The Cincinnati Bengals did a lot to take care of players from last year's team. As far as adding to the roster, let's say some meat was left on the bone.
Free agency is basically over, and the Bengals are operating like that's the case as well. A move or two could happen following the 2025 NFL Draft, but the draft itself will determine whether or not those moves occur.
Below is how Cincinnati's roster currently stands four weeks after free agency first began. 70 players are currently employed by the team, and that number will be around 90 in a month's time.
Key:
Re-signings/extensions will be italicized
New players will be bolded
Currently injured players will be starred*
Bengals 2025 roster following free agency
Quarterback (2):
Joe Burrow
Jake Browning
Nothing was going to change here. As always, expect an undrafted free agent or two to help round out the room for the offseason and help give the top two a break during camp and the preseason.
Running Back (5):
Chase Brown
Samaje Perine
Kendall Milton
Gary Brightwell
Zack Moss*
Expect change to arrive here during the draft. It may not be exactly Quinshon Judkins in the second round, but a rookie running back is expected to push Perine for RB2 status. I'm putting Moss at the bottom as he's expected to be released later in the offseason, paving the way for the currently incomplete top three.
Wide Receiver (9):
Ja'Marr Chase
Tee Higgins
Andrei Iosivas
Charlie Jones
Isaiah Williams
Jermaine Burton
Cole Burgess
Kendric Pryor
Mitchell Tinsley
As Burrow would say, "big money in here!" Chase and Higgins got their new contracts and this room may only see a very late draft pick or a couple UDFAs alter it. Burton battling Jones for an active game day roster spot will be interesting.
Tight End (6):
Drew Sample
Mike Gesicki
Cam Grandy
Tanner Hudson
Tanner McLachlan
Erick All Jr.*
Gesicki is technically a tight end and Sample is technically the top starter at the position. It's an odd dynamic when the former plays ~90% of his snaps like a wide receiver. All is not going anywhere but we won't see him until 2026 at the earliest, so he's at the bottom until further notice. Maybe one gets drafted here, maybe not.
Offensive Tackle (4):
Orlando Brown Jr.
Amarius Mims
Devin Cochran
Andrew Coker
Not a lot of bodies here, and that will change. They'll need more than four to get through the offseason. A backup swing tackle to fill in the depth behind Brown and Mims will be needed. Cochran held that role for a few weeks last year. Expect a rookie to push him for it.
Guard (6):
Cody Ford
Lucas Patrick
Cordell Volson
Jaxson Kirkland
Andrew Stueber
Tashawn Manning
This is where we're at. Whether this outcome was intended or not, more help is needed. Badly. You'll see the Bengals use one of their earliest draft picks on a guard, even if that player never played the position in college. Depending on how early or late the pick is used may determine if the team goes out and signs another free agent. Dalton Risner sounds down for the cause!
Center (2):
Ted Karras
Matt Lee
No need to overhaul here. Karras enters what could be his last year in Cincinnati and Lee, who got on the field as the sixth lineman in jumbo packages, will back him up once again. Patrick can also play center in a pinch if needed so there's no need for any further investment outside maybe a UDFA.
Defensive End (7):
Trey Hendrickson
Joseph Ossai
Myles Murphy
Cam Sample
Cedric Johnson
Isaiah Thomas
Raymond Johnson III
Alright, back to the drama. When will we see Hendrickson practice with the team? Will we ever see him in a Bengals uniform again? A long offseason still has months to go, and months could be what separates Hendrickson and the Bengals from reaching closure on his contract status. At least Ossai is back on a prove-it deal to, well, prove his worth and Murphy will see a bump in snaps as well. Cincinnati's first-round pick could be used to further bolster this group. If not, then anywhere else in the draft is in play.
Defensive Tackle (4):
B.J. Hill
T.J. Slaton
Kris Jenkins Jr.
McKinnley Jackson
Much like offensive tackle, this group is too thin for the offseason. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin made it a point of emphasis to enter the season deeper here, and it would not be surprising if the 17th overall pick is used to make that happen. Walter Nolen appears very much in play for the pick.
Linebacker (6):
Logan Wilson
Germaine Pratt
Oren Burks
Shaka Heyward
Maema Njongmeta
Craig Young
I have no idea what to think of Pratt right now. I believe the Bengals will draft a linebacker relatively early, but will that be enough to make him expendable after only signing Burks in free agency? It may be too early to tell, but all options may be on the table with his future.
Cornerback (10):
Dax Hill*
DJ Turner II
Cam Taylor-Britt
Josh Newton
DJ Ivey
Marco Wilson
Jalen Davis
Micah Abraham
Nate Brooks
Lance Robinson
No coaching changes in the secondary have led to the same number of changes in terms of personnel. Cornerback may be a surprise early pick if the best player available plays the position, but with Hill's torn ACL from last October expected to be fine for camp, this group may look exactly like this with the only addition being a late-round pick or a UDFA.
Safety (6):
Geno Stone
Jordan Battle
Daijahn Anthony
Tycen Anderson
PJ Jules
Jaylen Key
There's a greater chance Cincinnati drafts a safety rather than a cornerback, and Stone's job security would be impacted by that decision. The Bengals drafted Jessie Bates III in the second round of the 2018 draft and released George Iloka during training camp that same offseason. Keep that precedent in mind.
Specialists (3):
Evan McPherson (K)
Ryan Rehkow (P)
Cal Adomitis (LS)
Running the same battery back. The Bengals will bank on McPherson's down year being a bump in an otherwise smooth road for the remainder of his career. Rehkow and Adomitis will have a full offseason to further develop timing with snaps and holds, and the former has a lot to build off from his rookie season at punter.
Bengals' biggest remaining needs
Guard: One of Ford or Patrick could start and the line would be serviceable. Both of them or Volson being one of the starters is simply not acceptable. The draft pick needs to hit the ground running.
Defensive tackle: Specifically on passing downs, there isn't a threat to be seen here. Major strides are needed from either Jenkins or Jackson. A draft pick may not provide that value unless he's drafted in the first round.
Linebacker: If the plan is to still move on from Pratt, another starter is needed instead of relying on Burks to fill that role full-time for the first time in his career. The reason why this isn't higher is because linebacker is new defensive coordinator Al Golden's specialty. He's earned trust to get the most out of players of all kinds here.
Safety: I think the Bengals will look to draft a safety early, but I'm not confident enough to say a pick will be forced. There's a decent chance the position gets ignored and tabled for next year, but a finding an upgrade over Stone is definitely possible and could be a box Golden wants to check off before the draft concludes.
Defensive end: If Hendrickson is destined to be out of here this year, then this skyrockets to the top of the list. If he's here, which should be the fair expectation, then it's more of a long-term concern. I think they'll want to give Ossai and Murphy as many chances to prove themselves, which pretty much sets the top three in the depth chart. Someone to push Sample and Johnson behind them would be helpful.
