Cincinnati Bengals News & Rumors

Bengals Not Expected To Add More Guard Depth

July 1st, 2025 at 9:14pm CST by Ben Levine

The Bengals have added depth to both guard positions this offseason, opening the door for position battles on both sides of the offensive line. While a handful of notable veteran guards remain unsigned, it sounds like Cincy is currently content rolling with their current options at the position. As Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes, it’s unlikely the Bengals make any additions as they evaluate their options at the guard position.

On the flip side, Dehner opines that the front office should at least be considering adding another body to the fray, even if that acquisition would face an uphill battle for a starting spot. The writer points to a handful of veterans who remain unsigned, including Brandon Scherff, Dalton Risner, and Will Hernandez.

On the right side of the line, Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick were clearly battling it out for reps during OTAs. Ford is the holdover, and the veteran actually garnered nine starts for the Bengals in 2024 (his highest total since his rookie season with the Bills in 2019). Pro Football Focus has never been particularly fond of Ford’s performance, and while the Bengals signed the veteran to a two-year extension this offseason, they’re clearly setting the stage for a position battle.

That’s because the team brought in Patrick on a one-year deal. Patrick has continued to start during his post-Packers career, including stops with the Bears and Saints. PFF graded him 37th among 77 qualifying guards in 2024, when he started 10 of his 11 appearances for New Orleans. His season ended early thanks to a knee injury.

Cordell Volson has been the team’s starting left guard for the past three years, as the 2022 fourth-round pick has started 48 of his 50 appearances since joining the organization. Unfortunately, he hasn’t truly impressed, and following a 2024 campaign where he allowed 43 pressures in 984 offensive snaps, the team is considering some alternatives.

That competition would come via Dylan Fairchild, who the Bengals just selected in the third round of this year’s draft. The Georgia product brings a winning pedigree to Cincinnati, and at six-foot-five and 318 pounds, he brings the necessary size to the position. The Bengals clearly haven’t been afraid of starting late-round lineman in the past, and Fairchild could end up replacing a former example at left guard.

Both guard positions will be competitions to watch heading into training camp. If the Bengals don’t like what they see, then perhaps they reconsider pursuing a free agent option.

Other Edge Rush Deals Could Alter Price On Trey Hendrickson Bengals Extension

June 29th, 2025 at 10:27pm CST by Adam La Rose

While Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals have resumed extension talks, the parties still do not appear to close to an agreement. With other monster edge rush deals looming, a waiting game could ensue which has an impact on the 2024 NFL sack leader.

Micah Parsons has yet to sign a Cowboys extension, one which could move him to the top of the pecking order amongst edge rushers (and, quite possibly, all non-quarterbacks). At the age of 26, Parsons is preparing to land his second career contract. That factor makes his situation somewhat different than that of Hendrickson or Steelers All-Pro T.J. Watt.

The latter is entering his age-31 season, something which is also the case for Hendrickson. Both could be looking at similar deals with their respective teams as a result. With training camp approaching, though, considerable work on both fronts is still needed to hammer out an agreement. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero noted during a recent Rich Eisen Show appearance (video link) that Hendrickson could aim to wait for Watt’s deal in particular (and perhaps Parsons’ as well) before signing his own with the Bengals.

Unlike last offseason, Cincinnati gave Hendrickson permission to seek a trade. Offers came in, but the team’s asking price of a first-round pick (or a package of similar value) was not met. No trade is currently expected, although it remains to be seen if the four-time Pro Bowler will report to training camp in the absence of an extension. Hendrickson skipped mandatory minicamp, drawing fines in the process. The same would be true if he were to engage in a training camp holdout.

Pelissero confirms Hendrickson is not seeking to match the value of Myles Garrett‘s Browns extension (which checks in at a market-topping $40MM per season on average). The Bengals’ best known offer to date has not reached the $35MM-per-year mark, a value which would place him in the next financial tier for veteran pass rushers. Watt could also be in line for a Steelers pact worth roughly that amount if/when he and the team can reach agreement on a third pact.

