Bengals' strong offseason has ex-NFL linebacker tipping AFC North title challenge

After finishing 6-11 in 2025, and despite watching Trey Hendrickson depart for the Baltimore Ravens, the Bengals have "improved a lot," according to Te'o.

Here's his reasoning, which he shared on Good Morning Football, available to NFL Game Pass subscribers on DAZN.

Bengals: AFC North favourites?

Quarterback Joe Burrow missed nine games through injury in 2025, and by the time he made it back in Week 13, the Bengals were in a 3-8 hole.

The main culprit, even for a team lacking their talisman on offense, was a defense that finished 30th in scoring and 31st in total yards.

“They were the worst defense, especially in the run game,” Te'o said.

“Al Golden was the new defensive coordinator; he came from Notre Dame, and he was trying to get his footing back in the NFL.”

Te'o talked about the Thanksgiving win against the Vikings, which proved to be somewhat of a turning point.

“That defense had a heyday. They had six turnovers that night. They had a defensive touchdown that night.

“From Weeks 1 through 12, they were the worst defense. They had 10 total takeaways. From Week 13 on, they were tied for 4th in takeaways with 11.

"You start to incorporate the additions that they've made this year, with Dexter Lawrence, and some of those guys from the Chiefs who have that championship DNA.

"I think they got better, and got better in ways that there are conversations now in the AFC North where are the Bengals the favourite? We shall see."

Dexter Lawrence changes everything for Cincinnati

Lawrence arrived via trade from the New York Giants five days before the draft.

Cincinnati gave up the 10th overall pick to get him, along with a one-year, $28 million extension keeping him in Ohio through 2028.

Sarah Stier / Staff

A first-round pick out of Clemson in 2019, he earned three Pro Bowl nods from 2022 to 2024, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous interior defenders in football.

"It's not very often you get a chance to acquire an All-Pro for a price that you think is acceptable," Bengals' GM Duke Tobin said at the time.

Te'o believes Lawrence is the key.

"You put Dexter Lawrence in the middle of that defense, it makes your run game a lot better."

Other Bengals' defensive additions

Cincinnati brought in safety Bryan Cook, a much better tackler in open space than the now departed Geno Stone.

Edge rusher Boye Mafe and defensive tackle Jonathan Allen also arrived in free agency to help provide juice for a line that will be trying to adjust to life post-Hendrickson.

Then there was the draft. The Bengals spent their first two picks on defensive players, and ESPN's Matt Miller named second-round pick Cashius Howell his favourite Day 2 value selection.

"My No. 25 overall player, Howell slipped to Cincinnati, which will love his first-step quickness off the edge," Miller said.

tacy Revere / Staff

Several other media outlets graded the Bengals' draft class an A. Nobody gave them lower than a B.

My take: Will Cincinnati win the division?

Joe Burrow called the offseason "as big as it gets." If Te'o is right, the front office has delivered.

Hendrickson is a major loss as a pass rusher, but if there was a weakness to his game, it was in run defense. It's not exactly addition by subtraction, but you get the picture.

The young players who struggled in 2025 now have experienced veterans around them, and Golden has a full season to implement his system.

With that said, Golden needs some of his second-year players to step up. Specifically, last year's first-rounder edge rusher Shemar Stewart, and linebackers Demetrius Knight Jr., and Barrett Carter.

The two young linebackers were very much part of the issue with missed tackles last season, and both were poor in pass coverage.

With just a little improvement here or there, and with Burrow healthy once again, Cincy could certainly compete with the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it's difficult to imagine them hanging with the Baltimore Ravens.

I'm predicting a season that ends around the .500 mark. Te'o is more bullish. We'll find out who's right come next January.