March 8, 2026, 5:30 a.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bengals are going to need some pass-rush help this offseason. Trey Hendrickson has already said goodbye to Cincinnati and Joseph Ossai is also a free agent. The Bengals should be active in the free-agent market for a new defensive end.
One option there could be former Denver Broncos defensive lineman John Franklin-Myers. That was a name mentioned as a possibility for Cincinnati by Gilberto Manzano and Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated.
“Franklin-Myers found a home in Denver after starting his career with the Rams and Jets. Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph put Franklin-Myers in a position to succeed, and he took full advantage, playing next to Zach Allen and D.J. Jones. He had 14.5 combined sacks the past two seasons and played an instrumental role in Denver clinching the No. 1 seed in the AFC. —GM”
Franklin-Myers has been a quality and versatile defensive lineman at all his stops, with the Rams, Jets and Broncos. He can get after the quarterback from the defensive end position but can also move inside and play both the run and pass. In addition to his 14.5 sacks, he had 14 tackles for a loss in two seasons with the Broncos.
For some perspective, Franklin-Myers’ sack totals the last two seasons would have ranked him second and first, respectively in the last two seasons if he were on the Bengals. Hendrickson lapped the field with 17.5 sacks in 2024; Myles Murphy led the team in 2025 with just 5.5 sacks.
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For his career, Franklin-Myers has 200 tackles, 35 tackles for a loss, 34 sacks, two forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in seven NFL seasons. He has played in all but three games since the start of the 2020 season, so not only is versatility a key ability for Franklin-Myers, but so is his availability.
Franklin-Myers is projected to get a three-year contract worth $42 million by SI. The Bengals are currently projected to have over $47 million in cap space by Over the Cap.