In each of these cases, there is still time to avoid potential absences or missed practice reps during training camp. With the EDGE market positioned to move once more late in the offseason, though, it will certainly be interesting to see how one deal affects the others. Given Hendrickson’s impact on a Bengals defense which struggled even with him in place last season, he could especially look to leverage the Watt situation for a multi-year commitment.

Bengals Reach Stadium Lease Agreement

June 26th, 2025 at 10:52am CST by Adam La Rose

11:38am: A 2-0 vote (with one abstention) has taken place to approve the framework of the new lease agreement, ESPN’s Ben Baby notes. As a result, the Bengals are indeed on track to remain in in place through at least 2036.

10:52am: As expected, the Bengals are set to remain in Cincinnati well beyond 2025. A new lease agreement has been reached between the team and Hamilton County, as first reported by Jason Williams of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Final approval will not be voted on today, per an announcement from administrator Jeff Aluotto. Nonetheless, unanimous approval from the county’s commissioners is expected. If/when the new lease is in place, speculation about a potential relocation – which picked up in April amidst a lack of progress in negotiations between the parties – will come to an end. June 30 loomed as the deadline for a deal to be struck, and while nothing is official yet it is clear major progress toward a long-term arrangement has been made.

Providing details on the new proposal, Williams’ colleagues Erin Glynn and Quinlan Bentley note the lease in question will be 10 years in length (the existing one runs through 2025). The option also exists for as many as five two-year extensions to be exercised, meaning the Bengals will remain at Paycor Stadium well into the 2030s provided final approval is received. While $830MM in stadium renovations were initially planned, that figure now sits at $470MM.

To no surprise, the split between private and public funding was a point of contention during negotiations. Per the Enquirer report, $350MM in stadium funds will come from the county with the remaining $120MM being contributed by the Bengals. That 75-25 split comes after the previous agreement saw Hamilton County take on an 88% share of costs to the stadium project.

“It’s not perfect, but as often is the case in in tough negotiations, no one leaves the table thinking they got the perfect deal,” Aluotto said when speaking about the proposal agreement (h/t Sports Illustrated’s Jay Morrison). “And I think as you’ll hear, it’s a better deal, a smarter deal than what was done under the previous lease. I’m hoping the team would concur with that.”

The two-year extensions are again the Bengals’ prerogative, Morrison notes. Interestingly, though, he adds the first one will become mandatory if the team reaches the top 24 in terms of revenue amongst the NFL’s 32 clubs. In any event, the team’s future for at least the next 11 years will be assured once the proposed deal receives final approval.

Bengals Could Leave Cincinnati?

June 25th, 2025 at 10:02pm CST by Ely Allen

Despite being around since 1968, the Bengals are the seventh-youngest franchise in the NFL. Since their inception, though, the league has seen the Raiders, Colts, Cardinals, Rams, Oilers, and Chargers all change their locations; the Rams moved twice and the Raiders moved three times over that span. Now, there’s a chance the Bengals could dissociate from the city of Cincinnati, though that chance may be fairly small.

Yesterday, The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. detailed the situation between the Bengals and Hamilton County. The two parties are currently negotiating the lease for Paycor Stadium, where the team has played since the 2000 season. This story has risen to the forefront of recent news due to an important upcoming decision deadline for the Bengals.

By June 30, the Bengals will have to agree to a lease offer from the County or exercise an option that extends the current lease for two years.

The current lease doesn’t expire until June 30 of next year, so the team is, of course, guaranteed to have a home for the 2025 NFL season, but the team is seeking to make changes to the stadium that would require an updated lease agreement. The Bengals are hoping to make upgrades to their home of the past 25 years, and renovations don’t run cheap these days. Recent years have seen two comparable renovations to downtown stadiums that didn’t require new construction: an $800MM renovation that tied the Panthers to Charlotte for 20 years, and a $489MM renovation that tied the Ravens to Baltimore through 2037.

