Geno Stone, Houston Texans
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Geno Stone #22 of the Cincinnati Bengals returns an interception against the Tennessee Titans.
The Cincinnati Bengals‘ defensive woes are too glaring to miss. As a result, some decisions have to be made for the benefit of the organization.
According to a ClutchPoints article, there are three players that the Bengals must let go of this offseason.
“After a disastrous 2025 season, the Cincinnati Bengals are ready for revenge.” Gerard Angelo Samillano wrote in the article. “Last season was a year full of frustration, as injuries and poor play hindered the team from reaching their full potential. While they played better to end the year, the rest of the season showed that there are clear issues on the team that need to be fixed.”
The Cincinnati Bengals Need Secondary Help
Two players listed in the article are Safety Geno Stone and Cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. Cincinnati ranked 26th in passing defense in 2025.
Though Geno Stone had successful years playing for the Baltimore Ravens, his success did not follow him to Cincy specifically in 2025.
“In a year where the Bengals’ shoddy tackling stood out, Geno Stone was the worst offender on the defense. The former Baltimore Ravens safety had a penchant for haphazardly throwing his body around instead of properly tackling the ball-carrier.” Samillano wrote.
“That often led to big plays from the opposing team. The most egregious incident was in Week 9, when Stone missed a routine tackle on Colston Loveland that led to a game-winning touchdown for the Bears… The Bengals would simply be better off without Stone on the roster next season.”
Cam Taylor-Britt has shown the potential to be a great cornerback in the NFL. However, Taylor-Britt regressed during the 2025 NFL season.
Cam Taylor-Britt
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“Once upon a time, Cameron Taylor-Britt was the future of the Cincinnati Bengals‘ defense.” Samillano wrote. “Instead, Taylor-Britt regressed throughout the season. His 2025 campaign was his worst one so far: CTB got picked on by the Bengals’ opponents so much that he was benched later in the season. He allowed a 67.9% completion rate when targeted last year.”
The Cincinnati Bengals Are Expected to Move on From Pass Rushers
Trey Hendrickson will be a free agent this offseason. All signs point to Cincy and Hendrickson parting ways. In addition to possibly losing Hendrickson, the Bengals could move on from another pass rusher this offseason.
Pass Rusher Joseph Ossai has struggled to make an impact for Cincy in the past few seasons. The Cincinnati Bengals struggled to stop the run and get after quarterbacks in 2025. The Bengals ranked dead-last in rushing defense in 2025.
“Joseph Ossai is one of these pass-rushers who hasn’t quite made a name for himself over the last few seasons. His most notable moment over the course of his career was his penalty in the 2023 AFC Championship Game that gave the Chiefs prime field position.” Samillano wrote.
“While he’s improved since then, the improvement hasn’t been enough to warrant keeping him on the team.”
Cincinnati allowed 380.9 yards per game and gave up 60 total touchdowns in 2025. It will be an absolute necessity for the Bengals to address their defensive woes, but to do so, changes have to be made.