​Cincinnati Bengals defensive tackle Dexter Lawrence II was pictured during minicamp on Tuesday, June 16, 2026, at the Kettering Health Practice Fields in downtown Cincinnati. The Bengals did seemingly everything possible to bolster a struggling defense, but ESPN analyst Seth Walder judged their offseason moves as not the right path for a rebuild. Walder labeled the trade for Lawrence as “unwise” and “too pricey for a player who has been elite in the past,” pointing to Lawrence’s 8.4% pass-rush win rate and 0.5 sacks last season to argue that the 28-year-old nose tackle may be in decline. He also criticized the signing of Jonathan Allen, noting that Allen “didn’t produce much last season in Minnesota or in eight games with the Commanders the year before.” On the positive side, Walder praised the addition of Boye Mafe, saying Mafe “has always fared well in the win rates,” but he questions whether the former Seattle Seahawk can handle a larger workload in Cincinnati. For the full analysis, readers can view Walder’s complete piece and explore our discussion about how the Bengals should deploy their remaining cap space.