In these deals, a good portion of the funding is provided by the states or local governments — the Charlotte City Council contributed $650MM, while the Ravens only contributed $55MM to the project, $35MM of which was made reimbursable by the Maryland Stadium Authority. The Bengals are teaming with the NFL to contribute $120MM through a G-5 loan — a loan that allows the Bengals to borrow NFL funds as long as the team matches the loan with their own funds. They want to contribute the money to a project that will allow them to renovate their two club lounges, their concessions, and all 132 of their suites.

Dehner posits that if the Bengals can’t agree to a deal with the County, the G-5 loan could be end up going to waste, and if things unfold in this fashion, the Bengals may decide to explore the concept of moving cities. Executive vice president Katie Blackburn, daughter of team president Mike Brown, didn’t rule out that option when discussing the matter in April, though she emphasized that the franchise would prefer to stay in Cincinnati with the ability to make the abovementioned renovations.

If a new lease agreement isn’t signed by next Tuesday, the team will exercise the two-year extension options that work on a rolling basis, extending the current lease, one the team is unhappy with, for two years over and over again until a new deal is signed or the agreement is terminated.

In order to terminate the lease to move to another location, though, the Bengals have to let the County know by December 31 of the second year of the extension (six months before each extension’s expiration date) that they intend to look elsewhere. During that six-month period, the Bengals must give the County, any individual in the County, or any group of individuals in the County the opportunity to purchase the team, as Kelsey Conway of the Cincinnati Enquirer discloses.

However unlikely it may be for the team to change cities (or ownerships), Brown’s father, former Browns and Bengals head coach, owner, and co-founder Paul Brown, located the franchise in Cincinnati because of its centrality to large neighboring cities like Louisville and Lexington in Kentucky and Columbus, Dayton, and Springfield in Ohio. The “Louisville Bengals” or “Columbus Bengals” may sound strange to the ear, but their close vicinity to the team’s current location (combined with existing bases of dedicated collegiate fans) could bode well for their chances of landing a disgruntled NFL franchise.

The County exchanged two offers with the Bengals in April, but both showed wide gaps between the two parties’ desires in terms of contribution percentage, length, and type. In the months since, the two sides have worked to bridge that gap, establishing a memorandum of understanding that tentatively puts some terms in place for the renovation project.

The last day that the commissioners of Hamilton County are meeting before the June 30 deadline is tomorrow morning. In Thursday’s session, the commissioners could initiate a vote on one more potential agreement to offer to the Bengals. From there, the Bengals will make the decision to sign the new lease offer or move forward with the first of potentially several two-year extensions. If it gets to that point, there will be a close watch on just whom the Bengals’ top brass is communicating with in the next two years.

Shemar Stewart’s Agent Discusses Contract Standoff

June 24th, 2025 at 7:19pm CST by Ben Levine

There’s still no end in sight to the Bengals/Shemar Stewart standoff. While there’s been some recent speculation that the rookie will eventually have no choice but to report to his new squad, it sounds like the pass rusher’s camp continues to take a stance against the Bengals sudden contract machinations.

The Bengals are attempting to set a new precedent by turning a contract default in any given year into a void of all remaining guarantees. While this is a relatively common inclusion to rookie pacts with other organizations, this is the first time the Bengals are trying to pull off this specific contract language with a first-round selection. Recent Day 1 picks Myles Murphy and Amarius Mims had more traditional language that would only void the season in which the default occurred.

“Contracts are based on precedent,” agent Zac Hiller said during a recent appearance on SiriusXM NFL Radio (via Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com). “So, when Shemar has never asked for anything more or less protective than any of his teammates, it’s a simple fix. It’s just say, ‘Hey, this is the precedent. Let’s keep the precedent.’”

Hiller noted that Stewart is simply seeking a contract that would be “protective,” and he believes that the Bengals’ push for voided guarantees should have been accompanied by some kind of concession.

“If you want to make changes to your precedent, it should be a negotiation,” Hiller said. “It should be give and take. It shouldn’t just be, ‘Hey, we’re changing this and sign it or go scratch.’”

