CINCINNATI — The Dexter Lawrence trade understandably stole the show during the Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason.
It was one of the most aggressive trades in franchise history, he was one of the best veteran players that the team had ever acquired and it felt like the deal that tied the entire offseason together.
But for all of the attention that Lawrence has received, two more big veteran additions have been flying under the radar on a new-look defensive line. The Bengals splurged in free agency for a Super Bowl winning pass rusher who has a chance to be the Bengals’ top edge defender in Boye Mafe, and they added one of the more consistent interior pass rushers of the last several years in Jonathan Allen.
Those additions are a big part of what makes Lawrence excited about the defensive line that he’s joining.
‘We’re still growing and learning,” Lawrence said. “Getting comfortable and confident with the playbook and our scheme. That’s what this process is about. We have a lot of talent. The talent has to come together and work together.”
Mafe looks like a pass rusher who’s on the verge of a breakout season. He looked like a budding No. 1 pass rusher in 2023 and 2024 with the Seattle Seahawks as he recorded a combined 15 sacks between his second and third seasons in the league.
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Cincinnati Bengals' Boye Mafe arrives for the NFL football team's practice in Cincinnati, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. Carolyn Kaster - AP
Then in 2025, Seahawks head coach Mike Macdonald made some scheme changes and used a different pass rush rotation that altered Mafe’s role. He only recorded two sacks during a season where he didn’t get quite as many prime pass rush opportunities. But advanced analytics showed that Mafe was still one of the twitchiest pass rushers in the NFL.
The Bengals recognized traits that could blossom in an expanded role in Cincinnati. As he learns the defense during OTAs, Mafe is excited about how he fits in this system.
“They give us the freedom on the defensive line to be playmakers and have the opportunity to make things happen,” Mafe said. “It’s definitely exciting.”
Mafe, 27 years-old, signed a three-year, $60 million contract with Cincinnati a couple of months after winning the Super Bowl with Seattle.
Like a lot of the Bengals’ young defensive ends, he faced adversity early in his career. He had a challenging rookie season that didn’t click for him right away. In 2025, he had to make some sacrifices with his role.
He emerged from that adversity with a huge contract in hand.
He hopes that lessons he has picked up along his journey can be passed along to young Bengals defensive ends like Myles Murphy, Shemar Stewart and Cashius Howell.
“Half the game is mental,” Mafe said. “When you know what’s going on around you, it makes it easier to play the game. Right now, I’m a sponge who’s still learning the system and picking up what we’re doing here. Any time I can help, if I see something I’ve used and figured out when I was a younger player, I’m always willing to help and teach anyone anything I may know.”
Allen, 31 years-old and a two-time Pro Bowler, signed a reported two-year deal for $28 million. Before the Dexter Lawrence trade, it looked like Allen would be the big defensive tackle addition who’d lift up a position group that wasn’t strong enough for the Bengals in 2025.
Now with Lawrence, BJ Hill and Allen all in the mix, the Bengals have one of the best defensive tackle trios in the league.
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Cincinnati Bengals' Dexter Lawrence II arrive for the NFL football team's practice in Cincinnati, Tuesday, June 2, 2026. Carolyn Kaster - AP
Allen is a former Walter Payton Man of the Year nominee, and he adds more leadership to the Bengals’ defense.
“What I’ve learned in my time in the league is the difference between winning and losing is razor thin,” Allen said. “The difference between a 10-win team and a five-win team is massive on paper, but it’s really not that big of a difference. It’s little things that add up. It’s very easy to lose, and it’s very hard to win.”
Between 2021 and 2023, Allen totaled 22 sacks. He battled a pec injury in 2024 but was still a huge part of a magical season with the Washington Commanders. Allen signed a lucrative deal with the Vikings entering 2025, but he ended up not being a fit in their scheme and was cut after the season.
Allen enters this season with a chip on his shoulder, and he’s excited about his fit in Cincinnati.
“I wanted to go to the team that gave me the best opportunity to compete late in January,” Allen said. “This team was it. When you have a guy like Joe (Burrow), you have a chance.”