INDIANAPOLIS — Duke Tobin spent 117 minutes this week peeling back the curtain on a Cincinnati Bengals team at a crossroads. Following a disappointing 6-11 campaign in 2025, the Bengals’ de facto GM made one thing clear at the NFL Scouting Combine: Cincinnati isn’t interested in reckless gambles. While fans might be dreaming of a blockbuster trade for a star like Maxx Crosby, Tobin’s philosophy remains rooted in calculated aggression over “big swings” that could leave the franchise stuck in the dugout.
The message was loud and clear from the Indianapolis Convention Center. Tobin believes the resources are already in the building—or will be found through the draft—to fix a defense that surrendered 147.1 rushing yards per game last season, ranking dead last in the league. For a team built around a generational quarterback, the margin for error has never been thinner.
Despite external pressure to “go all in” by restructuring Joe Burrow’s massive contract to free up immediate cap space, Tobin isn’t reaching for that lever just yet. “If we can accomplish what we want to accomplish without pushing things into future problems, we’ll do that,” Tobin noted. The Bengals currently have the flexibility to navigate 2026 without mortgaging 2028, suggesting they believe a Super Bowl window can stay open without creative accounting.
The logic is simple: Cincinnati gave out roughly $400 million in contracts last year to secure the core. Now, they expect that core to produce. Restructuring Burrow remains a “Break Glass in Case of Emergency” option, not the primary strategy for the upcoming legal tampering period.
The most scrutinized unit on the roster remains the defensive line. While rumors swirled that veteran DT B.J. Hill could be a cap casualty, Tobin shut that down. Hill, who battled through foot and ankle injuries in 2025, is expected to receive his $2 million roster bonus on the fifth day of the league year. The team is also banking on a Year 3 jump from Kris Jenkins, who the front office still views as a versatile “force multiplier” despite a quiet start to his career.
On the flip side, the offensive line has a Dalton Risner-sized hole. After a stellar 2025 season where he helped stabilize the interior, Risner is looking for a payday. Market projections put him at a 2-year, $14 million deal. While the Bengals want him back, the tone in Indy suggests this won’t be a “layup” signing. If another team offers a premium for a proven guard, Cincinnati may once again find itself searching for a bargain at the position.
“You don’t get to take a big swing for free. Big swings take big compensation. We have resources right now, and we’ll see what we can get done.”
— Duke Tobin, Bengals Director of Player Personnel
The elephant in the room remains Trey Hendrickson. As he enters the final year of his deal in 2026, the prospect of a “tag and trade” remains a complicated reality. Tobin refused to tip his hand, but the lack of an immediate extension speaks volumes. With the draft looming in April, the Bengals must decide if they can afford to let their best pass rusher walk for nothing, or if a bold move—the kind Tobin usually avoids—is finally necessary to jumpstart the defense.
