Bryan Cook signs free agent contract with hometown Bengals

The Cincinnati Bengals are continuing their quest to upgrade their defense into 2026 NFL free agency.

The Bengals have agreed to a three-year contract with former Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook. The deal will be worth up to $42.5 million, according to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler.

Cook joining the Bengals will be a homecoming for the 26-year-old. He grew up in Cincinnati and spent three of his college seasons playing for his hometown Bearcats after transferring from Howard.

Cook was a second-round pick by the Chiefs in the 2022 NFL Draft. He spent his first season primarily as a backup before blossoming into a quality starter for the team.

Cook is coming off a 2025 season that saw him rack up a career-best 85 tackles and six pass defenses. He failed to log an interception but only allowed 21 receptions all season long while grading as Pro Football Focus' No. 4 overall safety out of 91 qualifiers.

Cook will be a big-time upgrade for the back end of the Bengals' defense that has struggled badly in coverage since the team's Super Bowl 56 run. He figures to replace free agent Geno Stone, who had six interceptions across two seasons in Cincinnati but graded just 76th among safeties in 2025, per Pro Football Focus.

Meanwhile, Cook will be the third starting defensive back the Chiefs have lost thus far during the offseason. Cornerback Jaylen Watson signed a free agent deal with the Los Angeles Rams just days after the Chiefs traded top corner Trent McDuffie to Sean McVay's squad.

Bryan Cook contract details

Cook signed a three-year deal to play in Cincinnati. Here are the reported details of his contract with the Bengals:

• Term: 3 years
• Total contract value: $42.5 million
• Average annual value (AAV): $14.17 million

Cook's contract ranks 15th among NFL safeties in AAV and 11th in total value, per OverTheCap.com.

Bryan Cook stats

Below is a full look at Cook's stats across his four seasons with the Chiefs.

• Games: 62
• Tackles: 238
• TFL: 4
• Sacks: 1
• Interceptions: 3
• Pass defenses: 15