One of the many enjoyments Cincinnati Bengals fans get to experience with Joe Burrow as their quarterback is how candid he is. Burrow is the genuine article as they say, and when he says something, it's not boilerplate press podium fodder. He's unflinching in his honesty.
OK so maybe at times over the years, Burrow had the chance to throw teammates under the bus. Certain lines of questioning could've allowed him to do just that. He never did.
The point is, when Burrow says he feels "very similarly" confident in this 2026 Bengals roster compared his 2019 national title team at LSU — both costarring Ja'Marr Chase — it's not some pie in the sky concept. Joe Shiesty believes this to be true, or else he wouldn't put that out there.
Thanks to the new additions on defense, led by All-Pro nose tackle Dexter Lawrence, and how they're faring in training camp, there is real reason to believe this team is a Super Bowl contender. As we break down our initial projections for the 53-man roster, married with some training camp buzz, it's clear that Burrow is on to something.
Stacked defensive line and secondary depth back up Burrow's bold Bengals roster claim
Quarterbacks (3)
- Joe Burrow
- Joe Flacco
- Josh Johnson
What a quarterback room. Two quadragenarians with a wealth of football knowledge in Joe Flacco and Josh Johnson, plus the man who some believe is the best QB on the planet in Joe Burrow.
Johnson is a prime candidate to be released if Cincinnati is struggling for roster real estate at other positions. I'm keeping him for now, because he's like a de facto coach who can actively make the rest of the offense better.
In the awful event that Burrow gets banged up again, it'd also be nice to have someone like Johnson who knows the system cold. Flacco played great last year, but he got injured as well. Can never be too careful at this position.
Running Backs (3)
- Chase Brown
- Samaje Perine
- Tahj Brooks
Exact same trio of running backs as last year. Chase Brown is poised for his best season yet, which should net him a handsome payday next offseason assuming the Bengals don't extend him now.
This backfield group is a little concerning overall, however. Samaje Perine turns 31 in September and isn't the most explosive guy to begin with. Tahj Brooks was a 2025 sixth-round pick who was really quiet as a rookie. It'd be ideal to have a better complement for Brown so he doesn't put so much tread on his tires.
A little anecdote here, ICYMI: Brown might be a bigger believer than Burrow in this defense and the defensive line. He went on the record to say Cincinnati is a top-10, top-five defense.
Wide Receivers (5)
- Ja'Marr Chase
- Tee Higgins
- Andrei Iosivas
- Colbie Young
- Charlie Jones
The obvious headliners at wide receiver are Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, but the battle behind them for roster spots is downright brutal.
Andrei Iosivas will probably hold off rising rookie Colbie Young for the WR3 gig. Charlie Jones' status as the top return man should be just enough to keep him on the final 53.
Tight Ends (5)
- Mike Gesicki
- Erick All Jr.
- Drew Sample
- Tanner Hudson
- Jack Endries
Since the Bengals' offense is going under center more often due to Chase Brown's emergence, a more athletic offensive line, and a deeper tight end corps than usual, we should see more 12 and 13 personnel packages. That is, multiple tight end sets.
I respectfully refuse to place Drew Sample atop the depth chart like the Bengals always do. Mike Gesicki only kind of belongs there, though, because he's more of a slot receiver than inline tight end.
Couldn't be more amped up about Erick All Jr.'s future. He's the eventual TE1 if he can just stay healthy. Seventh-round rookie Jack Endries was a steal on draft night and could be in for a big role sooner than expected.
Offensive Line (9)
- Orlando Brown Jr.
- Dylan Fairchild
- Ted Karras
- Dalton Risner
- Amarius Mims
- Cody Ford
- Brian Parker II
- Connor Lew
- Jalen Rivers
Since Brian Parker II played tackle at Duke, he functions as another emergency swing tackle candidate to save the Bengals a valuable roster spot. There's an outside chance Andrew Coker stays on as another true tackle option, but he's more likely destined for the practice squad.
Otherwise, the starting five offensive line from last year, in order from left to right above, remains the same. Should be an interesting year for center Ted Karras and right guard Dalton Risner. Their respective replacements in Connor Lew and Parker are waiting in the wings.
Defensive Line (10)
- Boye Mafe
- Dexter Lawrence
- Jonathan Allen
- Myles Murphy
- Cashius Howell
- B.J. Hill
- T.J. Slaton
- Shemar Stewart
- Cedric Johnson
- Landon Robinson
Trey Hendrickson defecting to the rival Baltimore Ravens should've felt like a more devastating move. Instead, it freed up the Bengals to add Dexter Lawrence in that blockbuster trade with the Giants for the 10th overall pick, and left more real estate to add the likes of Boye Mafe and Jonathan Allen.
Between Lawrence's sheer dominance, the fact that Allen gets to stay fresh by trading snaps with B.J. Hill, and Mafe's superior athleticism to Hendrickson, this defensive line is very exciting indeed.
And I haven't even mentioned rookie second-rounder Cashius Howell, who's tearing it up by all accounts in his first Bengals training camp. Myles Murphy is entrenched as the other defensive end starter opposite Maye, yet Howell should see plenty of action.
Think of it this way, too: Last year's most notable outside free-agent signing by far was nose tackle T.J. Slaton. He's a rotational player with Lawrence in the fold. Hill has dealt with injuries through last year and this training camp. Not nearly as much pressure is on him now to carry such a heavy snap count load.
Anything we can get out of currently-injured 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart would be a massive bonus. He's a legit X-factor.
You know a defensive line unit is looking good when 2024 Day 2 picks in Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson don't make the cut.
Linebackers (5)
- Demetrius Knight Jr.
- Barrett Carter
- Oren Burks
- Shaka Heyward
- Joe Giles-Harris
Skeptical as I've been for the Bengals sticking with second-year linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter as the unchallenged starters, they've balled out at training camp. Feels like every practice we hear more about Knight and/or Carter making huge plays. What a relief.
All that positivity aside, this position is positively in deep doo-doo if either of them get hurt. Oren Burks was a massive disappointment last season, if only because he started in the Super Bowl for the Eagles and couldn't beat out the rookies for playing time. Maybe Burks, too, will benefit from Cincinnati's d-line upgrades. A stacked defensive front is what allowed him to flourish in Philly.
Doesn't seem like anyone is stepping up at linebacker to move the Bengals off Shaka Heyward and Joe Giles-Harris. They're on the roster by default. Could see one of them as an odd man out.
Cornerbacks (6)
- DJ Turner II
- Dax Hill
- Jalen Davis
- Tacario Davis
- D.J. Ivey
- Ja'Sir Taylor
Cincinnati's brain trust needs to extend DJ Turner and Dax Hill yesterday. They share the same agent. They're among the best boundary cornerback duos in the NFL, even if the casual non-Bengals NFL fan doesn't know yet.
Bargain free agent Ja'Sir Taylor has plenty of experience in the slot. He's not a good player, but I imagine Bralyn Lux won't do enough to beat him out as the pseudo-No. 2 nickel behind Jalen Davis.
I say "pseudo" because D.J. Ivey can fill that role at times. He has good inside-out versatility. The same goes for Josh Newton, but unfortunately, he appears to be in the coaching staff's doghouse. I love me some "Fig." I just don't know how he fits onto the roster.
Rookie third-round pick Tacario Davis brings a totally different, massive body type to Cincinnati's cornerback crew. All indications out of camp are pretty positive so far.
Safeties (4)
- Bryan Cook
- Jordan Battle
- Kyle Dugger
- PJ Jules
What a difference a year makes. We've gone from Geno Stone and an unproven Jordan Battle in 2025 to a two-time Super Bowl champ in Bryan Cook anchoring the Bengals' safety group. Kyle Dugger was one of the better under-the-radar free-agent moves across the entire NFL, too.
PJ Jules is the special teams ace whose spot should be locked up due to Tycen Anderson's departure. It's nice, too, that Battle is coming off a respectable season and has established himself as an excellent deep safety in coverage.
The havoc-wreaking defensive line should make Battle's job easier. I'd imagine he'll be lined up deep more often, while Cook and Dugger are more often in the box due to their hard-hitting play styles.
When was the last time Cincinnati had a legit three-deep safety room? This is freaking awesome.
Specialists (3)
- K Evan McPherson
- P Ryan Rehkow
- LS William Wagner
No surprises here. Evan McPherson is one of the NFL's highest-paid kickers. The Bengals haven't brought in any competition at his spot, and the same goes for punter Ryan Rehkow and long snapper William Wagner, who beat out incumbent Cal Adomitis for the job in camp last season.
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