Bengals Expected AFC North Contender Amid Roster Changes, Defense Doubts

The Cincinnati Bengals enter the 2025 NFL season with high hopes, fueled by a strong offensive core led by quarterback Joe Burrow and key receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who were re-signed to long-term contracts, accounting for nearly 40 percent of the team's salary cap. Analysts and insiders have included the Bengals among eight teams with Super Bowl potential, although Baltimore leads the AFC North rankings. Despite offensive prowess, Cincinnati's defense remains a concern, having struggled in recent years and prompting a coaching change with the hiring of Al Golden to revamp the unit. The defense will rely heavily on young, high-draft picks and new additions like defensive tackle Mike Pennel, signed after being released by the Kansas City Chiefs, to provide stability and improve run defense. Early depth charts suggest some rookies, such as first-round picks Shemar Stewart and Myles Murphy, may begin the season in backup roles, highlighting the need for immediate impact from newcomers and defensive improvements to secure a playoff spot. While ESPN’s Seth Walder predicts the Bengals might miss the playoffs again due to defensive and offensive line issues, the team aims to start strong to avoid a repeat of previous slow season starts.