K’Lavon Chaisson walked off the Levi’s Stadium field after Super Bowl LX having delivered exactly what his scouting report promised: relentless pressure, timely disruption, and proof that his late, career awakening in New England wasn’t a fluke. Though the Patriots fell 29-13 to the Seahawks, Chaisson’s playoff body of work, three sacks and 14 quarterback pressures across the postseason, second-highest league-wide, showed a player who has finally unlocked the first-round talent Jacksonville once envisioned. For a Bengals team facing the likely departure of Trey Hendrickson via franchise tag or free agency, that kind of proven championship-level performance feels impossible to overlook.
Chaisson Proved He’s More Than a Reclamation Project
Feb 4, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson (44) speaks to the media at the Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-Imagn Images
The narrative around Chaisson entering this season was pure skepticism. A former 20th overall pick who bounced from Jacksonville to Carolina to Las Vegas, he looked dangerously close to becoming another first-round washout. Then came New England’s one-year, $3 million gamble that paid off spectacularly. His 7.5 regular-season sacks—more than his entire four-year Jacksonville tenure combined—showed a player who finally found a system that let him hunt quarterbacks instead of overthinking assignments. The Bengals don’t need another developmental project; they need someone who has already survived the hard part of his career and proven he can deliver in January and February.
Championship Heartbreak, But Championship Credentials
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; A view of the Vince Lombardi Trophy after the Seattle Seahawks defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
Super Bowl LX didn’t go Chaisson’s way; Seattle’s defense dominated with six sacks and a 52.8% pressure rate while the Patriots managed just one, but his postseason résumé tells a different story. He was New England’s most disruptive edge rusher when it mattered most, including a crucial second-quarter hit on C.J. Stroud that forced an interception returned for a touchdown in the divisional round. For Cincinnati decision-makers evaluating how players respond under the brightest lights, Chaisson passed every test except the final scoreboard.
The David Mulugheta Complication
Sep 28, 2025; Arlington, Texas, USA; Green Bay Packers linebacker Micah Parsons (1) talks with his sports agent David Mulugheta before the game between the Dallas Cowboys and the Green Bay Packers at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-Imagn Images
Bringing in Chaisson means potentially reopening a relationship Cincinnati fans still remember with frustration. The Jessie Bates contract saga, which ended with the safety thriving elsewhere after tense negotiations with agent David Mulugheta, left scars in the front office. However, the Bengals showed they can work with Mulugheta when motivated, signing Joseph Ossai to a one-year, $7 million deal in March 2025. If Chaisson hits free agency represented by the same agent, this becomes a test of whether both sides have truly moved past old grudges.
Hawkins Showed Exactly What Cincinnati’s Secondary Needs
Feb 5, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; New England Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins (21) talks to media members at the Santa Clara Marriott. Mandatory Credit: Darren Yamashita-Imagn Images
While Chaisson grabbed headlines with sacks, Patriots safety Jaylinn Hawkins quietly delivered the kind of steady, professional performance Cincinnati’s secondary desperately lacks. His five tackles in Super Bowl LX capped a breakout season where he recorded 71 tackles, four interceptions, and 1.5 sacks—career-best numbers that showed a player who finally got his chance and seized it. For a Bengals defense that too often watched missed tackles and late breaks on the ball, Hawkins represents something simple but invaluable: competence and calm.
The Resilience Factor Cincinnati Values
Feb 8, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; UCF Knights head coach Johnny Dawkins answers media questions after his team’s game against the Cincinnati Bearcats at Fifth Third Arena. Mandatory Credit: Aaron Doster-Imagn Images
Hawkins’ journey mirrors the kind of player profile Cincinnati has historically bet on with success. A fourth-round pick by Atlanta who bounced through the Chargers before finding stability in New England, he spent years on the roster bubble before earning trust as a full-time starter. That experience shows in his play—controlled, disciplined, and always around the ball. For young Bengals defenders still finding their way, there’s real value in lining up next to someone who has lived on the edge of unemployment and turned that grind into a championship-game starter role.
Woolen: The Ultimate Buy-Low Winner
Jan 17, 2026; Seattle, WA, USA; Seattle Seahawks cornerback Riq Woolen (27) celebrates following an NFC Divisional Round game against the San Francisco 49ers at Lumen Field. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Ng-Imagn Images
On the other side of the confetti, Riq Woolen celebrated a Super Bowl title with Seattle, but his path there suggests he’s far from a finished product. After a Pro Bowl rookie season in 2022, his role diminished, as he started just 7 of 16 games in 2025 despite Seattle’s run to the championship. That makes him the rarest kind of free agent: someone with a ring and elite physical traits who might still sign for less than market value because his recent production doesn’t match his potential. For Cincinnati, that’s a chance to add championship DNA without breaking the budget.
Insurance Before Crisis Hits
The Bengals don’t “need” Woolen the way they need edge rush help or safety depth. But February is when smart teams plan for October injuries. One torn ACL, one suspension, and suddenly that strong cornerback room looks dangerously thin. Woollen’s rare combination of size and speed, the traits that made him a breakout star, doesn’t disappear just because his snap count fluctuated. He’s the kind of signing you make before the crisis arrives, not after.
The Burrow Window Demands Urgency
Every defensive decision Cincinnati faces exists in Joe Burrow’s shadow. The franchise quarterback is in his prime, and the city knows these windows don’t stay open forever. That makes players like Woolen more than depth, they’re insurance policies on the team’s larger promise that, as long as Burrow is healthy, they will push to contend. Signing a corner now, before cap space evaporates or relationships fray, is the kind of forward-thinking move fans will notice when January 2027 arrives, and the roster suddenly feels deeper than expected.
What Super Bowl LX Revealed About Character
Feb 8, 2026; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Seattle Seahawks quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates with the Vince Lombardi trophy on the podium after defeating the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LX at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
For Bengals scouts reviewing game film from Sunday night, the stats matter less than the moments between plays. How did Chaisson respond after Seattle’s offensive line won a rep in pass protection? Did Hawkins stay disciplined when the ball didn’t find him early? These are the questions that separate players who elevate in big moments from those who shrink. All three passed the temperament test. Chaisson kept pressuring despite the lopsided score, Hawkins stayed locked in defensively, and Woolen helped Seattle’s defense dominate with a 52.8% pressure rate while the unit forced three turnovers in a championship-caliber performance.
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