The Athletic Football Show: A show about the NFL The most interesting teams of the offseason, part 3: Bengals, Ravens and Eagles
Feb 26, 2026
Paul Dehner Jr., Bengals beat writer who breaks down Cincinnati’s defensive urgency and roster math. Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens reporter who explains the coaching change, cap crunch, and Lamar Jackson decisions. Zach Berman, Eagles beat writer who outlines staff shakeups, AJ Brown’s impact, and Philly’s roster construction questions. They discuss pivotal offseason choices, cap strategies, and positional priorities.
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Bengals Reluctant To Restructure Burrow For Short Term Cap Relief
- Bengals deliberately avoid restructuring Joe Burrow's deal to free cap space, preferring long-term fiscal philosophy over an 'all-in' push.
- Dehner notes Duke Tobin signaled confidence they can address needs without converting Burrow's salary now.
Ravens Coaching Transition Was Surprisingly Seamless
- Baltimore's coaching turnover to Jesse Minter and Anthony Weaver is unusually smooth and purposeful, blending NFL and college staffs to rebuild identity.
- Jeff Zrebiec calls it the most comfortable transfer of power he's seen and highlights Declan Doyle's surprising offensive hire.
Resolve Lamar Jackson Cap Hit Before Free Agency If Possible
- Get Lamar Jackson's cap issue addressed to create free-agent flexibility, ideally via an extension or adding void years to buy time.
- Zrebiec expects DaCosta may add void years if an extension isn't immediate to preserve spending power.