You have to be an absolute sicko to rank all 53 players on an NFL roster, but the Cincinnati Bengals' latest assembly of talent is the best of the Joe Burrow era. This exercise is far less painful than it typically is, in other words.
Does Burrow sit atop the 53-man hierarchy? It's a debate between him and Ja'Marr Chase. What's more interesting is how the rest of the crew shakes out after Sunday's massive wave of roster cuts.
I've had a bit of fun with organizing these fellas into different tiers. Do enjoy.
Note: OL Brian Parker and CB Ja'Sir Taylor are starting the season on IR, per LOCAL 12's Yanni Tragellis.
Bengals 53-man roster rankings: Player tiers in the countdown to Ja'Marr Chase and Joe Burrow
Just Happy To Be Here
- 53. OL Jalen Rivers
- 52. RB Tahj Brooks
- 51. OT Javon Foster
- 50. DT Kris Jenkins Jr.
- 49. WR Ke'Shawn Williams
It's a straight-up joke that Jalen Rivers and Tahj Brooks are on the roster. If they weren't draft picks just last year, they wouldn't have made it. Rivers has versatility to play tackle and guard (poorly). Brooks was outplayed in the preseason finale by undrafted rookies Jamal Haynes and Kentrel Bullock.
As for Kris Jenkins Jr., well, he's here only because he's a 2024 second-round pick. If he were a Day 3 selection, he'd be cut. He's not good. Javon Foster is the by-default swing tackle. Look for the Bengals to make a move there.
Sturdy Depth Pillars
- 48. OL Jacob Bayer
- 47. LB Oren Burks
- 46. S PJ Jules
- 45. CB Josh Newton
- 44. DE Cedric Johnson
- 43. DT T.J. Slaton
- 42. DE Shemar Stewart
- 41. TE Jack Endries
- 40. LB Swayze Bozeman
Big group here with a lot to like. Brian Parker and Jacob Bayer are the ultimate utility players on the interior offensive line. PJ Jules is a special teams ace. Josh Newton is better than his ranking, but he's been in the doghouse all training camp, so I don't know what his deal is.
T.J. Slaton and Shemar Stewart were the most notable additions to the defensive line last offseason. Look how far Cincinnati has come in that department based on where they stand.
Shout out to Swayze Bozeman for elevating the athleticism and overall quality of the linebacker corps, too.
Probably Only Sticking Around for This Year
- 39. TE Drew Sample
- 38. RB Samaje Perine
My stance on Drew Sample is abundantly clear. There's no world to me where he belongs on the 53-man roster, never mind as the trolling TE1 forever atop the depth chart. Well, not forever. This is the last year. Or so I hope for my own sanity.
Samaje Perine is a fine backup to Chase Brown for 2026. Due to Brooks' glacial (nonexistent?) development and Perine turning 31 next month, the Bengals really need to take the backfield more seriously going forward.
The William Wagner Tier
37. LS William Wagner
After beating out Cal Adomitis in training camp last year and earning emphatic praise from kicker Evan McPherson, I'll give William Wagner his flowers and his own tier here. Long snappers are people, too!
Dependable in a Pinch
- 36. TE Tanner Hudson
- 35. C Connor Lew
- 34. WR Colbie Young
- 33. LB Barrett Carter
- 32. LB Demetrius Knight Jr.
- 31. DT Landon Robinson
- 30. WR Andrei Iosivas
- 29. CB D.J. Ivey
- 28. S Kyle Dugger
- 27. NB Jalen Davis
- 26. OT Orlando Brown Jr.
- 25. DT B.J. Hill
No surprise to me that Landon Robinson made the 53-man roster in a stacked defensive tackle group. He was my 100th-ranked player on my big board and I might've had him a bit low. The rookie seventh-rounder is someone I've manifested on the team since January, and here we are.
The six guys who round out this list above Robinson could very well all be gone next season I'd imagine the Bengals will be more inclined to keep Orlando Brown Jr. and B.J. Hill since they'll still be under contract, though they'll be flirting with cap casualty territory.
Regarding the rest of this lengthy tier, Colbie Young is gaining on Andrei Iosivas for snaps at receiver. And as you can see, my faith in the Bengals' weakest starters, Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr., is still a little shaky.
Legitimate Breakout Candidates
- 24. WR Dohnte Meyers
- 23. CB Tacario Davis
- 22. TE Erick All Jr.
- 21. DE Cashius Howell
- 20 OL Dylan Fairchild
- 19. S Jordan Battle
- 18. DE Myles Murphy
- 17. OT Amarius Mims
How cool is it that this group is so crowded? Cashius Howell has the makings of a rare, impactful, top Cincinnati draft pick. A healthy Erick All Jr. has all-around TE1 upside. Dylan Fairchild could take a big Year 2 leap as the returning starter at left guard.
