Solomon Wilcots breaks down five reasons to be fully optimistic about the 2026 Bengals, starting with the front office's $132.7 million free agency haul headlined by trading a top-ten pick for Dexter Lawrence, a move without precedent in Cincinnati history. He credits Zach Taylor's offense for five straight top-ten seasons in scoring and efficiency, arguing the three-year playoff drought was purely a defense problem, and praises Joe Burrow as a generational talent just 47 TDs from breaking Andy Dalton's all-time franchise record. The episode's most passionate stretch is Solomon declaring Ja'Marr Chase the greatest receiver in Bengals history, above every historic predecessor. He closes on a defensive front he counts as ten deep, anchored by Lawrence, BJ Hill, Jonathan Allen, Boye Mafe, and new safety Kyle Dugger.

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On Bleav in Bengals, Carl Banks joins Solomon Wilcots to break down what Bengals fans can expect from Dexter Lawrence after the blockbuster move from New York to Cincinnati. The Giants legend opens up on why he publicly challenged Dexter last season, what may have led to the drop in production, and why he still believes Dexter can change in defense when he’s motivated. The conversation also dives into Joe Burrow, the importance of dominant defenses in today’s NFL, and why the Bengals’ defensive front could become one of the league’s most dangerous units.

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Solomon Wilcots welcomes Cincinnati Bengals 2026 seventh-round pick Landon Robinson to talk about life as a new Cincinnati Bengal. Robinson shares how four years at the Naval Academy built the discipline and mental toughness he believes will carry him through rookie camp, and reveals that over 20 teams were ready to sign him as an undrafted free agent had the Bengals not taken him. Solly recounts Landon's decision to play in Navy's bowl game rather than sit out to protect his draft stock, a choice Robinson says came down to loyalty to his teammates and his responsibility as team captain.

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Solomon Wilcots is joined by Paul Dehner Jr. of The Athletic to break down the behind-the-scenes story of Cincinnati's blockbuster trade for Dexter Lawrence — a move that required Bengals ownership to do something they've never done before: deal a top-10 pick for a proven veteran while taking on significant future salary cap obligations. Dehner reveals how B.J. Hill served as the secret agent in landing Lawrence, recruiting his longtime friend the night before the trade was finalized, and explains why the three-year, $70 million deal is a genuine bargain for a player motivated to prove himself in a change of scenery.

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Solomon Wilcots is back with another episode of Bleav in Bengals in order to breakdown ALL of the Bengals picks this year in the 2026 draft. Solly lets us know his thoughts about all the new players and where they might be able to contribute and in how long we should expect to see them. He starts with the Bengals effective first round pick, Dexter Lawrence who they traded the actual first round pick for. Listen in to this draft breakdown episode of Bleav in Bengals NOW!

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The Cincinnati Bengals make a massive statement by trading for All-Pro DT Dexter Lawrence—and it could change everything.

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Solomon Wilcots joins us this week to talk all about the Draft and the kind of players that the Cincinnati Bengals need to be taking with they're picks, especially at 10th overall. He gets into a lot of what each of 5 players he hopes are still on the board for them when they are up to pick and what they can do for the team and then gives a crash course on how he wants the Bengals to be playing defense from now on. Tune in NOW for Bleav in Bengals ONLY right here on the Bleav Network!

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Cincinnati Bengals captain Ted Karras joins Solomon Wilcots to talk about his mission with the Cincy Hat Foundation, his offseason training, and the team’s mindset.  From building opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities to breaking down the Bengals’ push to get back to the playoffs, Karras shares insight both on and off the field.

To purchase a hat:

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Solomon Wilcots is joined by NFL.com analyst Bucky Brooks to break down the Bengals' 2026 NFL Draft strategy and the state of a defense that desperately needs playmakers at every level. Brooks defends his mock draft selection of LSU cornerback Mansoor Delane at #10 overall, but names Ohio State safety Caleb Downs as his ideal pick if available — arguing championship defenses are built strong down the middle, and Downs is the high-IQ, versatile playmaker Cincinnati has lacked since Jessie Bates departed. The conversation turns to the pass rush market, where Brooks evaluates Rueben Bain Jr. and Akheem Mesidor as potential options at #10, delivering a "Robin, not Batman" verdict on this draft class and breaking down whether a Seattle-style pass rush committee is even a realistic model for Cincinnati to build in one offseason. Wilcots then conducts a sobering four-year postmortem on nine defensive picks — including Dax Hill, Myles Murphy, and Shamar Stewart — making the case that a persistent habit of drafting on athletic traits over proven production has left the Bengals without a single difference-maker on that side of the ball. The episode closes with both hosts lamenting the missed opportunity on Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts, now thriving in Atlanta alongside Jessie Bates III — a player Watts idolized and a scheme he already knew under DC Al Golden, making him a perfect fit that Cincinnati passed on entirely.

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Solomon Wilcots opens by endorsing the Bengals' re-signing of Joe Flacco as backup QB, pointing to his strong six-start performance and Joe Burrow's history of missing games over six seasons as justification. The episode's main argument is a pointed critique of the Bengals' cap structure: by front-loading all guaranteed money into year one, they're burning 80% of their free agency cap space upfront versus the NFL average of 50%, which cost them two extra defensive signings — including linebackers Kaden Elliss and Devin Lloyd. Solly warns this self-inflicted linebacker shortage now puts the Bengals in a tough spot at pick 10, potentially forcing them to reach for a position they could have filled in free agency instead of taking the best player available like safety Caleb Downs. He closes with a push for a higher run play percentage to protect both Burrow and the defense in crucial AFC North games.

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