Bengals Fanbase
Hey Bengals fans - welcome to the first edition of what we hope will become your go-to source for keeping up with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Most Bengals coverage is written for clicks, not for fans.
That’s why we’re creating this newsletter. This is going to cover everything you need to know as a Bengals fan - what happened, what it means, and what to watch for next. No hot takes and no manufactured drama. Just the stuff worth knowing, from a fan who’s been showing up for the fans and city of Cincinnati for decades.
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DRAFT UPDATES
Player Visits
This week the Bengals hosted Rueben Bain Jr., Jacob Rodriguez, Sonny Styles, Lorenzo Styles Jr., Akheem Mesidor, Josiah Trotter, Febechi Nwaiwu, Chris Johnson, Austin Barber, Jalen Hunt, Jeremiyah Love, and Malik Benson — first-round edges, linebackers, corners, and developmental pieces, all in one week.
The Bain visit matters most. He's the defending ACC Defensive Player of the Year, 9.5 sacks last season, with 30 7/8" arms as the one real knock. If the Chiefs take a corner at 9, Bain could be sitting right there at 10. Todd McShay said it plainly: "It becomes interesting if Bain is sitting there at 10. Is that their edge? And it certainly could be."
Rodriguez won every major defensive award in college football last year — Bednarik, Butkus, Lombardi, Nagurski. Luke Kuechly called him his favorite player in the class. Daniel Jeremiah has him 41st overall. If he's there at 41, that's a home run.
Josiah Trotter — Missouri linebacker projected Day 2-3; the Bengals drafted two linebackers last year and the position still isn't solved.
Malik Benson Worth Watching Late — Oregon wideout, 4.37 speed, 16.7 yards per catch last season. With real depth issues at the third receiver spot, he's a sensible Round 6 target.
Draft Board Coming Together
Cornerback is still the most likely outcome at 10. Matt Miller says Cincinnati is "in prime position" to address it, with Mansoor Delane and Jermod McCoy atop the board. Field Yates called it "extremely hard" to see the Bengals pass on Delane — Jim Thorpe Award winner, 4.38 speed. McCoy ran a 4.34 but hasn't played since tearing his ACL in early 2024. Higher ceiling, real risk.
The trade-back conversation is also getting louder. Bill Barnwell's all-trades mock had the Bengals moving to 13 (picking up a third from the Rams) and again to 16 (extra second from the Jets).
Cincinnati has made zero draft-night trades in three years. But with Burrow, Chase, and Higgins all eating cap, moving back would actually be justified this year.
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THE SECONDARY IS COMING TOGETHER
Kyle Duggar Signs One-Year Deal
This is a real signing. Dugger spent seven years in New England as one of the more underrated safeties in the AFC. 454 career tackles, 11 interceptions, 27 tackles for loss, and the versatility to play in the box or drop into coverage. He's 29, signing a one-year deal.
Cook handles the single-high role. Dugger slides in as the chess piece. With those two in the room, the safety need at pick 10 just got a lot less urgent — which probably means corner is back to being the most likely outcome.
Ja’Sir Taylor Also Signed This Week
Primarily a special teams contributor who gives the Bengals competition at nickel corner behind Jalen Davis. His 41.1 PFF grade last season tells you this doesn't change the urgency at corner in the draft.
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OTHER FRONT OFFICE MOVES
Joe Flacco Is Back
One-year deal, $6M base up to $9M with incentives. He stepped in for Burrow's toe injury last year and handled it fine. And if he thinks other teams were dumb for not signing him as a starter, he's not entirely wrong.
Boye Mafe's Contract Under The Microscope
Three years, $60 million, franchise record for an outside free agent. While defensive line coach Jerry Montgomery confirmed Sean Desai’s intel on fit and character made the Bengals confident in the move, the $17M cap hit in 2026 has been scrutinized by some.
Cap Space Check: We’re 18th
After Cook, Mafe, Allen, Dugger, and Flacco, enough room to sign the rookie class and one more margin move. DJ Turner and Dax Hill extensions remain the outstanding priorities.
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ROSTER MOVES
Cam Sample
Cam Sample signed with the 49ers. Four seasons, five starts, seven sacks, one torn Achilles, and he started every playoff game Cincinnati needed him for. That's a good Bengals career. Godspeed, Cam.
Matt Lee
Matt Lee was waived Tuesday, which leaves Jacob Beyer — a practice squad player most fans couldn't pick out of a lineup — as the backup center behind Ted Karras. Interior offensive line depth is now a legitimate draft priority. The multiple sixth-round picks give Duke Tobin the ammunition to fix it on Day 3.
Dexter Lawrence Rumors
Hill posted a shushing emoji, Bengals Twitter concluded a Lawrence trade is imminent; there is no deal, though if Lawrence somehow lands here without gutting the draft, he'd be the best interior DL in Cincinnati since Geno Atkins.
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Bengal Jim and Friends Updates
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