Bengals are best landing spot for Jaguars LB who had 99-yard pick-six off Patrick Mahomes originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Cincinnati Bengals are entering the 2026 offseason with some major needs on the defensive side of the ball. While they could use pass rusher and defensive back help, the Bengals have an underrated need at linebacker.
Fortunately for the Bengals, there are plenty of great linebackers both in the 2026 NFL Draft and in free agency. With their two rookies drafted in 2025, Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter, signing a veteran in free agency seems to be the best option.
If they do choose that option, then, as PFF.com's Mason Cameron writes, the Bengals would be a great landing spot for a Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker who had a 99-yard pick-six of Patrick Mahomes in 2026: Pro Bowler Devin Lloyd.
Bengals named best landing spot for Devin Lloyd
"Devin Lloyd fits the bill as the top free-agent linebacker this cycle, with a resume to back it up," Cameron writes. "The 27-year-old posted the second-highest PFF overall grade (89.1) among qualifying linebackers during the regular season."
The Bengals linebacker room and the entire defense need overhauling. What better way than to add a linebacker who's coming off his best season in the NFL and is still just 27 years old?
After four years in Jacksonville, Lloyd is set to leave, cashing in on his Pro Bowl 2025 season. He was also second-team All-Pro, in what's easily the best year of his career.
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He had five interceptions, including that 99-yard pick-six of Mahomes in primetime. He also had seven passes defended, one fumble recovery, 1.5 sacks, 81 total tackles, six tackles for loss, 10 quarterback hits, and a career-best 57.1 passer rating in coverage.
The 2022 first-round pick at 27th overall is a great linebacker to go after for the Bengals this offseason, as his veteran presence is the exact kind of player this defense needs.
Cameron has the Bengals as his best landing spot, and with how badly the Bengals need overall help on defense, Lloyd would be a great anchor for the middle of the defense for Al Golden to build around this offseason.
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