The Cincinnati Bengals have some work to do this offseason, and most of it starts on the defensive side of the ball. After a season where the defense struggled to consistently get off the field, it’s clear the front office needs to prioritize the trenches-and fast.
Yes, there are offensive tweaks to be made, but the heart of the matter is the defensive line. That group needs reinforcements, and one name that makes a lot of sense for Cincinnati is veteran defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers.
At 6-foot-4 and 288 pounds, Franklin-Myers brings versatility that could be a game-changer for this Bengals front. He’s spent time lining up both inside and on the edge, giving defensive coordinators flexibility in how they deploy him. For a team like Cincinnati that’s trying to retool its pass rush and shore up its run defense, that kind of positional fluidity is invaluable.
The Bengals are staring at a potential void on the edge with Trey Hendrickson hitting free agency. That naturally shifts the conversation toward finding a replacement pass rusher.
But Franklin-Myers isn’t just a plug-and-play edge guy-he’s a do-it-all lineman who can collapse the pocket from multiple angles. That’s exactly the type of presence this defense lacked at times last season.
Franklin-Myers, now a seven-year NFL vet, has spent the last two seasons in Denver, where he posted 14.5 sacks. Before that, he logged four seasons with the New York Jets, racking up 17.5 sacks.
He’s not just productive-he’s consistent. And that’s something the Bengals could use more of up front.
What makes Franklin-Myers even more appealing is the price tag. He’s not expected to command top-tier edge rusher money, which gives Cincinnati a chance to address a major need without blowing up their cap. For a team that needs multiple upgrades on defense, that kind of value matters.
He may not be the flashiest name in this year’s free agent class, but Franklin-Myers checks a lot of boxes: experience, versatility, production, and affordability. And for a Bengals defense looking to take a step forward, he might be the kind of foundational piece that helps turn things around in the trenches.