The Bengals have their franchise quarterback. They’ve got playmakers on offense.
But if Cincinnati wants to get back to being a serious contender in the AFC, the defense needs to step up-and fast. After a season where they finished 29th in EPA per play and 28th in success rate, it’s clear: something’s got to give on that side of the ball.
Enter Devin Lloyd.
The 27-year-old linebacker is coming off a breakout season with Jacksonville, earning his first Pro Bowl nod and a Second Team All-Pro selection. And with free agency around the corner, Lloyd could be exactly the kind of impact player Cincinnati needs to shore up the middle of the field.
Let’s start with the numbers. In 15 games this past season, Lloyd racked up 81 tackles, including six for a loss.
He added seven passes defended, five interceptions, 1.5 sacks, and a fumble recovery. That’s not just solid production-that’s a linebacker making plays at all three levels of the defense.
Whether he was stuffing the run, dropping into coverage, or creating turnovers, Lloyd was everywhere for the Jags.
Now imagine that kind of presence in the heart of Lou Anarumo’s defense.
Cincinnati’s linebacker unit struggled mightily in 2025, finishing dead last in overall grading at the position. That’s not the kind of stat you can ignore if you’re trying to win in a conference loaded with elite quarterbacks and high-powered offenses. Lloyd wouldn’t just be a marginal upgrade-he’d be a tone-setter, a difference-maker, and a leader in a unit that desperately needs one.
And here’s the kicker: the Bengals have the seventh-most cap space available heading into the offseason. They’ve got the financial flexibility to make a splash, and Lloyd fits the bill.
He’s in his prime, coming off his best season, and plays a position of glaring need. It’s the kind of move that makes sense on paper and on the field.
As for Jacksonville, declining Lloyd’s fifth-year option now looks like a misstep. Had they picked it up, they’d have one of the league’s most productive linebackers under contract at a bargain rate. Instead, they’re likely watching him walk-and someone else is going to benefit.
That someone could very well be the Bengals.
For Cincinnati, this offseason is about more than just tweaking around the edges. It’s about reloading and realigning a defense that fell short in too many key moments.
Devin Lloyd won’t fix everything, but he’d be a major step in the right direction. A physical, instinctive linebacker with a nose for the ball and the versatility to impact every phase of the game?
That’s exactly what this defense needs.
If the Bengals are serious about making another run in the AFC, they’ll need to make bold moves. Signing Devin Lloyd would be a good place to start.