Free agency has officially opened. During the first day of legal tampering, the Cincinnati Bengals added safety Bryan Cook and edge rusher Boye Mafe, but it’s been quiet since then.

Meanwhile, there has been a flurry of activity around the NFL that has seen Trey Hendrickson join the Baltimore Ravens and Joseph Ossai join the Jets, as well as a flurry of other moves around the league.

The two signings the Bengals have made are good ones, but there is so much more work to be done.

Here are some positions the Bengals should look to at least add depth to avoid being pigeon-holed in the NFL Draft.

The Bengals didn’t tender Jake Browning, which isn’t a surprise considering how poorly he played when called upon in 2025, and Joe Flacco is looking for a starting gig before he settles to carry a clipboard for someone else. Joe Burrow gets hit a lot, and he’s got some durability issues. If he isn’t able to play in all 17 games, a good backup could be paramount.

Obviously, if something major were to happen to Burrow, the season would be over, but if he needs to miss a week or two, a good backup could keep them in the hunt.

Candidates: Flacco would be the ideal backup, but that’s kind of out of the Bengals’ hands, at least for right now. There’s also Zach Wilson, Tyrod Taylor, Carson Wentz, and Trey Lance.

Level of Importance: Medium. They’ll have some time to figure this out.

The Bengals said goodbye to Logan Wilson and Germaine Pratt in fairly quick succession, and then said hello to Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter, both of whom were drafted in 2025. Each flashed throughout the season, but they both also struggled to adjust to the NFL from college. The Bengals cannot afford to sit back and see if that struggle will continue into the 2026 season.

Candidates: The Bengals could benefit from adding multiple linebackers before the draft. One with plans to start and others for depth. Dre Greenlaw or Kenneth Murray could be options, as could Akeem Davis-Gaither or Jerome Baker. Both Wilson and Pratt are free agents as well.

Level of Importance: High. The Bengals need help at linebacker, and they need a veteran to help Knight and Carter learn the ropes. Relying on a linebacker at No. 10 would be a mistake.

The Bengals’ defense is largely the culprit to blame for missing the playoffs in 2024 and 2025. DJ Reader left in free agency in 2020, and the Bengals have struggled to find a replacement for the nose tackle ever since. They’ve spent multiple draft picks on guys like Kris Jenkins Jr and McKinnley Jackson, and they have BJ Hill and TJ Slaton on the roster, but they’re missing someone to help tie it all together.

Someone who could rush the passer from the interior of the line would help, too.

Candidates: DJ Reader, interestingly enough, is available. He wouldn’t be reunited with Lou Anarumo, and he’d be surrounded by new faces (except for Hill), but he could certainly help the unit. Jonathan Allen, Dalvin Tomlinson, or Larry Ogunjobi could help as well.

Importance: Medium/High. This is another position the Bengals don’t want to be forced to use the No. 10 overall selection on. Having a solid rotation of interior defensive linemen is so important for linebackers. Having someone in the defensive front who can rush the passer and clog up rushing lanes is so important. The room is crowded, but room should be made for an upgrade.

The Bengals already added Cook, but another safety could be huge for Al Golden’s secondary. The position has been a mess since Jessie Bates left for free agency. They started off with Dax Hill and Nick Scott, which was a disaster. They moved Hill to the corner, got rid of Scott, signed Geno Stone, and drafted Jordan Battle. That combination hasn’t been much better.

Maybe it’s time for Battle to take a back seat. The Bengals could double-dip in the safety market to bolster their secondary.

Candidates: Harrison Smith would be the big, fun name to see in stripes next to Cook, but he’s 37 years old, and the front office has a thing for players once they enter their third decade on the planet. There’s also Kyle Dugger, Donovan Wilson, or Xavier Woods.

Importance: Medium/High. We’ve seen Battle do good things, and maybe Cook would bring a Pro Bowler out of him, but I’m thinking it’s time for someone else to step in.

Orlando Brown Jr. is entering a contract year, and if something were to happen to either him or right tackle Amarius Mims, the team would likely be turning to Cody Ford as a swing tackle. Ford has been with the Bengals for three seasons and has played almost every position on the line, but this is a big year, and Hendrickson is now with the Ravens.

Burrow needs to stay clean.

Candidates: Maybe D.J. Humphries, Trent Scott, or Kendall Lamm? There’s no need to pay top dollar if you’re signing a guy you hope never plays.

Importance: Low. They could do worse than Ford.

The Bengals still have Mike Gesicki as TE1, but he’s more of a slot receiver than a typical tight end. Last season, the Bengals signed Noah Fant to a one-year deal, and he caught 34 passes for 288 yards and three touchdowns. He’s gone now, and the Bengals could look to replace him in free agency.

They do have Tanner Hudson, and Erick All Jr. is hopefully returning from his injury, but there are other options.

Candidates: Will Dissly, Moe Alie-Cox, or Jonnu Smith could step in to Fant’s spot.

Importance: Low. Hopefully All is good to go, but Hudson has shown he can play at this level as well.