It does not take an NFL GM to come to the conclusion that the Cincinnati Bengals are prioritizing the defense after a 6-11 finish last season. So far, the AFC North side has made three big free agent acquisitions who are already confirmed in Jonathan Allen, Bryan Cook, and Boye Mafe.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Early Draft Expectations<\/p>\n
All signs point towards the Bengals drafting someone in the secondary with the 10th overall pick<\/a>, whether that be former Ohio State standout Caleb Downs at safety, or LSU transfer cornerback Mansoor Delane.\u00a0<\/p>\n Combine that with, in all likelihood, a second or even third round defensive selection, and you can begin to wonder, \u201cWhat about the offense?\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n Cincinnati Was Too One-Dimensional In 2025<\/p>\n Let\u2019s not be afraid to call a spade a spade here, Cincinnati\u2019s offense last season was right around average. Of course it is worth noting that quarterback Joe Burrow\u2019s turf toe injury played a part in the Bengals\u2019 330.4 offensive yards per game which was good for 16th in the NFL.\u00a0<\/p>\n Beyond Burrow\u2019s injury-ridden campaign stands a very shaky rushing offense, which measured just 93.6 rushing yards per game, 29th in the league<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Zac Taylor\u2019s Side Is Looking To Expand The Running Corps<\/p>\n According to Jeremy Fowler of ESPN, the Bengals and the Los Angeles Chargers are set to interview former California and Oklahoma running back Jaydn Ott.\u00a0<\/p>\n Former Oklahoma and Cal RB Jaydn Ott is visiting with the Chargers today and also will visit with the Bengals coming up. <\/p>\n Ott was solid at the Senior Bowl and had a 4.47-second 40 with 40.5-inch vertical at pro day, 10.11 broad jump.<\/p>\n \u2014 Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) April 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n In his time with the Golden Bears, Ott was a crown Jewel in Justin Wilcox\u2019s offense. Over Ott\u2019s three years, the California native put together 2,597 yards and 30 total touchdowns from scrimmage, with 4.8 average yards per carry<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ott then hit the portal where he was rated as a four-star transfer and handed a tag as the 50th-ranked overall prospect, and the third-best running back from the 2025 transfer portal, before landing with Oklahoma.\u00a0<\/p>\n Ott endured a shoulder injury in fall camp, but even when healthy, Ott never carved out much time on the field and finished with just 21 carries and 68 yards in a season where the Sooners made it to the first round of the College Football Playoff before crashing out against Alabama.\u00a0<\/p>\n The talent with Ott is undeniable, even if his senior season did not go to plan, he did enough in his time out West to solidify himself as an NFL player, further numbers from his Pro Day<\/a> proved that notion.<\/p>\n The two-deep currently holds rising star Chase Brown and an aging Samaje Perine. With Brown entering his last year with the Bengals, possibly adding a player like Ott either towards the end of the draft or afterwards may not be the worst idea, with Brown\u2019s market value being worth around a third more than what his $7.3 million contract is worth. <\/p>\n