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The Cincinnati Bengals paid up big for Bryan Cook in free agency, admitting a problem area they have failed to fix.
By extension, the Bengals were admitting and even paying a tax to correct the Jessie Bates mistake from years ago.
In the eyes of fans, it’s a big win and a justified investment. The time to win is now.
Not all agree, though.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, for example, tapped Cook as the Bengals player likeliest to bust big in 2026.
“In four seasons, Cook has recorded three interceptions and 15 pass breakups, and he's allowed passer ratings above 128 in coverage in three campaigns,” Moton wrote. “The 26-year-old isn't going to move the needle on pass defense, which is what teams typically want out of high-paid safeties.”
This is one of those things where, admittedly, the Bengals could only go up and improve upon the Geno Stone and other disasters of recent years. They elected to go big, too, banking that Cook will hit an upswing in the scheme and help the development of names like Jordan Battle, too.
At the end of the day, the Bengals couldn’t get safety right. That means going to free agency and overpaying for the market’s top name. Better than not trying. And the first-round pick was earmarked for the Dexter Lawrence trade. If for some reason the Cook signing backfires, the Bengals could recoup north of $10 million in cap savings in 2027 and 2028 if he’s a post-June 1 move, too, so the contract structure is team-friendly.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ free-agent signing predicted to bust
Continue reading...
By extension, the Bengals were admitting and even paying a tax to correct the Jessie Bates mistake from years ago.
In the eyes of fans, it’s a big win and a justified investment. The time to win is now.
Not all agree, though.
Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton, for example, tapped Cook as the Bengals player likeliest to bust big in 2026.
“In four seasons, Cook has recorded three interceptions and 15 pass breakups, and he's allowed passer ratings above 128 in coverage in three campaigns,” Moton wrote. “The 26-year-old isn't going to move the needle on pass defense, which is what teams typically want out of high-paid safeties.”
This is one of those things where, admittedly, the Bengals could only go up and improve upon the Geno Stone and other disasters of recent years. They elected to go big, too, banking that Cook will hit an upswing in the scheme and help the development of names like Jordan Battle, too.
At the end of the day, the Bengals couldn’t get safety right. That means going to free agency and overpaying for the market’s top name. Better than not trying. And the first-round pick was earmarked for the Dexter Lawrence trade. If for some reason the Cook signing backfires, the Bengals could recoup north of $10 million in cap savings in 2027 and 2028 if he’s a post-June 1 move, too, so the contract structure is team-friendly.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals’ free-agent signing predicted to bust
Continue reading...
