What Went Wrong in Cincinnati: 5 Missed Moves That Help Explain the Bengals’ Slide
The Bengals are staring down their first losing season since 2020, and with it, a third straight year without a playoff appearance. For a team that once looked like a perennial contender in the AFC, that’s a tough pill to swallow. While injuries and inconsistency have played their part, a closer look reveals that several key decisions - or lack thereof - from the front office last offseason helped pave the road to disappointment.
Let’s break down five moves the Bengals could’ve made that might have changed the trajectory of their 2025 season. Hindsight is always 20/20, but even at the time, some of these decisions raised eyebrows.
5. Waiting Too Long to Sign a Starting-Caliber Guard
Cincinnati entered the offseason with both guard spots in flux. Left guard Cordell Volson had fallen out of favor after a rough finish to last season, and right guard Alex Cappa was allowed to walk in free agency.
The Bengals eventually signed veteran Lucas Patrick on March 21, but the move felt more like a stopgap than a solution. Patrick ended up injured in the opener and played just three more games - none as a starter.
The Bengals did invest in the position through the draft, selecting Dylan Fairchild and Jalen Rivers. Fairchild has shown promise and locked down the left guard spot, while Rivers started from Weeks 4 through 10 before being replaced by Dalton Risner. Risner, notably, wasn’t signed until late August - a curious delay considering his availability all offseason.
Risner has played well since stepping in, but the late signing likely contributed to his slow integration. Had the Bengals acted sooner, they might’ve had more stability on the interior from Day 1 - something this offense sorely needed.
4. Ignoring the Need for an Interior Pass Rusher
One of the Bengals’ biggest defensive issues last year was the lack of push up the middle. Their defensive tackles combined for just nine sacks in 2024 - a number that screamed for reinforcements.
But instead of addressing the interior pass rush, the Bengals doubled down on what they had, adding only nose tackle T.J. Slaton and otherwise running it back with the same group.
Fast forward to now, and the results are even worse. With two games left in the season, Bengals defensive tackles have combined for just 5.5 sacks. That lack of pressure has made life easier for opposing quarterbacks and put added strain on a secondary that’s already dealing with its own issues.
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson missing time certainly didn’t help matters, but the interior simply hasn’t delivered. A disruptive 3-technique - whether through the draft or free agency - could’ve been a game-changer.
3. Failing to Add a Veteran Safety
The Bengals rolled into the season with Geno Stone and Jordan Battle as their starting safeties - a duo that came with more questions than answers. Stone and Battle both struggled in 2024, ranking near the bottom of Pro Football Focus’ safety grades. Depth was also a concern, with backups combining for just 10 regular-season snaps before the season began.
Battle has taken some steps forward and now ranks 60th out of 100 graded safeties, but he also leads the league in missed tackles with 21. Stone isn’t far behind, ranking 84th and missing 22 tackles - the most in the NFL. Despite their struggles, both have been on the field nearly every snap: Battle has played over 97% of defensive snaps, and Stone more than 95%.
That kind of workload, especially without consistent production, is a red flag. The Bengals needed more competition and depth at the position. A veteran safety with starting experience could’ve stabilized the back end and taken pressure off the young duo.
2. Not Trading Trey Hendrickson When They Had the Chance
This one’s tricky. Trey Hendrickson has been a cornerstone of the Bengals’ pass rush since arriving in Cincinnati, but the writing was on the wall last spring.
Hendrickson’s contract situation - and his age - made a long-term extension unlikely. After a holdout and a “hold-in” during the offseason, the two sides agreed to a reworked one-year deal worth $29 million.
He started the season strong with four sacks and eight QB hits in the first five games, but then came the injuries. A back issue in Week 6 slowed him down, and after briefly returning, he was sidelined again. He finished the year with no sacks or QB hits in his final two games and eventually landed on injured reserve following core muscle surgery.
Given the short-term nature of his deal and the physical toll he’s taken, the Bengals might’ve been better off dealing him in March or April. A trade could’ve netted valuable draft capital - or even a veteran pass rusher to help fill the void. Instead, they held on, and now they’re left without Hendrickson and without any return.
1. Swinging and Missing in the Draft
The Bengals’ 2025 draft class was always going to be pivotal, and the decision to take defensive end Shemar Stewart in the first round was a bold one - maybe too bold. Stewart was a traits-over-production pick, and so far, the gamble hasn’t paid off. He’s missed nine games due to injury and hasn’t made much of an impact when on the field: eight tackles, one tackle for loss, one QB hit, and zero sacks across 207 defensive snaps.
It’s early, and Stewart’s story isn’t fully written, but the Bengals needed immediate contributors. There were other options on the board who could’ve filled glaring needs. Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, taken 31st overall by the Eagles, is already making waves - ranking 13th among 86 graded linebackers by PFF.
Had the Bengals taken Campbell, they could’ve avoided using a second-round pick on linebacker Demetrius Knight. That might have opened the door for Georgia guard Tate Ratledge, who’s started all 15 games for Detroit and ranks 23rd among 79 guards.
In the third round, the Bengals could’ve grabbed Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts - who currently ranks ahead of both Stone and Battle - instead of drafting Fairchild, who was more of a necessity pick at guard. Fairchild has held his own, but the ripple effect of that first-round decision is hard to ignore.
Final Thoughts
The Bengals didn’t fall off overnight. This season’s struggles are the result of a series of missed opportunities - some in free agency, some in the draft, and some in managing veteran contracts. The roster construction, particularly on defense, lacked the foresight and aggression needed to keep pace in a loaded AFC.
There’s still plenty of talent in Cincinnati, and with a few smart moves, this team can get back on track. But the margin for error is slim, and this offseason will be critical. The window isn’t closed - but it won’t stay open forever.