The Cincinnati Bengals addressed several key areas on defense this offseason, but one position is still drawing ahead of training camp: the safety spot.

NFL.com's Matt Okada believes strong safety remains Cincinnati's biggest remaining roster concern, even after the team added Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger in free agency.

"Yes, the Bengals signed Bryan Cook to replace Geno Stone at free safety, a crucial improvement for a defense prone to big-play obliteration," Okada wrote July 17.

Cook does strengthen the free safety spot, replacing Geno Stone. But questions remain at strong safety, where Jordan Battle is coming off a difficult 2025 season. Among 98 qualified safeties, Battle ranked 67th in coverage, 43rd against the run, and 63rd overall.

And it had a clear effect on their defense. Cincinnati was the seventh-worst passing defense, conceding 233.8 yards per game, and the overall worst run defense with 147.1 yards per game conceded. These numbers turned them into the second-worst defense in the league.

"Jordan Battle remains their top strong safety after a rough 2025 campaign. And adding Kyle Dugger in free agency is more likely to supply viable depth than solve starter problems," NFL.com's Matt Okada wrote on July 17.

Cincinnati made major defensive additions by bringing in Dexter Lawrence II and Jonathan Allen on the interior while signing Boye Mafe and drafting Casius Howell to help replace Trey Hendrickson's production on the edge.

"Cincy was historically bad against tight ends last year and has been a bottom-eight total defense three years running. The Bengals need to fix this issue -- and fast -- to seriously contend in the AFC," Okada added.

If Battle and Dugger cannot provide the consistency Cincinnati needs, the Bengals may have to look for another answer during the season.

Even with those concerns, not everyone is counting the Bengals out.

Could the Bengals be the AFC's biggest surprise team?

The Cincinnati Bengals have made several big moves this offseason, but not everyone is ready to call them a top contender just yet.

Still, USA Today's Jacob Camenker believes Cincinnati is a team to watch, naming the Bengals one of his four dark-horse sleepers heading into the 2026 season.

“Over the last three seasons, Burrow has appeared in 35 of a possible 51 games for the Bengals,” USA Today's Jacob Camenker wrote July 16. “Cincinnati has a 19-16 record in the 35 contests the three-time Pro Bowler has started but sports a mark of just 5-11 when he isn't on the field.”

The Bengals believe they have improved on both sides of the ball. Now the focus shifts to training camp, where they'll begin trying to turn those offseason moves into a playoff run.

Do you think strong safety is still the Bengals' biggest weakness heading into 2026?

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar