The Cincinnati Bengals had their worst season since 2020 as they finished with a 6-11 record. The final few minutes of the Bengals season encapsulated everything that went wrong with the team. The offense took the lead with less than two minutes remaining, but the defense failed to hold the lead as the Cleveland Browns drove down the field to kick the game-winning field goal.
Cincinnati’s defense finished 30th in the NFL with 28.9 points per game allowed. Despite the defensive struggles, head coach Zac Taylor announced that the Bengals were not making changes to their coaching staff. There had been speculation regarding defensive coordinator Al Golden’s job security , but the Bengals opted to retain the former college head coach.
Trey Hendrickson Uncertainty
One of the primary reasons the Cincinnati Bengals struggled was the absence of All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson. After back-to-back seasons with 17.5 sacks, Hendrickson took a step back in 2025 as he played in only seven games as he missed most of the season after undergoing core muscle surgery.
It seems increasingly unlikely that Hendrickson returns to Cincinnati, since he’s set to be a free agent after the season. Following the season, general manager Duke Tobin met with the media and answered questions regarding Hendrickson’s future with the team. He said, “I don’t know what the future holds for Trey. Those are discussions that we’re going to have to have ongoing. He’s one of a number of free agents that we have that we’ll have to decide how we’re going to go forward with. But pass rush is king, and you always need to be layering in pass rushers. It can develop from within your team, and I think we’ve seen some of that start to develop from within our team. And then I think we need to find some from external sources, as well.”
Unfortunately for Bengals fans, Tobin’s comments and the reporting has not indicated that a reunion is likely. One of the reporters who cast doubt on the reunion was ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. He wrote, “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.”
After four years with the Bengals, Hendrickson totaled 61 sacks as he made the Pro Bowl four times.
Cincinnati Bengals Projected to Add Top Pass Rusher
Fortunately for the Bengals, they now possess the No. 10 selection in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Bengals have not selected in the top-10 since the 2021 season, when they drafted Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick. A new mock draft by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler has Cincinnati selecting pass rusher Rueben Bain out of the University of Miami. Brugler wrote, “At this early juncture, defensive line is the overwhelming favorite to be the Bengals’ pick.
Because of his “tweener” skills and lack of length, Bain is one of the more polarizing prospects in this class. Even if he falls short in a few areas, however, he is a stout run defender with the relentless power as a pass rusher to kick down the door to the pocket.”
Bain has been one of the top defenders in college football. In the 2025 season, he was named the ACC Defensive Player of The Year as he totaled 12 sacks. His contributions on defense have been one of the primary reasons the Miami Hurricanes have made it to the National Championship. Replacing Hendrickson would be a tough task, but Bain seems to possess the skillset necessary to provide a much-needed boost to the Bengals defense.
