March 8, 2026, 10:30 a.m. ET
The Cincinnati Bengals weren’t lying or exaggerating about the need to upgrade a key position in NFL free agency this offseason.
Duke Tobin and defensive coordinator Al Golden have been adamant about upgrading the starting safety spot next to Jordan Battle this offseason.
That’s coming to a head before NFL free agency opens now, with the national outlook reporting the Bengals are indeed at the top of the market hunting for names, according to ESPN’S Jeremy Fowler:
“The Jets and Bengals come up often in conversations about safeties at or toward the top of the market. Kansas City’s Bryan Cook remains a key figure in this market. The Chiefs could look to backfill at the position if they lose Cook, too.”
The Bengals have realistic free agency targets at safety and other spots.
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But Bryan Cook is a very purposeful name-drop here. We’ve gone in-depth on why the Bengals signing Cook would make so much sense.
The Bengals have other big needs in free agency, no doubt. They need a veteran linebacker to help out the sophomores they want to build around for the future. The defensive line needs an interior presence and pass-rushing depth, considering the youth up front and the free-agent status of Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai.
But from the sounds of it, safety could be the first big purchase for the Bengals in free agency.
Fitting, too, that it might be with a former Mount Healthy High School and Bearcats standout, for what it’s worth.