Cincy Jungle
Here are the key points, just in case you haven’t been paying attention.
The Cincinnati Bengals are cruising through the offseason now that mandatory minicamp has concluded, and I’m here to break down what you’ve missed — just in case you haven’t been paying attention.
We’ll start with the black cloud:
This back-and-forth has cast a shadow over everything else this offseason. The Bengals’ defense allowed an appalling 434 points last year, dragging down Joe Burrow and an otherwise explosive offense and leaving the team with a disappointing 9-8 record.
Now, they’re playing a game of chicken with the only proven pass rusher on the roster. Whether you’re on Team Bengals or Team Hendrickson, there’s no denying his absence is hurting the team.
The Bengals used their first-round pick on Texas A&M edge rusher Shemar Stewart, who could, in theory, take Hendrickson’s place — if he weren’t standing on the sideline alongside him. Stewart, too, is in a contract dispute with the front office and remains one of the few unsigned first-round picks from this year’s draft.
The Bengals cut Alex Cappa and restructured Cordell Volson’s deal after both struggled to protect Burrow from interior pressure last season. They signed veteran G/C Lucas Patrick and drafted Dylan Fairchild out of Georgia.
Cody Ford, Volson, Matt Lee, Jaxson Kirkland, and others are all battling for roster spots, and it remains unclear who will start next to Ted Karras in Week 1 — or whether this revamped unit will be an improvement over last year’s.
While new defensive coordinator Al Golden works to rebuild from the ashes of the 2024 squad, the Bengals appear all-in on their offense. Burrow is healthy, and he’s surrounded by Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins — arguably the NFL’s top WR duo — for at least the next few seasons.
The plan for 2025 looks simple: score early, score often, and force opposing offenses into one-dimensional, catch-up mode. Hopefully, it works better this time than it did a year ago.
Golden takes over for Lou Anarumo, now in Indianapolis, after the Bengals’ defense played a leading role in keeping them out of the playoffs last year. Other than the rookies and a few rotational free agents, the 2025 defensive personnel looks very similar to 2024’s — meaning it won’t take long to see if coaching really was the problem.
Golden’s full plans remain unclear, especially with Hendrickson and Stewart still absent. But frankly, it’s going to be hard to be worse than last year’s unit.
Two players who drew good reviews in OTAs were veteran defensive tackle TJ Slaton and second-round rookie linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. They may end up being the two biggest upgrades the Bengals defense gets this year, especially if Shemar Stewart continues to sit out...
