Ex-Bengals Linebacker Joins New Team, Highlighting Key Defensive Gap
Veteran linebacker Akeem Davis-Gaither is headed to Indianapolis, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. He will join defensive back Cam Taylor-Britt and reunite with coach Lou Anarumo.
Player background and last season
Davis-Gaither spent his first NFL seasons in Cincinnati from 2020 through 2024. He played the most recent season with the Arizona Cardinals.
Last year he appeared in 17 games and made 13 starts. He posted a career-high 117 total tackles but earned a 49.9 Pro Football Focus grade.
Reunion with Anarumo and Colts fit
Lou Anarumo previously coached Davis-Gaither during the linebacker’s rookie contract in Cincinnati. Their past connection likely influenced the new pairing in Indianapolis.
The move pairs a familiar defender with a coach who knows his strengths and limitations. It could offer Davis-Gaither a clearer role in the Colts’ scheme.
Cincinnati’s linebacker outlook
The Bengals enter the offseason with one of the thinnest linebacker groups in the league. The unit was widely considered the worst in the NFL last season.
Cincinnati still holds a little over $22 million in salary-cap space. Yet the team has made no linebacker additions so far in free agency.
Coaching staff perspective
Defensive coordinator Al Golden addressed the free-agent landscape at the 2026 NFL Combine. He praised director of player personnel Duke Tobin and his staff for identifying fits.
Golden stressed alignment between scouts and coaches. He said cohesion, clear roles, and communication improve chances for success.
He also took responsibility for last season’s results. Golden noted returning players showed confidence and new leaders emerged.
What comes next
The club may again look to the draft to replenish linebacker depth. Adding young talent appears likely if free agency does not yield veterans.
The roster change illustrates how an ex-Bengals linebacker joins a new team while exposing a persistent defensive gap in Cincinnati. The team must address that hole soon.
