With the 2025 NFL season officially over, all eyes now turn to 2026. The 2026 NFL League year begins on March 11. Here is a brief guide covering all you'll need to know about the Bengals 2026 offseason.
2026 Free Agency and Salary Cap
The Bengals are currently slated to have 15 free agents at the start of the 2026 NFL League year. The NFL salary cap is still being finalized and will be confirmed and announced before March 11. NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported Jan. 30 that the league informed clubs it is projecting a salary cap in the range of $301.2 million to $305.7 million, a significant increase from 2025.
2026 NFL Draft
The Bengals will select 10th overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. They have eight total picks in the draft, including two in rounds six and seven, which were added from in-season trades (QB Joe Flacco and former LB Logan Wilson).
All draft picks will be finalized later in the spring when the league awards compensatory picks.
Cincinnati will look to add to a young core of players they've added the last few seasons, including DE Shemar Stewart, CB DJ Turner II, S Jordan Battle, LBs Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter and OT Amarius Mims. The 2026 NFL Draft takes place Thursday, April 23 - Saturday, April 25 in Pittsburgh, PA.
