2025 Cincinnati Bengals Part 3: Can the Defense Get a Stop?

Great move IMO

Can't believe we made that trade but I love it. We need to win now and Lawrence helps in a huge way.

Nobody they could have drafted would instantly make everyone on the defense better on day one. Dexter Lawrence can do that.

Big swing. I love it.

I’m legit shocked.

I wonder if this was also geared toward showing Joe Burrow that they’re serious about winning. He clearly was frustrated last season, and they’ve drafted pretty horribly since the Burrow/Higgins/Chase picks with some occasional exceptions.

Either way, very un-Bengals-like move and I’m here for it.

If Skip Bayless is against it, the Bengals did something right.

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The two guys most likely to have been there at 10 for the Bengals are Bain and Downs. Right or wrong, Bain's length puts him outside of what the Bengals want in a DE. As an OSU fan I love Downs and would have been thrilled to have him at 10, but after signing Cook the Bengals would have had the league's most expensive safety room with Downs at a position the Bengals have shown they don't consider a premium.

Then you have the consideration of how light this draft is at the top. The Gridiron Grading guys posted the player at 10 would be in the 17-24 range in most other drafts.

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Originally Posted by RiverRat13

The two guys most likely to have been there at 10 for the Bengals are Bain and Downs. Right or wrong, Bain's length puts him outside of what the Bengals want in a DE. As an OSU fan I love Downs and would have been thrilled to have him at 10, but after signing Cook the Bengals would have had the league's most expensive safety room with Downs at a position the Bengals have shown they don't consider a premium.

Then you have the consideration of how light this draft is at the top. The Gridiron Grading guys posted the player at 10 would be in the 17-24 range in most other drafts.

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I’m not sure Downs is going to be there, anyway. And, even if he was, the impact to this year is debatable. As a Buckeye fan, I watched Downs and he is amazing, but against the next level, there’s bound to be a learning curve. He could be something special in the future.

Lawrence is a bona-fide dude. “Down” year last year (better than any other def guy we had) is a very slight concern, but he is going to contribute mightily this year, barring injury.

NEVER thought the Bengals would do something like this. The #10 spot was a tweener and especially in this weak draft.


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After sleeping on it, I’m still stunned, but wow! Thats a gutsy move znd a healthy Lawrence will be huge.

I feel like a weight has been lifted off of me. The Bengals finally did something that most any other team would do and likely other teams were also offering deals here, which explains why there’s nothing extra coming back. Great deal and if it send the Bengals to the SB maybe ownership will realize more of these kinds of business dealings can be good!

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Originally Posted by KoryMac5

Bengals never make moves like this biggest trade in years.

Rapien speculated that Bengals must know that their top targets will not be there at 10...Albert Breer said Bengals approached around 1-2 weeks ago but Giants were still trying to make it work with Lawrence.

Personally I like the move DT's are so tough to find and to get one of the top 3 is a good win for the Bengals.

I give the offseason a solid A their D line rotation is really good now...would love a Veteran LB to round things out.

Mafe/Cook/Allen/Dex

unreal haul...Bengals are win now and with Burrow turning 30 they should be.

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The thinking amongst the experts is that the way the draft was falling they were going to be screwed at 10. Now we don’t have to hate the Chiefs for taking our guy on Thursday, whoever that might be


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Are we confident the Bengals will sign him to an extension?


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Per Ian Rappaport, its already done: : It’s a 1-year, $28M extension for Dexter Lawrence, per @WinSportsGroup.

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Originally Posted by Sea Ray

Are we confident the Bengals will sign him to an extension?


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I would think that the Bengals have discussed the parameters with his agent when the trade was being consummated. Speculation is something similar to the Higgins deal. Supposedly he is in town today probably to meet the FO and get a physical.

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Originally Posted by UKFlounder

Per Ian Rappaport, its slready done: : It’s a 1-year, $28M extension for Dexter Lawrence, per @WinSportsGroup.

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If that’s true OMG that’s a good deal for the Bengals

The deal is official

https://www.bengals.com/news/dexter-...er-update-2026