The regular NFL season is inching closer and closer! Official football is back on our screens in a matter of days. The hype is there, the excitement, and as seen in the Cincinnati Bengals' preseason-opening win over the Detroit Lions and throughout training camp, fans (myself included) are ready for Sundays this fall.
So far, the Bengals' front office has impressed this offseason, but only time will tell how all of that will translate to when the actual games start in 2026 and throughout the coming years. Will the new-look, under-center offense be effective? Will the overhauled defense jell quickly enough? It remains to be seen.
Within this span though, the Bengals have a few things left on their to-do list that they should handle before a visit with the Buccaneers, but in all honesty, they probably won't.
(Early) contract extensions for DJ Turner and Chase Brown
Yeah, we know that the Bengals don’t always do contract extensions at the best times. Ja’Marr Chase’s extension is a recent example, and if the extension was done sooner, when everyone was calling for it, it would have cost much less.Â
Now, Chase Brown has been a hot topic this summer, and with good reason. Brown’s stats last year speak for themselves, he had six touchdowns and 1,019 rushing yards. Brown has become the dependable, solid running back that this team has always needed, and the front office needs to realize that and extend him as soon as possible. The longer the front office holds out, the more expensive this will become.
DJ Turner is in the same boat as Brown. The cornerback has really come into his own recently, and his contract is coming to an end as well. Turner had a great year last year, as he had 27 solo tackles, two forced fumbles, and two interceptions. Despite the defensive upgrade this offseason, extending Turner should still be a priority, as a consistent cornerback is necessary.Â
Adding a last-minute linebacker would be the ultimate Bengals offseason capstone
What the Bengals will do about their linebacker situation has also been a hot topic this summer. Fans were calling for the team to sign a veteran linebacker to the roster this offseason, and the front office has yet to do so.
With Week 1 inching closer, this would still be a smart move to really create an even more solid defense. However, this is not likely to occur, as the team seems to be putting all of their faith into Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter having breakout years. Granted, both have been playing great this offseason, it would still make sense to add a veteran to really solidify the linebacker room.
As long as the team makes the playoffs (at the very least), I suppose there’s nothing to complain about. Hopefully Joe Burrow’s Super Bowl ambitions finally come to fruition in the coming months.
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