Bengals Ranked Outside NFL Top Teams in 3-Year Future Power Rankings

Cincinnati has invested heavily into the 2026 roster.

Aug 13, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Cincinnati Bengals head coach Zac Taylor and quarterback Joe Burrow (9) during a stop in play in the first half against the Detroit Lions at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

ESPN's NFL team unveiled its annual three-year look-ahead power rankings for the entire league this week. Cincinnati isn't high on the list amidst a pretty all-in 2026 season for the franchise.

The Bengals checked in at No. 17 on the list after restructuring Joe Burrow's contract this season and putting in plenty of chips to the center of the table for a solid shot at winning a Super Bowl.

Middle Of The Pack

Cincinnati Bengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin watches practice during the first day of Cincinnati Bengals training camp at the Paycor Stadium practice facility in downtown Cincinnati on Wednesday, July 29, 2026. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

Cincinnati has one of the league's longest lists of 2027 free agents entering this season.

"Based on snap counts from last season, the Bengals have the NFL's largest free agent class in 2027. Free-agents-to-be include cornerbacks DJ Turner and Dax Hill; safety Jordan Battle; running backs Chase Brown and Samaje Perine; and offensive linemen Ted Karras and Dalton Risner," Aaron Schatz noted.

Cincinnati has had the same QB, HC, and (all but name) GM for this entire decade.

That continuity could be a boon or blow over the next few years.

"The current Bengals braintrust of coach Zac Taylor and general manager Duke Tobin has had a long time to produce consistent team success," Ben Solak wrote. "And the Bengals' middling ranking here reflects those inconsistent results. But the defense and offensive line are healthier now than they've been in years, and quarterback Joe Burrow seems to be a reinvigorated leader of the organization accordingly."

The Bengals obviously have to improve on defense over this span, or it will be difficult to rise from the middling morass.

It would be shocking if this unit stays in the bottom three over the next few years (barring injury), given the investment and stronger knowledge of Al Golden's system.

"Everything is riding on the improvement of a defense that was at or near the bottom of the league in every meaningful category," Louis Riddick wrote. "The front office did just about everything it could in a single offseason to improve the defense up front, starting with trading away a top-10 pick for defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II. He must give the Bengals a quality return on investment, both in terms of his direct and indirect impact on the defense. If not, there could be major changes in Cincinnati on and off the field."

If Cincinnati wins the Super Bowl this coming year, who cares what happens the rest of the decade? Rings and banners are forever and garner plenty of breathing room for any short-term falloffs in one of the highest-parity leagues on earth.

A BIG if: going Burrow's entire career without lifting a Lombardi Trophy would be as big a disappointment on the other end.

Check out the full rankings here.

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