2025 DE's where we at?

[*ochocincos*]

(Yesterday, 03:25 PM)bengalfan74 Wrote: I don't think it's any big secret that our 2024 defense cost us games this past season. Moreover, our lack of pass rush in many games (besides Hendrickson) was just pathetic.

As with so many position groups there's a lot to think about/fix here, IMHO. Here they are:

Trey Hendrickson - 31 years old next season averaging 14 sacks per season over last 5 years. With back to back 17.5 sack seasons I don't think it's much of a stretch to think he's going to demand a new contract, again. Can/will the Bengals be able to keep him?

Sam Hubbard - 31 years old next season averaging about 4.5 sacks a season over last 5 years. This subject touches a nerve around here, but here is my take. They need to either cut Sam or restructure his contract and put him as a rotational backup. His career has been in decline last couple seasons and we have to get better production from our DE's not named Trey.

Myles Murphy - 24 years old next season and a 1st round draft pick in 2023. Has 3 sacks to his credit all in 2023. Hasn't moved the needle much in his young career but I doubt he's a cut candidate yet. Will he find his stride next season? I have my doubts.

Joseph Ossai - 25 next season with 9.5 career sacks. He had 5 sacks this year with all of them coming in back half of season. I believe at best he's aa rotational type backup.

And the rest: Cam Sample, Cedric Johnson, and Isaiah Thomas Sample has flashed a bit here and there and if he can come back from injury he's worth a look. Not real sure about the rest?

In summary IMHO we have to bring Trey back and we need to either go get a good free agent DE and they're expensive or pray we get a great DC that can develop this bunch we have. We have to get some pressure on opposing QB's besides Trey.

And Ossai and Sample are set to hit FA in a couple months.

Cedric Johnson played 83 defensive snaps and has 1.0 sack.
Murphy played 353 defensive snaps and had 0.0 sacks.

To me, this is Murphy's make-or-break year. Gotta take the next step in your 3rd year, especially as a 1st rounder.
We had heard Murphy's elite ceiling is what elevated him to 1st round status, but he needed work to get there.


I like Cedric Johnson as the last DE on the depth chart to continue developing and someone maybe who can become part of the rotation in a year or two.
He takes one of the 5-6 DE spots.
I expect them to add one more DE.
If they re-sign Ossai, maybe that's when they might let Hubbard go and kinda plan for Ossai and Murphy to cover Hubbard's role in 2025 along with an early draft pick.
If they don't re-sign Ossai, I can see them keeping Hubbard for insurance and continuity while still drafting a guy early.