With the 2026 NFL Combine now in the rearview mirror, all eyes shift towards free agency and the 2026 NFL Draft. 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 13 free agents at the start of the 2026 NFL League year. The 2026 NFL Salary Cap will be at $301.2 million, the league informed teams on Feb. 27. It is the first time the salary cap has been over $300 million, jumping $22 million from last season.
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.
