The good news for the Cincinnati Bengals: They have a superstar quarterback in Joe Burrow and perhaps the best wide receiver duo in the NFL in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. The bad news? Paying Burrow, Chase and Higgins big money has left the team cash-strapped everywhere else, and they are about to lose their best defensive player in free agency.
While there was some conjecture that Burrow — after he returned from missing several weeks with a turf toe injury — was unhappy and might want out of Cincinnati, that story was really just conjecture based on Burrow’s perceived moodiness. What’s not conjecture is that Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson is done. Hendrickson, who had 57 sacks in his first four seasons as a Bengal, has been fighting with the team over money for two years. With the animosity that’s built up, there’s virtually no chance Hendrickson is in Cincinnati next season.
Considering Hendrickson only played seven games in 2025 with various injuries, the defense won’t be much worse without him. Unfortunately for the Bengals, this defense was historically bad last year even with Hendrickson on the field for seven games.
After missing the playoffs each of the last three seasons, Zac Taylor and his coaching staff are still in place. But it’s clear they need to make some changes and show improvement in 2026, otherwise there could be big changes.
2025 recap
Joe Burrow looked unstoppable in preseason last summer and then the Bengals got off to a 2-0 start. But Burrow went down with the toe injury in that Week 2 win — and Cincinnati proceeded to go 1-8 without Burrow. After a few weeks of mediocre play from backup QB Jake Browning, the Bengals brought in Joe Flacco — who turned back the clock and threw 13 touchdown passes in six starts. No matter who was throwing the ball, the Chase-Higgins combo was deadly. The duo combined for 2,258 receiving yards and 19 touchdowns.
But, oh, that defense. The Bengals ranked 30th in points allowed and 31st in yards allowed. They allowed 31 points or more in seven games. The backbreaker was a mind-boggling two-game stretch in midseason in which Cincinnati scored 38 against the New York Jets and 42 against the Chicago Bears — and lost both games.
The Bengals finished the season at 6-11, which doesn’t seem terrible given that 1-8 stretch without Burrow. With Burrow, they were 5-3, a pace that could have won a weakened AFC North last year. If not for those inexplicable blown leads in Weeks 8-9, they would have been right in the mix.
Key free agents
DE Try Hendrickson
DE Joseph Ossai
S Geno Stone
QB Joe Flacco
TE Noah Fant
CB Cam Taylor-Britt
QB Jake Browning
Bengals salary cap space
$54,504,672
2026 draft needs
Whether or not the Bengals viewed 2025 first-round pick Shemar Stewart as a future replacement for Hendrickson, they still need more pass-rushing help. A run stuffer in the middle of the line is also needed. If they lose safety Geno Stone in free agency, that will be an important hole to fill. Defense at every level is the priority, though adding some offensive line depth is important as well.
2026 opponents
Home: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Jacksonville, Kansas City, New Orleans, Tampa Bay, Tennessee
Away: Baltimore, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Indianapolis, Miami, Washington