Stewart has continued to state his desire to play with his new teammates, but with no resolution on the horizon, the first-round pick departed team facilities during the final day of Cincy’s minicamp. While the pass rusher could look to skip the 2025 campaign in an attempt to enter next year’s draft, the efforts may not be in Stewart’s best financial interest.

“All he wants to do is be a Cincinnati Bengal,” Hiller said. “This guy was so excited to get drafted by Cincinnati. All he wants to do is be a Bengal. All he wanted to do was be on the field and show the Cincinnati fans the incredible specimen, person, football player that this team was lucky to draft where they drafted. And he’s not been allowed to do that.”

Bengals, Trey Hendrickson Not Close To Extension Agreement

June 22nd, 2025 at 9:00pm CST by Adam La Rose

One week ago, Trey Hendrickson and the Bengals resumed talks on an extension. Without any new progress being made on that front, though, a number of issues are yet to be resolved.

Finances – including, no doubt, guarantees – have proven to be a sticking point between team and player in this years-long saga. In addition, it appears the length of any extension agreement is not a factor the parties can agree on. A gap exists between Hendrickson and the Bengals on this front, ESPN’s Adam Schefter noted during a recent Pat McAfee Show appearance (video link).

Cincinnati’s preference at this point would be a one-year deal, per Schefter. Such an arrangement would keep Hendrickson on the books through the 2026 campaign. The sides have already agreed to a stop-gap deal once before, but the reigning sack leader is understandably seeking a longer term on his next pact. As things stand, Hendrickson is owed $16MM; much of that figure is comprised of a base salary which is not guaranteed.

The four-time Pro Bowler skipped minicamp and has threatened to remain away from the team into the regular season in the absence of an extension agreement. Hendrickson’s exact asking price is unknown, but a pact around the $35MM mark in terms of AAV would move him near the top of the pass rush market (something which will likely continue to move upward once some or all of Micah Parsons, T.J. Watt and Aidan Hutchinson ink their new deals). To date the Bengals have not been willing to offer a pact in the range of what Danielle Hunter ($35.6MM), Maxx Crosby ($35.5MM) or Nick Bosa ($34MM) are attached to in terms of annual earnings.

Hendrickson has amassed 57 sacks in 63 games with Cincinnati, notching 17.5 in each of the past two seasons. The former Saint’s trade request was denied last offseason, but the Bengals took a different stance in 2025. Offers came in, although the team’s asking price was not met. As the countdown to training camp continues, a trade would come as a surprise to many around the league.

Cincinnati finished in a tie for 25th in sacks despite Hendrickson’s production, an illustration of his importance to the team. Age will be a key factor in negotiations with the 30-year-old, who was informed by the team last year another strong campaign would be met with a new deal. The Bengals have managed to hammer out monster agreements with wideouts Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins this offseason, but nothing is imminent as it pertains to Hendrickson.

A training camp absence would result in mandatory fines, whereas a hold-in effort would be a mark of ongoing issues at the negotiating table. It will be interesting to see if progress can be made regarding term length and, if so, whether or not that helps bring about a final agreement.

Bengals CB Josh Newton In Line For Starting Role?

June 20th, 2025 at 3:36pm CST by Adam La Rose

Mike Hilton remains unsigned deep into the offseason, leaving the Bengals in line for a new starting slot corner. The team appears set to turn to an internal option to take over first-team duties on the inside.

Hilton was a mainstay in the secondary during his Cincinnati tenure (2021-24), totaling 64 appearances with the team. As the 31-year-old searches for his next team, the Bengals will spend training camp looking to replace his production. The top candidate to do so at this point is Josh Newton, Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic writes (subscription required).

Newton joined the Bengals as a fifth-round pick in last year’s draft. Expectations were relatively low as a result, but with the team dealing with several injuries in the secondary he took on a notable role. Newton wound up logging a defensive snap share of 44% while also contributing regularly on special teams. A step further in usage could be in store depending on how training camp plays out.

Over the course of the campaign, Newton posted one interception along with seven pass deflections. The 24-year-old endured his struggles in coverage, though, being charged with an opposing passer rating of 94.7 and four touchdowns allowed as the nearest defender. Middling PFF evaluations from his rookie campaign leave plenty of room for improvement in Year 2.

