The Cincinnati Bengals have built a playoff-caliber roster in the Joe Burrow era, but there's one curious trend that continues to stand out: they haven’t drafted a single Ohio State player since Burrow arrived in 2020. Unless you count Burrow himself-who spent three years in Columbus before transferring to LSU, mostly riding the bench behind Dwayne Haskins-that’s a whole lot of Buckeye talent passing right under the Bengals’ noses.
Now, let’s be clear: drafting a player from Ohio State isn’t a guaranteed win. But when one of college football’s most consistent NFL pipelines is located just 90 minutes up the road, it’s hard not to wonder why Cincinnati keeps looking the other way.
And it’s not like the Buckeyes haven’t had players who fit the Bengals’ needs. In recent years, there have been several moments where Cincinnati opted for less impactful prospects while OSU talent was still on the board. Let’s take a look at a few of those decisions.
- 2021, Round 4: The Bengals took Tyler Shelvin, a run-stuffing nose tackle, over Tommy Togiai, an Ohio State product who brought more versatility and explosiveness to the interior.
- 2021, Round 7: Cincinnati selected Wyatt Hubert, a developmental edge rusher, while Jonathon Cooper, who’s carved out a solid role with the Broncos, was still available.
Fast forward to the 2025 draft, and things get even tougher to digest.
- Round 1: The Bengals took Shemar Stewart, a raw edge prospect, over two proven Buckeyes-Donovan Jackson, a dominant offensive lineman, and Tyleik Williams, a disruptive interior force.
- Round 4: They went with Barrett Carter, a linebacker from Clemson, instead of Lathan Ransom or Jack Sawyer, both of whom had strong final seasons in Columbus and filled more pressing needs on the Bengals’ depth chart.
- Round 5: Cincinnati picked Jalen Rivers, an offensive lineman, bypassing Jordan Hancock and Denzel Burke, two defensive backs with starting-caliber upside.
Ohio State sent 14 players to the NFL in the 2025 draft. None of them landed in Cincinnati.
That could change in 2026. The Buckeyes once again have a strong draft class, and names like Caleb Downs, Kayden McDonald, and Sonny Styles could all be intriguing fits for a Bengals defense that needs a jolt of youth and energy. But if we’re talking about immediate impact-especially on the edge-there’s a different kind of Buckeye the Bengals could target.
Enter: Joey Bosa
According to ESPN’s offseason projections, Cincinnati is expected to be active in the veteran edge rusher market, with Joey Bosa among the top names linked to the team. Alongside players like Yetur Gross-Matos, D.J. Wonnum, and Charles Omenihu, Bosa stands out as the most decorated and potentially impactful option.
Bosa, the No. 3 overall pick in the 2016 draft, is still just 30 years old and remains one of the league’s most feared pass rushers-when healthy. Injuries have been a recurring issue, and he made his first team switch last season, going from the Chargers to the Bills. But even with the bumps and bruises, he showed he still has plenty left in the tank.
He led the NFL in forced fumbles (5) this season and graded out as a top-10 edge rusher according to Pro Football Focus. That’s the kind of production the Bengals desperately need, especially after letting Trey Hendrickson walk despite back-to-back 17.5-sack campaigns.
It’s possible that Bosa’s injury history and age could make the Bengals cautious. But that hesitation could be offset by the fact that Bosa likely won’t command a massive deal. He’s not looking for a record-breaking contract, and his price tag may fall right into Cincinnati’s comfort zone.
And beyond the stats, Bosa brings something else this Bengals defense has lacked at times: fire. After the Bills’ heartbreaking playoff exit in Denver, Bosa’s emotional reaction in the tunnel-raw, passionate, and visibly frustrated-was a reminder of just how much this game still means to him. That kind of leadership can’t be measured in numbers, but it matters in locker rooms.
The Bigger Picture
Right now, the Bengals’ edge rotation is headlined by Myles Murphy and Shemar Stewart. Murphy showed flashes in his rookie year, but he’s still developing.
Stewart, meanwhile, is a long-term project. Banking on both to carry the pass rush in Week 1 feels risky-especially for a team with postseason aspirations.
That’s where someone like Bosa fits in perfectly: a proven veteran who can anchor the edge while the younger guys grow into their roles. And let’s not forget, bringing in a Buckeye legend like Bosa could also help bridge the invisible gap between the Bengals and Ohio State’s talent pipeline.
Whether it's Joey Bosa in free agency or a player like Caleb Downs in the draft, this feels like the year Cincinnati finally taps into the Buckeye well. And if they do, it might just be the move that takes their defense from inconsistent to elite.