athlonsports.com

Bengals' Defense Described as 'Ugly' Entering 2025 Season

Everyone knows that the Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best offensive trios in the entire NFL in Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. But their defense has been a bit of a talking point going into the season.

In a recent article by Sports Illustrated's Matt Verderame, he lists what he thinks is the good, the bad, and the ugly from this offseason. In the category titled "the bad", he has the 2025 Bengals defense.

"All told, the Bengals have an offense capable of scoring 30 points per game," Verderame wrote. "That might not be enough based on the defensive depth chart and new coordinator Al Golden, who has no experience at his current position on the NFL level."

The Bengals drafted Shemar Stewart with the 17th overall pick in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, but they have still not signed him to his rookie deal. And that is just one of the team's problems on that side of the ball.

They have also not reached an agreement on a new contract with superstar edge rusher Trey Hendrickson, and it is seeming more and more likely that he will not be playing in Cincinnati in 2025. After failing to find a trade, the team also had to let go of star linebacker Germaine Pratt, who played a big role in 2024.

The Bengals have missed the playoffs each of the last two seasons, so the team's defense will be looking to do all they can to help the team make it back to the postseason.

Read full news in source page