Cincinnati has the likes of Cam Taylor-Britt and DJ Turner in place as outside corners. Dax Hill – who transitioned from safety to corner last offseason – is also in the fold, and he hopes to recover in full from his ACL tear in time for training camp. When healthy, however, the former first-rounder is unsure of where he will line up in the secondary. Until the unit is at full strength, it will be difficult to glean how new defensive coordinator Al Golden wants to arrange his cornerbacks.

In any case, Dehner notes Newton has drawn strong reviews for his work so far this offseason. The TCU product’s performance in camp will thus be worth watching closely as he vies for a full-time starting gig.

Rookie Notes: Stewart, Eagles, Browns

June 16th, 2025 at 9:42pm CST by Ben Levine

It’s uncertain how far Shemar Stewart will take his standoff with the Bengals organization, but Mike Florio of ProFootballTalk.com believes it’s highly unlikely the rookie skips the 2025 campaign in an attempt to reenter the 2026 draft.

This does represent a possible solution for Stewart if he refuses to give in to Cincy’s demand to include a specific, guarantee-voiding clause in his rookie pact. Florio describes this path as “nuclear,” and the pundit believes this is unrealistic considering how much money the player would be leaving on the table.

At the very least, Stewart would be giving up his $10MM-plus signing bonus. It’s unlikely he’d be able to instantly recoup that money in 2026, as Florio is skeptical that the pass rusher would exceed or match his 17th-overall draft slot. Stewart’s year off from football would obviously be seen as a detriment, and Florio wonders if rival squads could also be wary of the player’s attempt to “buck the system.”

Assuming he falls down the draft board in this hypotethical, Stewart would also likely see a dip in the $19MM total value of his Bengals rookie contract. In other words, it could take the player years to recover the lost money.

More rookie notes from around the NFL…

While Stewart has generally been respectful throughout the ordeal, he’s also been clear on his dissatisfaction with the Bengals organization. As Florio notes, the rookie will have to tread lightly when it comes to public comments if he does ultimately put pen to paper. If Stewart decides to speak out after signing a deal, the Bengals organization could cite a breach of the “[p]layer’s obligation of loyalty to Club and/or undermines the public’s respect for the Club, Club coaches, or Club management.” The organization could look to make Stewart forfeit guarantees in this scenario.
Speaking of unique rookie contracts, the Eagles did something unusual with sixth-round OT Cameron Williams‘ pact. According to Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap.com, the Eagles guaranteed $676K of the rookie’s contract vs. the $201K that would normally be allotted for that spot. In return, the Eagles included an unusual split salary in the third year of the player’s contract, which would reduce the player’s salary if he lands on a reserve list. Per Fitzgerald, the Eagles are hoping to make this a precedent across all future draft picks as the front office looks to wrestle some contractual control beyond the fourth year of a rookie deal.
We heard the other day that the Browns were open to keeping all four QBs on their roster, including recent draft picks Dillon Gabriel and Shedeur Sanders. While the organization could try to get creative with stashing a rookie on the practice squad, Tony Grossi of 850 ESPN Cleveland doesn’t envision the Browns pursuing this path. Before a team can stash a player on the practice squad, that player would be exposed to waivers, and there’s a chance a rival squad takes a leap on Gabriel or Sanders if Cleveland tries to sneak them through.

Latest On Bengals’ Standoffs With Trey Hendrickson, Shemar Stewart

June 15th, 2025 at 10:04pm CST by Nikhil Mehta

JUNE 15: The Bengals have reopened contract talks with Hendrickson, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. While that is no guarantee that a deal will get done, Hendrickson has criticized the team for the lack of communication in the past, so this would appear to be a positive step in negotiations.

JUNE 14: There is no end in sight to the Bengals’ dual contract standoffs. First-round pick Shemar Stewart left Cincinnati on the last day of mandatory minicamp, while All-Pro Trey Hendrickson remains away from the team as he fights for a new deal.

