The Cincinnati Bengals’ front office spent the 2026 offseason going “all in” on the defensive side of the ball to show Joe Burrow that they were serious about giving him a defense good enough to compete after two seasons of anything but.
Cincinnati’s C-suite went out of character, trading their 2026 first-round draft pick to the New York Giants for Dexter Lawrence, signing priority free agents Bryan Cook and Boye Mafe, and using their first pick on a prolific edge rusher, Cashius Howell, who has the shortest arms ever recorded for the position.
Next offseason, they should do the same thing, only attacking the offensive line with the same fury that they did with the defense. They already have the road map from this offseason. Rinse and repeat using free agency, the draft, and a high draft pick to address the offensive line next.
Bengals should spend big on Quenton Nelson (or Ikem Ekwonu as Plan B)
The 2026 season has yet to begin. Nevertheless, every organization should already have a good idea of how their ledgers will look once free agency begins. When March 2027 comes around, hopefully the Bengals will have some budgeted for Ikem Ekwonu. And even more for Quenton Nelson.
Cincinnati will face the Panthers in Week 15, so they will have an early look at a player who should be on their radar in the offseason.
The Panthers have Taylor Morton, Rasheed Walker, and rookie Monroe Freeling at tackle while Ekwonu works his way back from injury.
Ekwonu will likely come back this season, but may not be completely healthy. That could make him expendable for the Panthers if he has a less-than-stellar season. In that case, he would be a perfect, discounted, high-upside free agent the Bengals wouldn't hesitate to bring in.
Ekwonu could play tackle or right guard, depending on how things play out for the rest of the offensive line.
Of course, if Quentin Nelson hits free agency, the Bengals should drive to Indianapolis and make sure they don’t leave without a contract in place. It wouldn’t be easy, as Nelson would surely have the most suitors next offseason.
The Bengals could throw down a pile of cash like Pat Riley throws down his championship rings when recruiting NBA free agents. The Bengals don’t have rings, so cash will have to do.
The Bengals face the Colts just one week after playing the Panthers. But they, or any other team, would not need an up-close look at Nelson to know he would be an upgrade over most guards in the NFL, even at 32 years old.
Nelson would be a no-brainer and an enormous win for the Bengals next offseason if the Colts let him walk. However, they shouldn't bank on that and should already have a Plan B.
Trading a 1st-round pick for Patrick Paul would shore up the left tackle spot
It is incredible to think that we are already looking at players drafted in the 2024 draft as potential trade targets. But with those players selected outside the first round and no fifth-year option hanging over their heads, that is exactly where we find ourselves.
One possible, but admittedly unlikely, target would be Miami Dolphins tackle Patrick Paul. But let’s try to will this into existence.
The Dolphins taking Paul with the 55th overall pick in the 2024 draft remains a swift kick in the groin. He was a personal favorite target for the Bengals in the first round.
Even though the team took Mims, Cincinnati had another chance to grab Paul in the second round. However, they passed when they took defensive tackle Kris Jenkins Jr., who's a potential trade candidate. If there was ever a time to double up at the tackle spots, the 2024 draft was it.
But it is not too late for the Bengals to target Paul. Only this time, the front office would have to use a first-round pick, and maybe more, along with a new contract, to pry him away from Miami. Although Cincinnati just agreed to a contract extension with Orlando Brown Jr., he's been declining in recent years, and would save the team over $11 million next year on a post-June 1 release.
Because the Dolphins will be looking for a franchise QB in the draft, they could be persuaded to add ammunition to move up in next year’s talented QB class.
Find the next Creed Humphrey or Zach Frazier at center
It will be easier to find a starting center or guard in the draft to come in and immediately contribute to the offensive line’s success.
Starting centers like Zach Frazier and Creed Humphrey show what teams can accomplish with competent scouting in that department. Again, the Bengals, like with Paul, passed on Frazier to take Jenkins.
A personal perfect 2024 draft included Paul in the first round and Frazier in the second round. With Mims taken in the first, following that up with either of those two linemen would have been ideal.
And lest you forget, the Bengals used their second-round pick on Jackson Carman while Creed Humphrey went to Kansas City 17 picks later. Like with the latest draft, the Bengals could use their 2027 first-rounder to trade for an established starter and use their second-rounder on a center.
Sometimes it almost feels like they're drafting this badly on purpose. Of course they are not. Apologies for the digression.
Names to keep an eye on early in the college football season are Iowa's Kade Pieper and Minnesota's Greg Johnson, if you are a believer in the NFL Mock Draft Database.
Hope shouldn’t be the main strategy to protect Joe Burrow
Surely some are saying that Connor Lew will be the starting center if Ted Karras leaves next season. But those are the same ones who said that Matt Lee is Karras’ heir apparent.
Let’s hope that Lew is the man for the middle of the offensive line for years to come. It still feels more like hope than what players like Humphrey and Frazier felt was a sure thing.
Honestly, every year is the same. Whomever the Bengals take in the draft, no matter the round or circumstances surrounding him (still can’t believe Cincinnati went anywhere near Carman), fans will love the pick.
Still, the C-suite can’t leave things up to hope anymore. Everyone involved must make a concerted effort to build not just a good but a top-10 offensive line in front of Joe Burrow in 2027.
Settling for an improved, yet unchanged, o-line and hoping the good vibes and power of friendship this offseason will carry Joe Burrow and the offense through 20 games isn't ideal.
That’s what we have this year. And perhaps it is too late to change that. However, with Karras entering the final year of his contract and Brown’s contract year in 2027, next offseason is a perfect opportunity to swing for the fences along the offensive line.
But while we wait, let’s hope that this year’s version is enough to get the Bengals where they want to be.
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