this offseason, just ask Ja’Marr Chase. Actually, you don’t even need to - he’s already said it.
“I mean, everybody pretty much knows what we need,” Chase told Sports Illustrated. “I’ve said it out in the media.
All I gotta do is sit back and watch. I can’t control that, so all I gotta do is control my production.”
That’s classic Chase - direct, confident, and focused on what he can control. He’s made his opinions known, but he’s also trusting the front office to do its job. And if recent years are any indication, Chase will continue to let his play speak louder than words.
A Potential Break in the AFC North
There’s another storyline worth watching - one that could impact the Bengals even if they don’t make a single move. Baltimore center Tyler Linderbaum, a Pro Bowler and former first-round pick, is heading into free agency after the Ravens failed to lock him up with an extension.
Linderbaum is expected to command top dollar on the open market, and Baltimore has traditionally been hesitant to spend big at the center position. Add in reported medical concerns and his smaller frame, and there’s a real possibility the Ravens let him walk.
If that happens, the Bengals could benefit by subtraction. Linderbaum has been a stabilizing force in the middle of Baltimore’s offensive line, and his departure would create a notable void for a division rival.
Bottom Line: The Bengals have plenty of decisions to make this offseason - but they also have opportunities. Whether it’s adding a disruptive lineman like Franklin-Myers, reshuffling the coaching staff, or monitoring the moves of their AFC North rivals, every detail matters. And with leaders like Chase keeping the focus sharp, Cincinnati’s path back to the top starts now.