Expectations vs. Reality: How Do Bengals View Their BIGGEST Offseason Needs?

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4.7 • 853 Ratings

🗓️ 28 January 2026

⏱️ 36 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Will the Cincinnati Bengals meet the standard set for them this offseason? If they do, it'll mean spending significant money toward top positions in free agency, including pass rusher. Jake Liscow and James Rapien wrap up how they see the big priorities for the Bengals to add talent, then dive into where they're concerned the Bengals might not see it the same way. We discuss whether they'll make a splash to try to find the next Trey Hendrickson at edge rusher, and fears that they may shy away from big numbers in free agency and big needs at linebacker due to how much they invested in Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter.

Transcript

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0:00.0	We have high expectations for the Cincinnati Bengals to try to fix their team in the 2026
0:05.1	off season, but we're not exactly sure if they see it the same way. And in this episode,
0:10.8	that's what we're going to break down.
0:17.9	You are Locked on Bengals, your daily Cincinnati Bengals podcast.
0:23.0	Part of the Locked on Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:28.6	What up, Bengals?
0:30.9	As part of the Lockdown Podcast Network, your team every day.
0:35.1	Now the number one sports podcast network in the land.
0:38.8	He's James Rapine. I'm Jake Liscoe. We are your host of the Lockdown Bengals podcast,
0:44.0	covering your team every day since 2016. And that makes us your best and most consistent
0:50.3	one-stop shot for all things Bengals this offseason.
0:56.6	Welcome back to all the everydayers out there.
0:59.8	And if you haven't missed an episode this week, you've heard us go through the defensive priorities, the offensive priorities.
1:02.0	And today we bring it all together to wrap up that conversation by piecing together
1:06.4	the priority list on both sides of the ball and figuring out where exactly we think the Bengals
1:12.7	might see it differently than we do, i.e., where do expectations for this team this offseason,
1:20.5	i.e. the standard potentially diverge from the reality, as we've seen how this team conducts itself as a team builder over many,
1:30.2	many years. And we have an idea of at least where we fear some of those gaps might be.
1:35.8	Today's episode is brought to you by Game Time. If you download the GameTime app,
1:38.9	create an account and use code locked on, you'll get $20 off your first purchase of tickets.
1:43.6	And James, to set the groundwork here
1:46.4	before we talk about expectations and reality and where we think they might see it differently
	...

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