The Cincinnati Bengals are making historic moves to fix their defense and chase a championship. After adding veteran talent during free agency, the team shocked the league by trading its No. 10 overall draft pick to the New York Giants for Pro Bowl defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II.

This was an unprecedented move, as the Bengals had never traded away a top-10 pick for a veteran player before. They followed by drafting pass-rusher Cashius Howell in the second round to add more speed and energy to their defensive line.

These aggressive upgrades have convinced Chase Senior of Chat Sports that Cincinnati is now the best team in the AFC. He believes that a healthy Joe Burrow, combined with an elite receiving corps and a revamped defense, makes the Bengals a dangerous opponent on the field. 

“When Joe Burrow is healthy, [he] might be the second best QB in the NFL. Chase and Higgins are an elite WR duo... Major improvements on defense: trading for Dexter Lawrence, signed Boye Mafe, Bryan Cook, Kyle Dugger, drafted Cassius Howell and Tacario Davis." he added,

"Last year with Burrow missing a ton of time, they were still 12th in PPG, 3rd in red zone scoring. Achilles heel has been their defense which I think is much better.”  Senior said.

Even though some experts and bettors are still skeptical, the Bengals' front office has clearly decided to go all-in. By pairing their top-tier offense with a defense full of new stars like Lawrence, Mafe, and Dugger, the team has successfully addressed its biggest weaknesses. 

This newfound balance has fans and analysts alike excited about the potential for a truly special season in Cincinnati. 

Dexter Lawrence All Ready To Embrace Pressure

The Cincinnati Bengals made a massive move by bringing in 28-year-old Dexter Lawrence. He has been chosen for the Pro Bowl three times because he is one of the best players in the league at his position.

Before the trade, he had asked to leave New York. Once he arrived in Cincinnati, he signed a new contract extension to stay with the team long-term.

“Honestly, it’s pressure, but I embrace pressure. I’ve been having pressure all my life since high school. I’ve always been the guy to … just that guy in the middle who wrecks the game. I want to continue that. I’m going to continue that, and for them to have that trust in me to give up the 10th pick like that, it means a lot, and I carry that,” Lawrence said excitedly. 

Even though Lawrence’s total stats dropped a bit in 2025, he recorded 31 total tackles and 0.5 sacks while playing in all 17 games for the New York Giants. He was still the player that opposing teams feared the most, often requiring two blockers to stop him at once. 

The Bengals believe that by putting him on a better defense, he will return to being a dominant force. 

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Written by

Aaindri Thakuri

Edited by

Arundhoti Palit