Jordan Battle is a phenomenal deep safety in coverage who should be deployed there quite often with Bryan Cook's arrival. Myles Murphy looked great at the end of last season and should benefit from the superior personnel across the defensive front.
One could argue Amarius Mims sort of broke out down the stretch of 2025 like Murphy did to some degree. I'd expect Mims in particular to go even further this season.
Tacario Davis could probably start for some team right now on the boundary. The rookie third-rounder out of Washington had an outstanding finish to training camp and the preseason.
But the man of the hour, to save the best storyline for last, is ex-CFL wide receiver Dohnte Meyers. It's been an absolute joy to cover his meteoric rise over the last couple months. Speaking of meteoric rises, the following perfect snapshot of my credibility should be a catalyst for Stripe Hype's own ascent if there's any justice on the sporty Internet!
Follow Stripe Hype if you're into the Bengals...and if you're into absurdly precise analysis such as this on Dohnte Meyers 🔗⤵️ pic.twitter.com/mubx5oWZKZ
— Stripe Hype (@StripeHype) August 27, 2026
The Stellar Specialists
- 16. P Ryan Rehkow
- 15. K Evan McPherson
Rehkow was third in punting average (50.5 yards) and ninth in net punting average (43.9) last season. McPherson is one of the best kickers in the business when he's on, and boy does he ever look dialed in right now. Rookie-year Super Bowl-bound Money Mac appears to be back.
Solid Starters
- 14. Joe Flacco
- 13. OL Dalton Risner
- 12. TE Mike Gesicki
- 11. C Ted Karras
- 10. CB Dax Hill
- 9. DT Jonathan Allen
- 8. S Bryan Cook
I was actually surprised to see Dalton Risner and Ted Karras this high. However, Risner came in just before Week 1 about a year ago, and acquitted himself so well. He's the ultimate vibes and leadership guy in the locker room, along with being such a huge upgrade at a position the Bengals couldn't solve for years on end.
Karras is the man in charge in the trenches. He's a stalwart. Maybe he fits in the "only here for one more year" subgroup, but I wouldn't be shocked if he bucks the odds and has one more run in him in 2027.
I don't think people realize how great Dax Hill is when he's on and actually playing where he's best suited as a perimeter cornerback. Hill is about to get paid and make the Bengals regret not doubling down on him sooner. I don't think he sticks around Cincinnati for the long haul, and Tacario Davis will take over as the starter next season.
Newly minted Bengals Jonathan Allen and Bryan Cook cost a pretty penny on the open market. I believe they will deliver as new starters and raise the floor of the d-line and secondary in a big way.
The All-Pro Potential Squad
- 7. DE Boye Mafe
- 6. RB Chase Brown
- 5. CB DJ Turner
I've wanted Boye Mafe on the Bengals since the 2022 draft. Awesome to have him in the fold at long last. Mafe had nine sacks in his second NFL season and just got caught in a loaded rotation with the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks. I have a feeling Al Golden is going to unleash him to raging success in the Queen City.
Chase Brown is entering a contract year with a strong o-line ahead of him. He only keeps improving. Burrow calls Brown out any chance he gets to compliment him.
Lastly, DJ Turner will be an All-Pro and was deserving of such a distinction in 2025. He was a bright spot on a bad defense, and I can't wait to see what he does with such an improved defensive line to complement him.
Best of the Best of the Best, Sir
- 4. WR Tee Higgins
- 3. DT Dexter Lawrence
- 2. QB Joe Burrow
- 1. WR Ja'Marr Chase
Tee Higgins could be a WR1 on many other teams. He chose to stay in Cincinnati at a discount to pun-intended chase a Super Bowl. Props to him, and if Tee can just stay on the field in 2026, he will help make this Bengals passing attack borderline unstoppable.
The crown jewel acquisition of the offseason, Dexter Lawrence, symbolizes how much things have changed in the organization. Sexy Dexy is a two-time All-Pro who seems poised to achieve that status for a third time amid a nice change of scenery.
It was close between Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase for the top spot. This is more about the consensus view of both players. Yes, Burrow plays a more valuable position, but his injuries and the fact that a select group of peers like Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes are clearly viewed ahead of him, I can't put him No. 1.
Meanwhile, Chase is believed by many to be the very best at his position in the sport. You can put him 1a and Burrow 1b if you like. Either way, the Burrow-Chase exchange could very well deliver a Super Bowl in short order.
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