Bengals' Best Move of the Offseason is a No-Brainer

The Cincinnati Bengals are coming out of a 6-11 season, and as they continue to rebuild, one move this offseason continues to get rave reviews.

Mike Sando of The Athletic named his top moves for each NFL franchise during the league’s offseason.

For the Bengals, he gives the team high praise for trading with the Giants to get defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence.

“The Bengals needed to do something big for a defense that ranked 29th in EPA per play last season and has struggled for years,” he notes in the piece. “Lawrence, 28, certainly qualifies. The 6-foot-4, 340-pound tackle could become the latest Giants castoff to revive his career elsewhere, as Leonard Williams did with Seattle.

“Landing Lawrence for the 10th pick in the draft beat trusting the Bengals to find an impact player in an underwhelming draft class.”

Read more: Ben Johnson Would Be Wise to Utilize Underrated Player in 2026

More news: Rams Player Has Been Flying Under the Radar, But He Deserves More Attention

My Take: What Dexter Lawrence Brings to the Bengals

The Bengals made a smart move when they traded for Lawrence. John Harbaugh has been trying to put his stamp on the New York Giants’ roster, and so it’s possible he was a bit more open to radical ideas during the offseason.

The Bengals capitalized on it, and bringing Lawrence to the Bengals should bring a strong defensive presence that helps take this franchise to the next level.

2026 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.

This story was originally published May 31, 2026 at 3:38 PM.