Good defensive ends can solve a lot of problems, particularly in the passing game. With youth and uncertainty in the secondary, a quality pass rush would have gone a long way for the Cincinnati Bengals, but this key unit as a whole came up short in 2024.

Key Players

• Trey Hendrickson
• Joseph Ossai
• Myles Murphy
• Sam Hubbard

Year In Review

The Bengals were a team of contradictions this season, and perhaps there is no greater example of that than the pass rush. One of the team’s biggest issues throughout the season was their failure to generate pressure, despite Trey Hendrickson leading the entire league with 17.5 sacks on the year. Sam Hubbard hobbled through injury but was not effective. Myles Murphy, the recent first-round pick, got very little opportunity. The one bright spot among Hendrickson’s coworkers was Joseph Ossai, who started to show some good things as the season went on; however, he is due to be a free agent, and his agent is the Lord Voldemort of agents for the Bengals fans.

Potential NFL Free Agents

• Joseph Ossai
• Cam Sample

What to Do Next?

The first thing that needs to be done is to extend Hendrickson. He wanted a new deal last offseason, and he once again outplayed his contract. He is this defense’s biggest playmaker, and they need to give him what he deserves.

Then, they need to figure out how to complement him. Joseph Ossai could definitely be a part of him if they can re-sign him, but either way, they need to add a starting quality player in the draft or free agency. Myles Murphy could be a bigger factor with the new coaching staff, but you cannot depend on that.

They need to add juice to that room.

What I would do

Pass rushers cost a lot of money in free agency, but if you don’t open up your wallet, you are forcing yourself to take an edge at 17 instead of the best player available. They have to find a way to get it done.

I’d love to go after Josh Sweat, but I’m not sure what his price tag will be. Maybe if they doubled down on two talented but underperforming or injury-prone players, the combined cost wouldn’t be crazy, and your odds of getting something out of them could be double. Maybe Chase Young and Marcus Davenport could fit that bill.

That certainly doesn’t stop you from taking a defensive end in round one, and they need to take one at some point, but addressing the position in that way gives you flexibility in the draft.