Bengals listed as potential suitor for $45 million 2-time Pro Bowler EDGE

The Cincinnati Bengals were just one game away from making the playoffs in 2024. However, the team’s season ended in Week 18 and all eyes are on free agency and the draft now.

One area of the team that has to be upgraded is the pass rush. Trey Hendrickson had a phenomenal year in 2024, racking up 17.5 sacks and 19 tackles for loss. But, Hendrickson recently turned 30 and no other defender on the roster had more than five sacks. Sam Hubbard had a down year and Joseph Ossai will be a free agent.

Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report recently penned an article identifying the top free agents for 2025 and possible fits for each. Knox listed the Bengals as a potential suitor for embattled pass rusher Haason Reddick.

Regarding the Reddick fit in Cincinnati, Knox offered the following:

The Bengals should also consider taking a flier on Reddick, especially if he's open to a team-friendly deal. (They have major contract decisions looming for receivers Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.) While Cincinnati has one premier pass-rusher in Trey Hendrickson, it lacks a top-tier complement and battled major defensive deficiencies in 2024.

Reddick held out for half the 2024 season due to a contract dispute. Upon returning to the New York Jets, Reddick collected 14 tackles, one sack, and two tackles for loss.

These numbers aren’t that impressive, but Knox pointed out that Reddick has an impressive resume minus this season.

Last season with the Eagles, Reddick amassed 11 sacks, 13 tackles for loss and 35 quarterback pressures. He had four straight seasons of double-digit-sacks before his Jets debacle.

According to Over the Cap, the Bengals are projected to have around $47 million in available cap space this offseason. While that number seems large, the team has several important players heading to free agency, such as Tee Higgins, B.J. Hill, Mike Hilton and Cody Ford.

If the team wants to address the pass rush in free agency, Reddick is among the best options. The eight-year veteran has collected 59 sacks in his career and has two Pro Bowl selections under his belt.

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