Bengals Sign Chiefs Safety Bryan Cook to $40.25M Contract

The two-time Super Bowl champion will bolster Cincinnati's secondary.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Cincinnati Bengals have agreed to a three-year, $40.25 million contract with Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. The 26-year-old Cook, a second-round pick in 2022, is coming off a career-high season with the Chiefs and will now join the Bengals' secondary alongside Jordan Battle.

Why it matters

The Bengals' defense was a weakness last season, and the safety position opposite Battle was a particular area of need. Cook's addition provides a significant upgrade and should help solidify the Bengals' secondary as they look to build on their recent success.

The details

Cook has started 47 games over the last four seasons with the Chiefs, recording a career-high 85 tackles and six passes defended in 2022. He will now join the Bengals on a contract that averages $13.4 million per year, a reasonable deal for a talented young safety.

  • The Bengals and Cook agreed to the contract on March 9, 2026.

The players

Bryan Cook

A 26-year-old safety who was selected in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft by the Kansas City Chiefs. He is a two-time Super Bowl champion and is coming off a career-high season in 2022.

Jordan Battle

The Bengals' starting safety who will now be paired with the newly signed Bryan Cook in the team's secondary.

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What’s next

The Bengals will likely continue to address their defensive needs, particularly along the defensive line and at linebacker, as they look to build on their recent success and make another deep playoff run.

The takeaway

The Bengals have made a savvy move in signing Bryan Cook to bolster their secondary, providing a significant upgrade at the safety position and pairing him with the talented Jordan Battle. This signing should help solidify the Bengals' defense as they aim to compete for a championship.