The Cincinnati Bengals are currently in vacation mode with training camp a little over a month away. This doesn’t mean the coaches and front office aren’t hard at work evaluating players they believe can help them return to the top of the AFC North. The Orange and Black have the deepest roster in the Joe Burrow era, so competition will be at an all-time high to make this year’s squad. Both sides of the ball have an influx of talent to pair with a highly regarded 2026 draft class, which will have ample opportunities to carve out roles of their own. Let’s examine three breakout candidates that can help the Bengals return to the postseason for the first time since 2022.
3 Breakout Candidates in 2026 for the Cincinnati Bengals
Chase Brown
The fourth-year veteran has shown plenty of flashes of what makes him so dangerous in both the running and passing game. In 2026, Brown is primed to blossom and become a full-fledged star in the league. He comes with solid numbers for a fifth-round selection with 2188 yards rushing, 953 yards receiving, and 23 total touchdowns. A fully healthy Burrow and the need to protect the franchise should only strengthen the case for Brown to have a huge year. The Bengals are counting on great things from RB1 as he looks for a long-term extension as he reaches free agency in 2027.
Shemar Stewart
Cincy’s prized first-round selection from last season has looked very good thus far in OTAs and appears to have a much leaner physique. Stewart should get a much-needed boost from interior pressure in the form of recently acquired Dexter Lawrence II, who will command double-teams that should open the door for increased pressure on the edges. Stewart will look to build on a frustrating rookie campaign in which he played only 8 games and recorded 5 SOLO tackles and 1 sack. The flashes are evident at times, and becoming a more consistent player is the focus for now. Just like Brown, the front office and coaching staff are expecting big things from the sophomore as they look to find different rushing packages to keep the defensive line fresh as the game wears on.
Amarius Mims
Mims enters his third year as the other bookend opposite Orlando Brown Jr., a fact that’s hard to believe. The former Georgia product has been steady, but looks to take the next step towards dominating any opposing DE who comes his way. This sentiment is certainly echoed by offensive line coach Scott Peters when he was asked about the next steps for Mims in May, stating, “Total domination. It’s license to kill. I mean, seriously, I said last year, you’ve got to be greedy about how good you could be. Because, you know, there’s very few humans walking planet Earth that have the potential and the talent, really the talent that he has, and has the makeup that he has, the ability athletically, the physical stature, the size, the power, the strength, the movement skills, and for him, it’s time to really kind of let the world know.”
Mims has proven he can hold up well playing in the uber-rugged AFC North and more than holds his own against some of the best pass rushers in the NFL. The question is, can he become the player the organization always believed he could be as an extremely young 20-year-old coming out of college? If the answer to this is yes and Brown and Stewart truly take off, the men in stripes will be well-positioned to get back to the top of the division and, hopefully, much more.
Main Photo: Joseph Maiorana-Imagn Images
