The Cincinnati Bengals’ biggest needs in free agency this offseason center squarely on fixing what went wrong in 2025, particularly on defense and the trenches, and making sure Joe Burrow is protected and supported as the team looks to return to contention in 2026.

1. Defensive Pass Rush & Defensive Line Cincinnati’s defense was among the worst in the NFL, and the pass rush was a primary culprit. With veteran Trey Hendrickson likely to test free agency or leave, the Bengals will need to bring in multiple edge rushers or interior disruptors to generate pressure and improve sack production. Analysts suggest targeting veterans or quality starters to rebuild that front seven alongside young pieces.

2. Linebacker Leadership & Run Defense Linebacker play was inconsistent, and adding a proven, tackling-savvy veteran could stabilize the unit and mentor younger players. Rumored targets like Demario Davis have popped up as potential fits to add leadership and tackling reliability.

3. Secondary Help (Safety/DB Depth) The secondary has been shaky for years, especially after losing key contributors and with potential departures looming. Adding a play-maker or reliable veteran safety should be on the Bengals’ list, complementing a corner group that has some talent but lacks depth.

4. Interior Offensive Line (Guard Help & Protection) While the Bengals fortified their offense around Burrow with extensions for his top receivers, the offensive line—especially at guard—remains a concern. Protecting Burrow and improving the run game will likely necessitate targeting quality interior offensive linemen in free agency or re-signing key contributors such as Dalton Risner.

5. Depth on Run Defense (DT) and Overall Front Seven Run defense rankings were poor, and adding size and disruption inside—whether at defensive tackle or versatile linemen—should be a priority to keep opposing ground games in check.

Overall, the Bengals have cap space to be active, and while offense remains strong, biggest offseason focus in free agency will plausibly be defensive upgrades and offensive line reinforcement to balance the roster and give Cincinnati a chance to compete again.

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The Bengals are entering a pivotal period for locking up key young talent, and Chase Brown is at the top of that list. After a breakout season with over 1,300 scrimmage yards and continued production, Brown has publicly expressed his desire to stay in Cincinnati long-term while his agent and the team have been in ongoing communication about a new contract. Historically, Cincinnati has waited to extend players until they’ve proven themselves—and often until prices inflate, as seen with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins—but Brown seems positioned to be part of that core moving forward. Getting a deal done now could be mutually beneficial: stability for the team and financial security for Brown before he hits unrestricted free agency.

For Dax Hill, the situation is slightly different. The Bengals exercised his fifth-year option for the 2026 season, keeping him under contract through next year. That move shows organizational belief in his upside after a position switch from safety to cornerback, despite an ACL injury. Hill’s extension may not come immediately this offseason—teams often wait to see a full season of production before committing significant new money—but his late-season performance in 2025 could push the Bengals toward long-term talks instead of reaching for a cornerback in the draft.

DJ Turner has arguably the strongest case for an early extension among the three. After a career-best 2025 campaign highlighted by high PFF grades, pass breakups, and interceptions, Turner looks like a foundational piece of the Bengals’ defense. He’s expressed a clear desire to stay long term, and team insiders expect extension talks to start soon. With contracts for Brown and Turner both in play, the Bengals’ front office will need to balance cap flexibility with locking down homegrown contributors in the coming months.

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The Miami University (Ohio) RedHawks men’s basketball team has taken the college basketball world by surprise, improving to an undefeated 21–0 record with a dramatic 86-84 win over UMass that kept their perfect season alive.

That victory — marked by a career-high 30 points from junior guard Eian Elmer — wasn’t just another win; it underscored Miami’s resilience and ability to close out tight games. The RedHawks trailed in the second half before rallying to secure the two-point triumph, with contributions also coming from playmakers like Peter Suder and freshman Justin Kirby.

At 21–0, Miami is now one of only a handful of unbeaten teams in Division I this season — a rare feat in modern college basketball. Their perfect record also ties the longest in-season winning streak in Mid-American Conference history, matching the 2001-02 Kent State squad and rewriting the RedHawks’ own program lore.

Under fourth-year head coach Travis Steele, Miami has blended efficient offense with timely defense, building its success on team cohesion rather than one standout star. The RedHawks have been particularly strong in MAC play, sitting atop the conference at 9–0 as of their latest game.

