Bengals Just Got Insanely Disrespected, Cincinnati Reds Owned By Brewers, LeBron James Back To Ohio?

ESPN NFL analyst Seth Walder gave the Cincinnati Bengals a C grade for their 2026 offseason, a reflection of his skepticism about the club's approach to rebuilding a defense that struggled mightily last season. While Cincinnati made several headline-grabbing additions, Walder questioned whether the team received enough value for the resources it spent.

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His biggest concern centered on the Bengals' trade for All-Pro defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence. Walder argued that Cincinnati paid too steep a price, noting that Lawrence's recent production did not justify the significant investment. He pointed to declining pass-rush numbers and questioned whether the veteran could still perform at an elite level over the course of the season. Walder also expressed reservations about the signing of defensive tackle Jonathan Allen, citing concerns that Allen has not been as impactful in recent years as he was earlier in his career.

Walder did, however, find positives in the Bengals' offseason. He praised the acquisition of edge rusher Boye Mafe, believing Mafe has shown encouraging pass-rush efficiency and could become a valuable contributor. Even so, Walder remained cautious about whether Mafe could handle a larger role while helping transform one of the NFL's weakest defenses.

Ultimately, Walder's C grade reflects a belief that the Bengals addressed obvious needs but did not do so in the most efficient way. Rather than criticizing the team's willingness to invest in defense, he questioned the cost of several major moves and whether those additions will produce enough improvement to justify their price. Cincinnati clearly made an aggressive effort to reshape its roster around franchise quarterback Joe Burrow, but Walder believes the success of the offseason will depend on whether veterans like Lawrence, Allen, and Mafe can outperform his expectations. If they do, the Bengals could prove his evaluation too conservative. If not, the team may once again find itself searching for answers on the defensive side of the ball.

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