The Cincinnati Bengals’ offseason splurge hasn't bought them respect in the latest NFL power rankings. They had spent approximately $28 million on player transactions, both in terms of new signings and gradually reshaping the team. Despite these moves, early NFL power rankings have placed the team outside the top tier.

“Following the NFL Draft, The Athletic’s Josh Kendall released his updated power rankings, in which he predicted which rookie would add the most to his team,” wrote Jose Esquer in Heavy. “In this edition of his power rankings, the Cincinnati Bengals landed at No. 23,” he added.

So why spend that much in the first place? The strategy is quite clear. The Cincinnati tried to fix their defence by bringing in some of the experienced players.

Also, by trading away a top draft pick, they intended to follow the win-now strategy, which gives the team a chance for an immediate impact rather than long-term development.

One of the major reasons for the doubt is the void left by Trey Hendrickson, who had departed from the team for the rival Baltimore Ravens on a $112 million deal.

Hendrickson's 17. 5 sacks per year were a reliable source of pressure on the quarterback, and now the Bengals are trying to replace him with a rotation of veterans like Jonathan Allen and Boye Mafe.

If we put Dexter Lawrence and Trey Hendrickson side by side, the difference becomes pretty clear. Hendrickson has been the player who has put up 17.5 sacks in both 2023 and 2024, which immediately stands out.

Lawrence, on the other hand, impacts the game differently. He had 9 sacks in 2024, but his real value comes from the attention he draws inside, including a 53.2% double-team rate, as reported by Pro Football Focus.

The team’s position is also shaped by the pattern of its division. The Bengals play in a very competitive division that also has the Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Cleveland Browns around it. All these teams have had strong rosters, which makes the whole season's schedule tough.

Disagreement Over Cincinnati Bengals Ranking

While power rankings often focus on the "new and shiny" additions, there is also a strong counterpoint to where the Cincinnati Bengals are being placed. It revolves around Joe Burrow, who is still considered a top-five quarterback in the league by many.

Again, on top of that, Cincinnati is retaining the same offensive line unit, which has not been a source of consistency during the Burrow era.

Along with their spending on key positions and the addition of Dexter Lawrence, this is exactly the reason why some of the analysts believe the team is being undervalued.

“At this point, a power ranking that tosses the Bengals in the top 10 wouldn’t be unjustified,” an analysis on Heavy.com reported earlier this week. “Joe Burrow is a top-five player at his position and the team’s offensive line was so good last year that it returns the same starting five for the first time during the Burrow era.”

Even though the team's addition of new players in the offseason and returning main players do give us a reason for a higher place in the rankings, on the other hand, the early rankings still seem to be influenced by a cautious approach until the players' performance on the field confirms those expectations.

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Written by

Debanjali Rakshit

Edited by

Suyashdeep Sason