The Cincinnati Bengals roster isn’t set, but it is solidified with all 90 spots filled.
There could be some pre-training camp additions or early September trades or waiver claims, but for the most part the group the Bengals will carry into the season is in the building as Phase II of the offseason program gets underway.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the roster by taking a look at all of the position groups and ranking them from biggest strength to most concerning weakness.
The rankings will weigh talent as well as depth, but the larger focus will be on the starters.
1. Quarterback
Joe Burrow and Joe Flacco
Sep 7, 2025; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Cleveland Browns quarterback Joe Flacco (15) and Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (9) shake hands after a game at Huntington Bank Field. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-Imagn Images | Ken Blaze-Imagn Images
Joe Burrow
Joe Flacco
Josh Johnson
Sean Clifford
It would be hard to rank the quarterback position anywhere else regardless of the names sitting behind Burrow.
But by bringing back Flacco for another season, the Cincinnati quarterback group not only holds down the top spot on the roster, it might be the best anywhere in the league.
And the most experienced.
Johnson entered the league in 2009, one year after Flacco. Their professionalism and been-then, seen-that knowledge banks will be a great asset for Burrow.
2. Wide Receiver
Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins
Cincinnati Bengals wide receivers Tee Higgins (5) and Ja'Marr Chase (1) celebrate Higgins’ touchdown in the 2nd half over Jacksonville Jaguars at Paycor Stadium on Sunday, September 14, 2025. The Bengals won 27-31. | Cara Owsley/ The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Ja’Marr Chase
Tee Higgins
Andrei Iosivas
Colbie Young
Ke'Shawn Williams
Mitch Tinsley
Charlie Jones
Kendric Pryor
Xavier Johnson
Noah Thomas
Dohnte Meyers
Jordan Moore
You could start a spirited conversation by debating which team has the best wide receiver trio in the league. Many teams, including the Bengals, could stake a claim, but there obviously is a significant drop from Higgins to Iosivas.
The top tandem in the league? Yeah, it has to be Cincinnati.
Young, the team’s fourth-round pick, has a chance to wrestle that No. 3 spot away from Iosivas and stake an even stronger claim to the Bengals having the league’s best trio. But there’s a long way to go before he can be graded on production rather than promise.
Of course, Iosivas isn’t a finished project. There still is room for growth after topping 30 catches and 400 yards in each of the last two seasons.
3. Defensive Line
Dexter Lawrence
Newly signed Cincinnati Bengals defense tackle Dexter Lawrence speaks in a press conference for the first time since joining the team at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Monday, April 20, 2026. | Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Dexter Lawrence II
Boye Mafe
B.J. Hill
Myles Murphy
Shemar Stewart
Jonathan Allen
Cashius Howell
Kris Jenkins Jr.
T.J. Slaton Jr.
Landon Robinson
Cedric Johnson
McKinnley Jackson
Jordan Jefferson
Howard Cross III
Isaiah Foskey
Who would’ve thought this would be a top 3 group a month ago?
Adding Lawrence via a surprising trade and Mafe and Allen in free agency has completely transformed Jerry Montgomery’s room, and Howell is expected to add even more juice to the pass rush after the Bengals selected him in the second round of the 2026 NFL Draft.
There have been six instances in which at least four Bengals recorded five or more sacks in a season, with the most recent coming in the 2021 Super Bowl season with Trey Hendrickson, Sam Hubbard, Larry Ogunjobi and Hill.
Could this group join that list with Murphy and Stewart on the rise?
Since 1982, there have been 61 teams with at least five players recording five or more sacks. Of those, 33 went to the playoffs (54 percent).
4. Offensive Line
Bengals offensive line
Dec 14, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals center Ted Karras (64) and guard Dylan Fairchild (63) and offensive tackle Orlando Brown (75) line up for a play during the fourth quarter against the Baltimore Ravens at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Orlando Brown Jr.
Dylan Fairchild
Ted Karras
Dalton Risner
Amarius Mims
Jalen Rivers
Cody Ford
Connor Lew
Brian Parker II
Andrew Coker
Javon Foster
Jacob Bayer
Liam Brown
Christian Jones
Corey Robinson II
Another data point on the revamped roster in Cincinnati, although this one has been much more of a slow build than the instant brew the front office undertook this offseason in the defensive trenches.
Barring injuries, 2026 will mark the first time since 2010 the Bengals will start the same five offensive linemen in the season opener as they did in the previous year’s finale.
The additions of Lew and Parker certainly strengthen the depth, and Rivers showed signs as a rookie that he can be a trusted backup.
If the Bengals get the 2024 version of Ford rather than last year’s, you can start talking about where this offensive line ranks in franchise history – post-Anthony Muñoz era, of course.
5. Running Back
Chase Brown
Jan 4, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals running back Chase Brown (30) makes a deep run in the second quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Paycor Stadium. Credit: Sam Greene-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images | Sam Greene-USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images
Chase Brown
Samaje Perine
Tahj Brooks
Gary Brightwell
Kendall Milton
Kentrel Bullock
Jamal Haynes
The group doesn’t have ideal depth, but Brown is emerging as a top 10 back in the league, and Perine has performed well whenever needed.
Because of their production and durability, Brooks didn’t get many opportunities as a rookie, which isn’t great for him but is good when it comes to evaluating the strength of a position group.
6. Specialists
Evan McPherson
Ryan Rehkow
William Wagner
This is a really solid group. People may not realize that McPherson ranked seventh in field goal percentage last year, while Rehkow ranked second in gross punting average and ninth in net average. And that was despite tying for the league in touchbacks.
7. Safety
Bryan Cook
Bengals safety Bryan Cook speaks to the media during a press conference at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Thursday, March 12, 2026. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Bryan Cook
Jordan Battle
Kyle Dugger
PJ Jules
Daijahn Anthony
Russ Yeast
Isaiah Nwokobia
Safety edges out cornerback here because the Bengals have three solid options for what is typically two positions, while corner has two top options for what is typically a three-man deployment.
Signing Cook should upgrade both safety positions as he will have a far greater impact on Battle’s growth than Geno Stone did the last two seasons.
And signing Dugger late in free agency could be one of the underrated moves of the offseason.
8. Cornerback
Dax Hill
Bengals Dax Hill (23) celebrates a play during their game against the Steelers on Sunday November 16, 2025 at Acrisure Stadium. | Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Dax Hill
DJ Turner II
Tacario Davis
Jalen Davis
DJ Ivey
Josh Newton
Ja'Sir Taylor
Jalen Kimber
Bralyn Lux
Ceyair Wright
The Bengals still don’t know who is going to line up at nickel corner.
They invested in the position by taking Tacario Davis in the third round, but his length might make him a better candidate to play outside, kicking Hill back into the slot, something he’d rather not do.
Corner is one of those positions where you go into the season knowing you're going to need to rely on your depth at some point, and there just are a lot of questions once you get past Hill and Turner.
9. Tight End
Drew Sample
Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (89) runs after a catch during warm ups before the NFL game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Denver Broncos at Paycor Stadium in Cincinnati on Saturday, Dec. 28, 2024. | Albert Cesare/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Drew Sample
Mike Gesicki
Tanner Hudson
Erick All Jr.
Jack Endries
Cam Grandy
Josh Kattus
All’s return to full health could catapult this position a few spots, but it remains to be seen how he will fare after back-to-back ACL surgeries on the same knee.
The rest of the group are more specialized than the well-rounded All. And the giant chip Endries is carrying into the season could propel him into the mix.
10. Linebacker
Barrett Carter, Demetrius Knight
Dec 28, 2025; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. (44) and Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Barrett Carter (49) react after a play during the second half against the Arizona Cardinals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images | Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
Demetrius Knight Jr.
Barrett Carter
Oren Burks
Shaka Heyward
Joe Giles-Harris
Swayze Bozeman
Antwaun Powell-Ryland
Jack Dingle
Eric Gentry
Liam Anderson
It was a stunning offseason that saw the Bengals refuse to address the linebacker position despite it being their weakest and thinnest.
They didn’t sign one in free agency or draft one. They recently plucked Bozeman off waivers, but still, this is a giant bet on Knight and Carter developing into quality starters.
There was encouraging progress in the second half of 2025, but the refusal to take out an insurance policy could be costly on the field, and it’s the biggest reason linebacker comes in last on this list.
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