The Cincinnati Bengals have prioritized improving their defense this offseason after they allowed the third-most points in the NFL during the 2025 season.
The team has made moves on the defensive line, as they signed edge rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract and interior defensive lineman Jonathan Allen to a two-year, $25 million contract. Additionally, the team made moves on the secondary, as they re-signed cornerback Jalen Davis and signed former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.2 million contract.
However, the team has not made moves at linebacker. The team was linked to All-Pro free agent linebacker Devin Lloyd, but he signed a three-year, $45 million contract with the Carolina Panthers. Now, a new pitch has the Bengals signing a linebacker with 95 games of starting experience.
Former Giants Linebacker Seen as Best Fit For Cincinnati Bengals
CBS Sports’ Zachary Pereles listed each team’s biggest position to improve, and he offered a free agency and draft solution. Pereles listed former Giants linebacker Bobby Okereke as the best free agent fit for the Bengals.
Regarding Cincinnati’s weakness at linebacker, Sports Illustrated’s Zach Pressnell wrote:
“Last year, the Bengals had one of the worst linebacker rooms in the league. They allowed the most rushing yards per game in the entire league, which puts a lot of blame on the linebackers. It’s clear this is the biggest hole left on the roster, especially after adding Cook, Mafe, and Allen on defense.”
In terms of how Okereke could fit into the Bengals, Pressnell added:
“The linebackers have been picked through in free agency. There were plenty of options to begin the offseason, but now, Okereke is one of the best options left.
Okereke isn’t a star, by any means. His Pro Football Focus grade doesn’t jump off the page at you. He’s not an incredible athlete. But he fills a role very well. He’s reliable and dependent, which could be what the Bengals need. Pair Okereke with a linebacker in the second round of the NFL draft and the Bengals will be in a much better place going forward.
Bobby Okereke’s 2025 Season
Okereke has started 95 games over his seven-year career. He spent the first four years of his career with the Indianapolis Colts, before signing a four-year, $40 million contract with the New York Giants. Okereke was released prior to the final year of his contract in a move that saved the Giants $9 million in salary cap space.
As Pressnell mentioned, Okereke did not grade out particularly well by Pro Football Focus last season as he ranked 55th out of 88 qualified linebackers last season. Additionally, he missed 21 tackles last season, according to PFF.
It is possible that his struggles were a result of the back injury that forced him to miss the final five games of the 2024 season. During the 2023 and 2024 seasons, Okereke graded out as a top-20 linebacker, and his pass coverage grade did remain above average during the 2025 season.
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