The Bengals’ secondary is heading into the 2026 season with something to prove, and CBS Sports didn’t exactly hand out a vote of confidence.
In a league-wide ranking of all 32 secondaries, CBS Sports put Cincinnati in the “Need More Talent” tier, alongside the San Francisco 49ers, Minnesota Vikings, Carolina Panthers, New Orleans Saints, and Green Bay Packers. The ranking came from CBS Sports writer JP Acosta and former NFL cornerback Bryant McFadden, though the pair did not break down the Bengals’ group on their “Pushing the Pile” podcast.
That placement fits the scrutiny Cincinnati’s back end is carrying into the fall. Last season, the Bengals allowed the most yards per play in the NFL at 6.2, and the secondary was a major part of that story.
The unit did create turnovers at a strong clip, finishing with a 12% turnover rate, which ranked eighth in the league. But when the front seven couldn’t get home, the coverage numbers fell apart - Cincinnati gave up 8.3 yards per pass attempt in those situations, which ranked 29th.
Defensive coordinator Al Golden is tasked with changing that picture, and the Bengals have backed that push with serious investment on defense this offseason. Head coach Zac Taylor made it clear he believes in the staff around him, and he had plenty of praise for the group.
"Really excited, really excited about the direction these guys are going," Taylor said about the staff. "A lot of the new guys on defense, O-line guys, are really pleased with how they just fit as a staff. The type of people they are, the type of workers they are, their football IQ, their ability to work well with others, and adapt to the scheme, and have great ideas.
"And I think that we've got a really strong collection of coaches. That I always feel this way, that over the next 10 years, you're gonna see unbelievable things from everybody on the staff.
And I see them every day and know what they're capable of. Don't ever wanna lose any of them, cuz I think we have a really, really, really strong coaching staff.”
In Other News...
Bengals May Have Found A Receiver Story Fans Didn't See Coming
The Bengals have spent the offseason looking for any edge they can find at receiver, and one of the more interesting additions came from an unexpected place. Dohnte Meyers arrived after his time with the Saskatchewan Roughriders, where he worked through injuries and still managed to be part of a Grey Cup run, giving Cincinnati a player whose path to the NFL has already included plenty of adversity.
For a team always searching for reliable depth behind its top targets, Meyers is the kind of name worth watching once camp opens. His background suggests resilience and a willingness to keep pushing through setbacks, and that can matter as much as raw talent when a roster spot and a role are on the line. The question now is how quickly he can turn that kind of resume into something real in a crowded Bengals receiver room. [Read more 🡒]
Bengals Finally Have The Interior Force This Gamble Demanded
The Bengals spent a premium draft asset to get Dexter Lawrence, and the logic behind the move is easy to see. Even with a statistical dip in 2025 while playing through an injury, Lawrence still carries the kind of reputation that keeps him near the top of leaguewide conversations among executives, coaches and scouts, and Cincinnati clearly believes he can change the feel of its defensive front.
What the Bengals are buying is not just production, but gravity. Lawrence has long been the sort of interior force offenses have to account for on every snap, the player who can occupy multiple blockers and open up space for everyone around him. ESPNs 2026 preseason survey still placed him seventh among defensive tackles, a reminder that the league has not forgotten how disruptive he can be when healthy, and now Cincinnati is betting that reputation will translate into something bigger on its own line. [Read more 🡒]
National Analyst Just Put Bengals New Safety Duo In Elite Company
The Bengals spent part of the offseason trying to stabilize a defense that has too often carried too much of the load, and the addition of Bryan Cook was one of the more direct moves in that effort. Cook arrived from Kansas City on a three-year deal after finishing his rookie contract, giving Cincinnati a proven veteran to pair with Jordan Battle as the secondary tries to take a real step forward in 2026.
Sports Illustrateds Matt Verderame took notice, slotting Cook and Battle among the leagues best safety tandems and putting Cincinnati in the same conversation as some of the NFLs most established back-end groups. Battles heavy workload and production last season already gave the Bengals a foundation, and Cooks championship background adds another layer of credibility, but the bigger question is whether the pairing can turn that recognition into the kind of defensive consistency that helps push Cincinnati back into the playoffs. [Read more 🡒]