Hendrickson is “very much dug in on his position” and will not sign a one-year extension, according to NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via the Rich Eisen Show). The veteran edge rusher is not seeking to eclipse Myles Garrett‘s $40MM APY, but wants something just above $35MM per year in the range of Maxx Crosby and Danielle Hunter. Hendrickson is also looking for a stronger commitment from the Bengals in terms of length and guaranteed money.

Stewart, meanwhile, remains steadfast in his opposition to a specific clause that would void the remaining guarantees in his contract if he were to default in one year. That language is different than the contracts offered to the Bengals’ last two first-round picks, but it is the same as the majority of first-round picks around the league, including the players drafted right before and after Stewart, according to Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic. At least one person inside the organization believes that the language used with Amarius Mims and Myles Murphy would have the desired voiding effect in case of a default, per Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio.

The Bengals have options to end both disputes. They could obviously change the terms of Stewart’s deal to match those of Mims and Murphy, or they could offer him something elsewhere in the contract. Given that first-round picks all have fully-guaranteed deals with preset slot values, Cincinnati’s options in that regard are slightly limited. They could give Stewart more of his money up front via an accelerated payment schedule for his signing bonus or bigger training camp roster bonuses.

For Hendrickson, the Bengals will have to meet his demands in some form or fashion. He is currently set to earn $16MM in non-guaranteed money this year, which will not be enough to get him on the field. A two-year extension worth $71.5MM would slightly outpace Crosby and Hunter, and guaranteeing his 2025 and 2026 compensation should get him upwards of $50MM in guaranteed money.

It’s unclear if that would get a deal done, but Pelissero said that the Bengals have “talked about a variety of options over the past several weeks.” He still expects the two sides to reach an agreement on multi-year extension, but there’s no timeline to getting a deal done.

Bengals DB Dax Hill Aiming For Training Camp Return

June 14th, 2025 at 8:15pm CST by Adam La Rose

An ACL tear ended Dax Hill‘s season in 2024. The fourth-year defensive back has made progress in his rehab, though, and a clear target is in place for a return to the field.

Hill was sidelined through OTAs and this week’s minicamp while continuing to recover. If all goes according to plan, however, he will receive clearance in time for training camp. The Bengals’ camp will begin on July 23, and being available for at least some of it will be key as he prepares to return to action.

“I’m hopeful in the next couple of weeks,” Hill said when asked about the point at which he hopes to be receive the green light (via Sports Illustrated’s Jay Morrison). “This break is five weeks, so probably right before, hopefully. I’ve been preparing myself to be cleared and trying to show them that I can actually be cleared.”

Hill played sparsely on defense as a rookie before logging a 100% snap share the following season. The Michigan product did so as a safety in 2023, but last offseason he transitioned to outside cornerback. That move came to an abrupt end in October when Hill become one of several members of Cincinnati’s secondary to go down through injury. Improvements against the pass will be key in 2025, and Hill should have a notable role in that effort.

When speaking to the media, the 24-year-old added he is unsure at this point where he will line up when healthy. Hill was classified as a corner when his fifth-year option was picked up, an indication he may retain CB duties upon being cleared. Cincinnati re-signed Marco Wilson this spring while retaining Geno Stone on a restructured deal. Mike Hilton and Vonn Bell are unsigned, though, meaning vacancies at the cornerback and safety spots exist compared to last season.

The Bengals did not use any of their six draft picks on defensive backs this year, so Hill should handle a notable workload at one position or another in 2025. After recording 110 tackles and 11 pass breakups during his campaign spent as a safety starter, returning to that role under new defensive coordinator Al Golden could give the Bengals a productive defender. On the other hand, a long-term spell at corner could be deemed more valuable to the team. Hill will remain in place for at least the next two seasons, so plenty of time remains for a permanent position to be established in this case.

A immediate return to full team drills would come as a surprise, as Hill acknowledged in his remarks. Still, a ramp-up process during training camp would mark a welcomed development for team and player and a return to action in line with his timeline.

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