Cincinnati Bengals

Cincinnati has $20.4M in current cap room (19th in the league) with relief on the way, as next year's projected room jumps to $48.9M (17th), and 28 expiring contracts accelerate that flexibility.

28 contracts expiring

Madden Tools Analysis

Five starting spots have weak depth behind the starter.

Cincinnati holds an exceptional seven picks across the upcoming draft with all seven falling in the first round, and 21 picks across the three-year horizon including three first-rounders, giving the rebuild real ammunition.

The roster's top strength is its pass-catching nucleus, headlined by the 99 and 89 overall receiver duo, while the linebacker corps, ranked last at MIKE and near the bottom at SAM and WILL, is the most glaring weak spot.

• LEDGEhigh

  The starting left edge ranks 31st in the league and Cashius Howell, a 23-year-old Star trait prospect, is the depth-chart starter, making adding an established pass rusher the single most urgent priority.

• LGhigh

  Dylan Fairchild starts at left guard but ranks 29th at the position league-wide, so upgrading or developing this spot is critical to protecting Burrow.

• LThigh

  Orlando Brown Jr is the starter but grades out 27th at left tackle and is in the later stage of his career, meaning the team needs a long-term answer at the position soon.

• MIKEhigh

  Barrett Carter starts at middle linebacker but the position ranks dead last in the league, making it the most glaring defensive weakness by position rank.

• SAMhigh

  Oren Burks starts at Sam linebacker and the position ranks 11th out of only 13 teams that carry the spot, so finding a credible starter is an immediate need.

• RGmedium

  Dalton Risner holds the starting right guard job but the position grades 23rd overall and the depth behind him is among the thinnest in the league at 26th.

• TEmedium

  Mike Gesicki starts at tight end but ranks 20th at the position, and Cincinnati's overall tight end depth ranks 28th in the league.

• WILLmedium

  Demetrius Knight Jr starts at will linebacker and grades 26th at the position, leaving the linebacking corps thin across the board.

• SSlow

  Jordan Battle holds the starting strong safety role but ranks 21st at the position, a lower-priority need given the depth ranks 8th in the league.

• 70T.J. Slaton JrDTT.J. Slaton Jr is a redundant depth piece behind three better interior linemen and releasing him frees $5.7M against $3.4M in dead money.Frees $5.7M · $3.4M dead
• 68Drew SampleTEDrew Sample is the third tight end on the depth chart behind Gesicki and Hudson, and cutting him frees $2.5M against only $300K in dead money.Frees $2.5M · $300.0K dead
• 78Dax HillCBDax Hill starts as the second cornerback and is only 25 with a Star trait, but freeing $12.7M with zero dead money gives the team by far its most impactful cap relief and the position has sufficient depth to absorb the move.Frees $12.7M · $0 dead
• 66Jalen DavisCBJalen Davis is a 66 overall corner buried on the depth chart and releasing him frees $1.3M against just $180K in dead money.Frees $1.3M · $180.0K dead
• 72Joe FlaccoQBJoe Flacco is a 41-year-old twilight backup quarterback who barely earns his spot behind Burrow, and releasing him frees $1.3M against $2.0M in dead money, making the timing better sooner than later.Frees $1.3M · $2.0M dead

The Bengals enter this franchise window with a genuine superstar foundation in Joe Burrow (97 overall) and Ja'Marr Chase (99 overall), supported by Tee Higgins at 89 overall, giving the offense a ceiling few rosters can match. The problem is everything around that trio. The offensive line is a liability from left tackle through left guard, and the linebacking corps ranks at or near the bottom of the league at every level. Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen form a legitimately dangerous interior defensive line, though Allen is entering the later stage of his career and will need a succession plan in the medium term. Kyle Dugger at strong safety is in a similar spot. Cashius Howell and Shemar Stewart are young edge rushers the team can develop, but neither has proven to be an established starter yet. With $20.4M in current cap room and $48.9M projected for next season, Cincinnati has a meaningful spending window opening up, and 28 expiring contracts mean the roster will look different quickly. The five-year runway here is real, but it runs through protecting Burrow and rebuilding the linebacker corps before the window with this core narrows.

The Bengals were founded in 1968 by legendary coach Paul Brown, who had been fired by the Cleveland Browns in 1963. Brown's ownership group received AFL approval on May 23, 1967, the team began play in 1968, and joined the NFL in the 1970 merger. Brown chose the same shade of orange as Cleveland and named the team 'Bengals' to link it to earlier Cincinnati pro teams of the 1930s-40s. The franchise's golden era came in the 1980s: after adopting the iconic orange tiger-striped helmets in 1981, the Bengals, led by QB Ken Anderson (1981 NFL MVP), reached Super Bowl XVI, losing 26-21 to the 49ers. Under QB Boomer Esiason (1988 NFL MVP) and coach Sam Wyche, they returned to Super Bowl XXIII after 1988, losing 20-16 to the 49ers on a late Joe Montana-to-John Taylor touchdown. After a 1990 playoff appearance, the team collapsed into 14 consecutive non-winning seasons, earning the nickname 'The Bungles.' A 2-14 finish in 2002 led to the hiring of Marvin Lewis in 2003, who restored respectability but never won a playoff game across 16 seasons. The drafting of Joe Burrow first overall in 2020 transformed the franchise: in 2021 the Bengals won their first playoff game since 1990 and reached Super Bowl LVI, losing 23-20 to the Los Angeles Rams. They returned to the AFC Championship Game in 2022 but missed the playoffs in 2023, 2024, and 2025.