The Cincinnati Bengals are heading into the 2026 offseason with more questions than answers - and most of them are on the defensive side of the ball. After a couple of underwhelming seasons, it’s clear the defense has become the team’s biggest liability, and the cracks are showing across every level of the unit.
Let’s start up front, where things have gone from solid to shaky in a hurry. Not long ago, the Bengals’ defensive line was a strength - a group that could control the line of scrimmage and make life difficult for opposing quarterbacks.
But that foundation has eroded. Larry Ogunjobi left for Pittsburgh in 2022.
DJ Reader followed, signing with the Lions after the 2023 season. Those departures weren’t just about names on a depth chart - they were the kind of losses that change the identity of a defense.
Trey Hendrickson, who arrived in 2021, has been the face of the Bengals’ pass rush ever since. And to his credit, he's delivered.
He exploded for 14 sacks in his first season in Cincinnati, followed by eight the next year. Then came a monster 2023 campaign with 17.5 sacks, and he followed it up with another 17.5 in 2024 - leading the league and finishing as the runner-up for Defensive MVP.
That’s elite production. But 2025 didn’t go according to plan.
Hendrickson started hot with four sacks in the first five games before an injury sidelined him, cutting short what could’ve been another dominant season.
The Bengals have tried to build around him. They drafted Joseph Ossai in the third round in 2021 and Cam Sample in the fourth.
In 2023, they used a first-round pick on Myles Murphy, hoping to inject even more juice into the pass rush. But so far, the results have been mixed at best.
Ossai has had flashes. He posted 3.5 sacks as a rookie, lost most of 2022 to injury, then bounced back with five sacks over the final seven games of 2024.
He’s added five more this season, stepping up in Hendrickson’s absence. But while he’s shown energy and potential, he hasn’t yet proven he can anchor a pass rush on his own.
The numbers tell the story. In 2024, the Bengals totaled 36 sacks over 17 games - and Hendrickson and Ossai accounted for 22.5 of them.
This year, the team has 20 sacks so far, with that duo again responsible for nearly half. That kind of top-heavy production raises big questions heading into the offseason.
Both Hendrickson and Ossai are set to hit free agency. Hendrickson, now 30, restructured his deal in late August to a one-year contract worth up to $30 million - a short-term solution that gave him a shot to prove he’s still among the league’s best.
The injury, though, complicated that plan. The Bengals were hoping for one more elite season before deciding on a long-term commitment.
Instead, they’re left with uncertainty.
Ossai re-upped in March on a one-year deal in the $6.5-$7 million range. With Hendrickson out, he’s been given more snaps and has brought some spark off the edge.
He’s not matching Hendrickson’s production - few can - but he’s younger, cheaper, and trending upward. And that combination could be very attractive to a Bengals front office that’s trying to balance cap space, roster needs, and long-term planning.
As the season winds down, three clear scenarios are starting to emerge:
1. Both Hendrickson and Ossai return
In this outcome, the Bengals find a way to bring back both players - either by tagging Hendrickson or re-signing him to another short-term deal, while Ossai returns on a modest extension. It’s the safest route in terms of pass-rush continuity.
Hendrickson gives you proven production, and Ossai provides upside and depth. Together, they form a tandem that can still collapse pockets and pressure quarterbacks - something Cincinnati desperately needs if it wants to stay competitive in the AFC North.
2. Ossai stays, Hendrickson walks
This is the cost-conscious approach. The Bengals let Hendrickson test free agency, possibly unwilling to commit long-term money to a 30-year-old coming off an injury.
Ossai, still in his mid-20s, gets a bigger role and becomes the featured edge rusher. It’s a gamble - you’re trading elite production for potential - but it would free up resources to address other areas of the defense or offense.
It would also signal a shift toward a younger, more flexible roster model.
3. Both depart, and the Bengals rebuild the edge
If the defense continues to falter and the season ends with more questions than hope, the Bengals could hit the reset button entirely. Hendrickson’s age and price tag could push him out of the picture.
Ossai, while promising, hasn’t yet proven he’s indispensable. In this scenario, Cincinnati turns to Myles Murphy as the next man up and looks to the draft or free agency to reload the edge group.
It’s a bold move - and one that would mark a clear pivot toward a long-term rebuild on defense.
No matter which direction they choose, the decisions the Bengals make this offseason will carry weight far beyond sack totals.
For Hendrickson, it’s about legacy and long-term security. He’s put together back-to-back elite seasons and deserves a shot to cash in - but injury and age complicate that picture.
For Ossai, it’s a chance to step out of the shadows and prove he’s more than just a rotational piece. He’s shown flashes.
Now he has to show consistency.
And for the Bengals, it’s about identity. Are they still clinging to a window that may be closing, or are they ready to retool around youth, value, and versatility? The answers will come down to cap space, injury risk, roster makeup, and the vision for what this defense is supposed to be.
One thing’s for sure: this offseason isn’t just about replacing a few players. It’s about defining who the Bengals want to be - and how they plan to get there.