Bengals Still Have Work to do After Dexter Lawrence Blockbuster Trade

The Bengals still need to make a few more moves after adding Dexter Lawrence.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 8:08pm

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a fragmented football game or match, with sharp, overlapping planes of color and form representing the action on the field.The Bengals' blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence is a major move, but the team still has more work to do to build a complete roster capable of a Super Bowl run.Philadelphia Today

The Cincinnati Bengals made a blockbuster move to acquire star defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence from the New York Giants in exchange for the 10th overall pick. This significantly bolsters their defense, but the Bengals still have more work to do to round out their roster and make a Super Bowl push.

Why it matters

The Bengals are looking to build on their recent success and make a deep playoff run. Adding Lawrence is a major upgrade, but they still need to address other key positions like linebacker, edge rusher, and wide receiver to truly contend.

The details

According to reports, the Bengals traded their 10th overall pick to the Giants in exchange for Lawrence, a dominant defensive tackle. This move gives the Bengals a game-changing presence in the middle of their defensive line. However, the team still needs to target a linebacker, edge rusher, third wide receiver, and nickel cornerback to fully round out their roster.

  • The Bengals made the trade for Lawrence on Saturday, April 19, 2026.

The players

Dexter Lawrence

A superstar defensive tackle who the Bengals acquired from the New York Giants.

Boye Mafe

A free agent defensive player the Bengals signed this offseason to bolster their defense.

Bryan Cook

Another free agent defensive player the Bengals signed this offseason.

Jonathan Allen

A free agent defensive player the Bengals added this offseason.

CJ Allen

A linebacker prospect the Bengals could target with their 41st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.

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What’s next

The Bengals need to focus on adding a starting-caliber linebacker, an edge rusher, a third wide receiver, and a nickel cornerback to fully round out their roster. They have the 41st overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to address some of these needs.

The takeaway

The Bengals made a splash move in acquiring Dexter Lawrence, but they still have work to do to build a complete roster capable of making a Super Bowl run. Addressing their linebacker corps, pass rush, and depth at receiver and cornerback will be crucial next steps for the team.