Dexter Lawrence deal proves Bengals are finally serious | Opinion

The Bengals don’t do this. They don’t trade premium draft capital for established stars. They don’t make "sexy" moves (pun definitely intended). They don’t shock people.

And yet, here we are.

You can argue the price. Plenty already have. A 28-year-old defensive tackle coming off a down year − half a sack − for a top-10 pick? That’s the kind of deal that gets dissected, criticized, and second-guessed before the ink dries.

That’s fine. Let the analysts analyze. I’m talking as a fan. And as a fan, I love it.

This is about Burrow’s window

This move isn’t about 2028. It’s about right now.

It’s about understanding that Joe Burrow is in his prime − and primes don’t last forever unless you're Tom Brady. The Bengals have flirted with greatness in this era, but flirting doesn’t win Super Bowls. Commitment does.

Trading that pick says something this franchise hasn’t always said loudly enough: We are not waiting. We are not developing. We are not satisfied.

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We are going for it.

And just as importantly, it sends a message to Burrow and Bengals fans: we see you, we value this window, and we’re willing to take risks to maximize it.

That matters.

Just as importantly, this move should finally put to bed the overused narrative that the Bengals are cheap. Maybe that label was fair before, but not anymore. Not after extending Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins with massive deals, and now adding Lawrence in a move that pushes the Bengals' chips to the center of the table.

A defense that needed a grown man

Let’s not overcomplicate it. The Bengals’ defense last season had a glaring problem: the middle.

Running backs didn’t just find holes − they found highways. Remember how the hapless New York Jets ran for 254 yards on 37 carries in one of the Bengals' most embarrassing losses last season? The defensive front was moved, pushed, and, at times, bullied.

Dexter Lawrence, a three-time Pro Bowler, changes that immediately.

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He’s a game-wrecking monster. A grown man in the middle of the line who commands attention and double teams, whether the stat sheet shows it or not. And if what he says is true − that there’s a fire in him now he’s never felt before − then the AFC North and the rest of the NFL better take notice.

Because a motivated Lawrence is a problem.

He makes everyone better. Myles Murphy. Shamar Stewart. Young linebackers like Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight Jr. Even veterans like Jonathan Allen could benefit from the chaos Lawrence creates.

This isn’t just a player acquisition. It’s a tone shift.

Forget the pundits. Listen to the locker room.

Cincinnati Bengals owner Mike Brown pictured July 21, 2025, at the team's annual media luncheon at Paycor Stadium.

I’ve never cared much for what national pundits think about Cincinnati. Too often, they don’t watch closely enough to understand what this team is − or what it isn’t. What I do pay attention to is the locker room. And by all accounts, the players are energized by this move.

That tells me everything.

Players know. They understand the difference between potential and production, between projection and presence. They know what a guy like Dexter Lawrence brings on Sunday.

And they know what this trade signals: The front office is matching their urgency.

It feels different. And that matters.

Will this work long term? I don’t know.

Maybe the Bengals miss out on a future star at No. 10. Maybe Lawrence never fully returns to peak form. Maybe this gamble doesn’t end with a Lombardi Trophy.

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But here’s the truth: I don’t care. Because for once, the Bengals are acting like a team that refuses to sit still. As I heard someone say, they are throwing caution into a hurricane.

And as someone who’s lived and died with this franchise since childhood, I can tell you − that feeling? It’s rare. It’s different. It’s hope that the Bengals front office might finally be changing its stripes.

One more push to make it complete

The job isn’t finished, though.

This roster still needs help at linebacker. At cornerback. Along the offensive line. Maybe even another pass rusher to truly transform the defense into not just middle of the road, but a strength.

But if those moves come − if this is just the beginning − then we might be looking at one of the most consequential Bengals offseasons in years.

The apology

Director of player personnel Duke Tobin of the Cincinnati Bengals

So yes, Duke Tobin, this one’s for you.

You said you were all in. I didn’t believe you. Now I do.

And I have a feeling a lot of Bengals fans are right there with me.

The Cincinnati Enquirer’s Kevin Aldridge and Cincinnati Public Radio’s Lucy May stand in the WVXU Studio in Cincinnati on Tuesday, March 24, 2026.

Opinion and Engagement Editor Kevin S. Aldridge is a diehard Bengals fan and can be reached at kaldridge@enquirer.com. On X: @kevaldrid.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Bengals swing big with Dexter Lawrence deal. I'm sold | Opinion