The Cincinnati Bengals finished the year with a 20-18 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The loss dropped the Bengals to 6-11, their worst record since 2020. After making the Super Bowl and AFC Championship in 2021 and 2022 seasons, Cincinnati has now missed the postseason in three consecutive seasons.
One of the bigger reasons the Bengals had a disappointing season was injuries. In his press conference after the season, head coach Zac Taylor alluded to the team’s injuries as a reason they failed to meet expectations, saying, “I think what you were missing was your highest-paid player on offense and defense, and that’s challenging holistically.” Of course, Taylor was referring to Joe Burrow and Trey Hendrickson. Joe Burrow started eight games for Cincinnati this year, while Hendrickson was only available for seven.
Bengals Predicted to Sign Pass-Rusher
The Bengals defense struggled all year, and losing Hendrickson did not help. They finished 30th in the NFL with 28.9 points per game allowed. Now, it seems as though the Bengals will have to make do without Trey Hendrickson going forward as well. Regarding Hendrickson’s future with the Bengals, ESPN insider Jeremy Fowler said , “This relationship has run its course. The Bengals have the option to franchise tag Hendrickson, but after a year of contentious contract negotiations, the edge rusher appears poised to land elsewhere and capitalize on a booming positional market.”
Losing Hendrickson would be a massive blow to the Bengals defense. Prior to the 2025 season, Hendrickson had made four consecutive Pro Bowls and amassed 57 sacks. In order to replace his production, ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz predicted the team would sign veteran five-time Pro Bowl selection Joey Bosa.
Despite registering just five sacks this year, Bosa has been productive for the Bills in 2025. His 79.3 grade by Pro Football Focus ranks 17th out of 115 edge players in the NFL. Despite being subpar against the run, his pass-rush grade still ranks among the top-ten in the NFL. Bosa signed a one-year $12,610,000 deal with the Bills prior to the 2025 season.
Although if the Bengals want to avoid injury-riddled seasons, going after Bosa may not be the best course of action. He has missed eight or more games in two out of the past four seasons. Bosa has not had 10 or more sacks in a season since 2021.
Cincinnati Bengals’ First Round Edge Rushers
Cincinnati may also opt to trust some of their younger players to fill Hendrickson’s role. Rookie first-round pick Shemar Stewart had a disappointing season marred by injuries and inconsistent play. His 41.8 overall grade by Pro Football Focus ranked as the worst among 115 qualified edge players. However, he did register a sack in the Bengals’ Week 17 win over the Cardinals.
Additionally, Stewart got to learn from Hendrickson this year. He was asked about his relationship with the All-Pro. Stewart said, “I loved it, it was everything I could have asked for. He was great to me.”
Former first-round pick Myles Murphy also had his best season as a pro. He finished with a career-high 5.5 sacks. Although to replace Hendrickson’s production, they would need improvement from both their first-round edge rushers.
