Bengals' Linebacker Corps Named Worst in NFL for Hypothetical 2026 Season

The Cincinnati Bengals found themselves in an unflattering spotlight as their linebacker unit was singled out as the worst position group in a hypothetical worst NFL team for 2026. The designation stems from the disappointing rookie campaigns of Demetrius Knight and Barrett Carter, who the team relied on heavily throughout 2025. Knight and Carter's struggles were quantified in stark numbers. Knight recorded 18 missed tackles while Carter wasn't far behind with 17. Their Professional Football Focus grades painted an even grimmer picture, with Knight ranking 83rd out of 88 qualified linebackers and Carter sitting at 85th in the same pool. The evaluation acknowledged both players are entering just their second NFL seasons, suggesting room for improvement. However, the analysis emphasized that both defenders need to make "massive leaps forward" to avoid dragging down Cincinnati's defense in 2026. The Bengals' linebacker woes contributed to what appears to be a broader pattern of defensive struggles across multiple teams. Miami emerged as the most problematic franchise, earning dishonorable mentions across three defensive categories - defensive line, secondary, and tight ends on offense. Cincinnati's inclusion in this hypothetical worst-case scenario reflects the real challenges facing the franchise's defense. The linebacker position has long been crucial to Cincinnati's defensive schemes, and the poor performance from their young core represents a significant concern heading into future seasons. While the exercise was hypothetical, it highlighted genuine performance issues that plagued the Bengals throughout 2025. Knight and Carter's missed tackle numbers and overall grades suggest fundamental problems with both technique and field awareness that will need addressing through coaching and development. The Indianapolis Colts received an honorable mention in the linebacker category, indicating the Bengals weren't alone in their struggles at the position. However, being named the outright worst among all NFL teams puts additional pressure on Cincinnati's coaching staff to develop their young talent. For a franchise with playoff aspirations, having the league's worst linebacker corps - even in a hypothetical scenario - serves as a wake-up call about the work needed to transform Knight and Carter into viable NFL starters.