CBS Sports Gives Bengals Mediocre Grade Following First Few Days of 2025 NFL Free Agency

Cincinnati is at a crossroads with a few star players.

Bengals Director of Player Personnel Duke Tobin speaks at the 2025 NFL Combine on Tuesday February 25, 2025. | Phil Didion/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — CBS Sports had various writers grade each NFL team's free agency period so far. Cincinnati got a mediocre mark, checking in with a "C-" during the opening week of the 2025 NFL League Year.

Cincinnati has moved at its own pace this free agency window.

"The Bengals were able to keep Tee Higgins via the franchise tag and signed tight end Mike Gesicki to an extension as they look to lock up their offensive core," the article stated. "However, the defense is the biggest need for a Cincinnati team that missed the playoffs last season largely in part due to the failures on that side of the ball. They were able to sign B.J. Hill and T.J. Slaton to bolster the interior of the defensive line, but more work needs to be done there."

Cincinnati has added Slayton and Oren Burks, but that's about it when it comes to outside help as of this writing. Work is still ongoing to sign stars like Higgins and Ja'Marr Chase to new deals, while the team reportedly wants a first-round pick in a Trey Hendrickson deal.

Yet, other teams aren't waiting around for Cincinnati to figure out those situations. There are still clear needs for the Bengals to address on both lines and the options will get thinner by the day.

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