Cincinnati Bengals Sign Bryan Cook & Boye Mafe, NFL Free Agency Day 2 Rumors Ft. Kaden Elliss

Описание: The Cincinnati Bengals made a major statement at the start of the 2026 NFL free agency period by signing edge rusher Boye Mafe and safety Bryan Cook. The two additions signal a clear effort by Cincinnati’s front office to rebuild and strengthen a defense that struggled in recent seasons.

Cook joins the Bengals on a reported three-year deal worth around $42.5 million after spending the first part of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs. A Cincinnati native and former standout at the University of Cincinnati, Cook returns to his hometown as an established NFL starter. Since entering the league as a second-round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, he has developed into one of the league’s more reliable safeties, known for his physical tackling and consistency in coverage. Over the past few seasons, Cook has accumulated more than 200 tackles and has been praised for his durability and ability to contribute against both the run and the pass. He also brings championship experience to Cincinnati, having won two Super Bowls during his time in Kansas City.

The Bengals also bolstered their pass rush by signing Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract. Mafe previously played for the Seattle Seahawks after being selected in the second round of the 2022 draft out of the University of Minnesota. Standing 6-foot-4 and weighing around 260 pounds, Mafe is known for his athleticism and speed off the edge. During his time in Seattle, he totaled 20 career sacks and became a key rotational defender on a Super Bowl-winning team. His breakout season came in 2023 when he recorded nine sacks, showcasing his potential as a high-impact pass rusher.

Together, the two deals are worth just over $100 million, highlighting Cincinnati’s aggressive approach to fixing its defense. The Bengals struggled with pass rush production and consistency in the secondary in recent seasons, making edge rusher and safety two of their biggest needs entering free agency.

If Cook provides stability on the back end and Mafe develops into a consistent pressure generator, these signings could play a major role in helping the Bengals return to playoff contention in the AFC.

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