March 2, 2026, 5:30 a.m. ET

The Cincinnati Bengals will hunt for defensive line help in free agency and the draft this offseason. 

Such a need has led to speculation about one major cut candidate. In turn, that’s led to questions about a possible reunion with DJ Reader in free agency. 

But the Minnesota Vikings might have just given the Bengals another option. 

Those Vikings will reportedly cut defensive lineman Javon Hargrave for salary cap relief soon. 

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Hargrave, 33, signed a two-year deal worth $30 million before last season but is on the outs due to younger breakouts on the roster. 

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The Bengals would love to say the same thing about the younger players on their roster at the spot. But Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson are recent draft picks who have yet to emerge, causing this issue in the first place. 

Hargrave is probably older than the Bengals want right now. But he ranked 35th out of 134 players graded at his position last year at PFF. Adding him to the rotation at what should be an affordable cap hit could give the depth chart a much-needed boost.Â