Despite facing questions about strength of schedule — a common challenge for mid-majors — Miami’s unbeaten run has earned national respect, reflected in their ranking in both the AP and Coach polls. With March approaching, the big storyline isn’t just whether the RedHawks can keep their perfect season alive, but how deep they can go in the postseason and whether they can silence doubters about mid-major legitimacy.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have reached a verbal agreement to hire Mike McCarthy as their next head coach, succeeding long-time leader Mike Tomlin, who stepped down after 19 seasons. McCarthy, a Pittsburgh native with 18 seasons of NFL head-coaching experience — including a Super Bowl victory with the Green Bay Packers — brings a veteran presence to a franchise that rarely changes coaches. His hiring marks only the fourth head coach in Steelers history since 1969, a significant shift from their traditional approach of younger, first-time head coaches.

For the Cincinnati Bengals and the AFC North more broadly, this hire changes several key dynamics. First, McCarthy’s offensive pedigree — having developed elite quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers and Dak Prescott — suggests the Steelers may become more competitive on offense sooner rather than later. That bump in offensive creativity could intensify divisional matchups with the Bengals, who have seen success in recent years behind Joe Burrow’s playmaking. A resurgent Steelers offense could mean closer Steelers-Bengals games and more pressure in the division standings.

Second, McCarthy’s arrival adds unpredictability. Pittsburgh’s quarterback situation remains fluid — especially with Aaron Rodgers’ future uncertain — and McCarthy’s history with veteran quarterbacks could influence Rodgers to return or attract another experienced signal-caller. If that happens, the Bengals — who have often battled Pittsburgh for AFC North supremacy — may face a rejuvenated rival.

Finally, coaching changes often shift divisional psychology. Where the Bengals have had recent edge in continuity, the Steelers under McCarthy will be retooling schemes and culture. This could either temporarily ease Cincinnati’s path or, if McCarthy quickly installs his system, tighten the race for playoff positioning. Overall, McCarthy’s hiring doesn’t just reshape Pittsburgh’s future — it reshapes the competitive landscape the Bengals must navigate in 2026 and beyond.

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The Cincinnati Reds have been quietly linked in recent MLB offseason buzz to potential reunions with two familiar faces: third baseman Eugenio Suárez and outfielder Austin Hays. According to multiple reports, Cincinnati’s front office is exploring ways to bolster its lineup ahead of the 2026 season, and both players represent intriguing options for a club that is trying to balance competitiveness with cost and roster flexibility.

Suárez, a veteran slugger who spent the bulk of his most productive years with the Reds before moving on to the Arizona Diamondbacks, has been connected to Cincinnati in trade chatter. At the 2025 trade deadline there was mutual interest reported between Cincinnati and Arizona in a deal to bring Suárez back to Cincinnati, where he once provided significant power from the hot corner. Sources have described his potential return not just as a nostalgic move for fans, but as a real way to add middle-of-the-order pop to a lineup that struggled to produce big offensive numbers.

On the free-agent side, Austin Hays is another name the Reds could target. Hays played for Cincinnati in 2025 after the club declined his mutual option for 2026, making him a free agent this winter. He slashed a respectable line with 15 home runs and provided solid outfield defense, and Reds management is reportedly considering whether a reunion would make sense if the two sides can find agreeable terms.

While neither move is confirmed, and financial or roster implications remain key factors in any decision, the interest suggests the Reds are eyeing a mix of proven veterans and internal youth as they shape their 2026 roster around young stars like Elly De La Cruz and Noelvi Marte.

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The Bills’ end-of-season press conference, led by owner Terry Pegula and president/GM Brandon Beane, turned into a public relations disaster. Rather than offering a clear plan or unified message after firing head coach Sean McDermott, the event quickly devolved into blame-shifting, confusing narratives, and emotional oversharing. Pegula openly described firing McDermott based on an emotional reaction to the recent playoff loss, recounting how he saw quarterback Josh Allen “crying” and decided to pull the trigger on a coach who delivered years of winning seasons. He also publicly blamed McDermott and the coaching staff for drafting wide receiver Keon Coleman — a claim that both contradicted conventional accountability norms and put an active player in an awkward spotlight.

That kind of public airing of internal disputes is rare at the NFL executive level. Bills leadership seemed defensive and inconsistent, at times undermining each other’s authority and revealing more about internal dysfunction than any coherent vision for the franchise. Even some reports suggest players — including Allen — were reportedly unhappy with how the situation was presented and that Allen wasn’t consulted before the firing was announced.

