The Cincinnati Bengals are in preparations for the beginning of the 2026 NFL season opener next weekend, against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The hype around the Bengals is real and the fans are buying into it as well. The players have come out saying it all feels different and the vibe this preseason has reflected that. The Bengals completed the first perfect preseason since 2006 (4-0) and the first winning preseason under Zac Taylor. The whole camp and preseason saw the Bengals execute very well and the results reflected that. The Bengals are now looking to build off the preseason into another very successful 2026 season, hopefully culminating in lifting the Lombardi Trophy for the first time in franchise history. That all starts with the players.

Here are five players that will be crucial for the success of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2026.

Joe Burrow

Even with a solid, veteran backup in Joe Flacco behind him, this is an absolute no-brainer when it comes to the importance of Joe Burrow. Burrow is one of the top quarterbacks in the league and when healthy, there is nobody like him. Burrow has this ability to dissect and pick apart defenses with his high IQ and accurate arm. When Burrow is healthy, the Bengals are a fun offense to watch. The trajectory of the organization took after drafting Burrow was an incredible uptick in positivity. Burrow came to the Bengals fresh off a National Championship and one of the greatest seasons in college football history. He has continued to play fantastic football, when healthy, in Cincinnati. There have been many hurdles that Burrow has had to face, including an offensive line that was less than stellar to start his career and a defense that was one of the worst in recent memory. Despite these issues, Burrow has remained one of the best players in the league. Burrow placed pressure on the Bengals front office to build this team for what should be a championship run. With Burrow putting that out there, he in turn put the pressure on his shoulders and Burrow thrives on that. The sky is the absolute limit for this team in 2026 and a healthy Joe Burrow will be a major part in that. If Burrow can stay on the field this season, don’t be surprised to see him haul in awards and a possible Lombardi Trophy.

Evan McPherson

In the 2024 season, McPherson struggled and it did cost the Bengals in a few games. Last season, McPherson rebounded and was almost back to the Money Mac that we know. The issue wasn’t with McPherson entirely, it was the entire kicking operation. From holder Ryan Rehkow and new long snapper in William Wagner working together for the first time, there was a lot of unfamiliarity with the operation. McPherson had a much better 2025 than he did the previous year but it was different this year. This preseason it all seemed flawless and the results spoke for themselves, as McPherson was perfect on every kick attempt. Also, during the pregame warmup against the Bears a few weeks ago, I witnessed McPherson hit one from 70 yards. A leg like that is crucial for a team that will look to put up a lot of points this season. The confidence continued to grow with each and every kick he attempted. The kickers in the NFL have continued to get better and better, allowing for teams to change their approach when it comes to punting or going for three points. McPherson gives the Bengals that added level of confidence in each game.

Erick All Jr.

The total wild card in the Bengals offense is the local product, Erick All Jr. All, hailing from Fairfield, spent his college days at Michigan before transferring to Iowa. Unfortunately for All, his college and pro careers have been riddled with injuries. This past offseason, All underwent another surgery that will hopefully fix everything that was not taken care of from a previous surgery. A true chess piece in this offense, All can provide a huge advantage for the Bengals. With All, Sample and Gesicki, you can expect the Bengals to utilize a lot of 12 personnel sets. With All being the weapon that he can be, this is just another weapon at the disposal of Burrow.

Tackle Position

Couldn’t really go with just one of the tackles here, so a combo entry was made in this case. Both Amarius Mims and Orlando Brown Jr. are crucial to the success of the Bengals. Mims more so than Brown because of the level of play. Mims is blossoming into one of the best right tackles in the league while Brown was one of the best throughout his career. Last season wasn’t the normal level for Brown and this preseason wasn’t his best either. When it comes to Brown, the Bengals will be ok if he plays to an average level. Average for Brown is considered better than most at the position. However, anything less than that could be a problem. The biggest issue the Bengals are facing is the depth at the tackle position. That is a major reason both are listed in this spot. Nobody had stepped up throughout camp to take hold of the swing tackle spot and that is causing the angst among around this spot. If both were to go down, the problem would be nuclear. If Mims were to miss any significant time, the issue is more pressing than it would be if Brown were to be in the same situation. The search for the swing tackle spot seems like it will be a season long thing and not short term.

Dexter Lawrence II

The Bengals gave up the 10th overall pick in this past draft to acquire Lawrence. Lawrence, a two-time All-Pro and three-time Pro Bowl selection, was the piece the Bengals defense has been missing. The pairing of Lawrence and Jonathan Allen on the defensive line is a terrifying sight for opposing offenses. Lawrence gives the Bengals the alpha on the defensive side of the ball that they have been missing for quite sometime. During training camp, Lawrence made life hell for the Bengals offensive line and it carried over to the joint practice against the Chicago Bears. The Bears have a solid offensive line and Lawrence was eating them alive during that joint practice. After spending the last seven seasons with the New York Giants, there should be a rejuvenated player that will be out to prove his worth with his new team. That is a scary thought when it comes to Lawrence. His addition will help shore up the Bengals run defense and also adds a pass rush element. The biggest key will be Lawrence seeing a lot of double team matchups. That will free things up for Jonathan Allen. Allen will be the big beneficiary of Lawrence’s addition to the roster. Throughout his NFL career, Lawrence has tallied 30.5 sacks, which will be a huge boost for the Bengals line. Lawrence only registered half a sack last season so you know he will be motivated to go back to his 2024 numbers where he had nine sacks. A healthy and productive Dexter Lawrence will be exactly what the Bengals need to help them pursue a Lombardi Trophy.

Chris Asbrock and Impact Sports Cincinnati can be followed on Twitter  Follow @iamchrisasbrock and Follow @ISCincy