Against that backdrop, the Cincinnati Bengals immediately appear more disciplined and stable. The Bengals’ leadership, including owner Mike Brown and coach/performance staff, have a reputation for not spectacularly botching press interactions or publicly airing internal frustrations. While Cincinnati isn’t perfect and sometimes keeps tight lips, the team avoids public spectacles that make front office dysfunction look like a headline story — which is exactly what happened in Buffalo. Fans and pundits alike now point out that even if Bengals executives aren’t exuberously communicative, they’ve never staged a press event that spiraled into a spectacle of blame and contradictions.

In short, Buffalo’s chaotic press conference unintentionally raises the bar for what we consider “competent communication” in the NFL — and by that measure, the Bengals look organized by comparison.

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Caleb Downs — Versatile Defensive Playmaker Downs is widely regarded as one of the top defensive prospects in the 2026 class and could be the best pure defender available at No. 10. He’s a unanimous All-American with a resume featuring Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year honors and award recognition like the Jim Thorpe and Lott Trophies for nation’s top defensive back. Downs combines elite football IQ, instincts, range, and physicality—allowing him to defend the run, cover receivers, and make plays all over the field. Scouts praise him for his coverage versatility, ability to diagnose offenses quickly, and leadership as a secondary commander. He’s played in multiple roles (deep safety, box, nickel) operating like a defensive coordinator on the field. That rare blend makes him a potential day-one starter with All-Pro ceiling, a tone-setter for Cincinnati’s secondary.

Rueben Bain Jr. — High-Motor, Disruptive Edge Rusher Bain is one of the most exciting edge defenders in this draft cycle—everywhere from mock drafts to big board rankings slot him near the top for pass-rush talent. He’s physical against the run and rushes the passer with power and leverage, and his 275-pound frame with a relentless motor gives him a three-down feel. Bain has produced pressure and sacks at a high clip during big games, showcasing a toolkit that translates well to NFL front sevens. His ability to set the edge or slide inside on passing downs adds a versatile element to a defensive line that could further complement the Bengals’ front.

David Bailey — Explosive Pass-Rush Specialist Bailey is a pure pass-rushing threat who terrorized opponents in 2025, leading many analytic boards in pressures and sacks. With elite burst off the snap, bend around the edge, and a developing arsenal of moves, he’s the kind of playmaker who can generate game-changing pressure on opposing quarterbacks. For a Bengals team that has looked to boost its pass rush—especially after middling pressure numbers last season—Bailey offers a high-upside rotational edge or eventual starter who can flip momentum with splash plays.

In short, Downs delivers defensive backbone and versatility, Bain combines power and disruptive presence on the edge, and Bailey brings elite, momentum-shifting pass-rush ability—all compelling fits for Cincinnati depending on how the draft board falls and what specific defensive holes they prioritize at No. 10.

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The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are conducting a high-profile search for a new offensive coordinator after parting ways with Josh Grizzard following an 8–9 season and a missed playoff berth in 2025. Among the names they’re exploring is Dan Pitcher, the Bengals’ offensive coordinator, who is scheduled to interview with Tampa Bay this week.

Pitcher, 39, has been on the Cincinnati Bengals coaching staff since 2016, ascending from offensive assistant to quarterbacks coach and then offensive coordinator for the past two seasons. Though he holds the OC title in Cincinnati, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor retains play-calling duties, which means Pitcher hasn’t had an opportunity to call plays in regular-season games. Taylor has granted him permission to interview with teams offering play-calling offensive coordinator roles, making the Buccaneers’ opening a potentially significant career move.

The interview represents both an opportunity and a challenge. On paper, it could be seen as a lateral move in terms of job title, but for Pitcher it’s a rare chance to step into a role where he would directly run the offense on game days — something he hasn’t done in Cincinnati. His track record includes helping develop quarterback Joe Burrow into one of the NFL’s premier passers, which is a major selling point for Tampa Bay as they look to revitalize an offense that underperformed in key areas last season.

Tampa Bay’s coaching search has been extensive, with interviews already held with several candidates including former Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel, Ravens OC Todd Monken, and others. Pitcher adds another experienced offensive mind to that mix as the Buccaneers weigh their next steps.

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