The Bengals have some major questions along the defensive line and one veteran on the market could help. He doesn’t come without questions of his own, though.
To say that the 2025 Bengals defensive line is in flux is an understatement. Sam Hubbard has declared his retirement after seven seasons in Cincinnati, while All-Pro Trey Hendrickson has been given permission to seek a trade by the team.
Regardless of whether Hendrickson remains with the Bengals for 2025 and beyond, Cincinnati needs to make heavy investments in both free agency and the draft at positions on the defensive front. Myles Murphy, Cedric Johnson, and Joseph Ossai have flashed promise, but the positional cupboard needs to be restocked with talent.
There are a couple of short-term veteran options entering the free-agent market that could provide stability alongside the younger players currently on the line, as well as others who may be drafted. We’ve talked about Chase Young, but another former Ohio State Buckeye and high pick could also pique interest.
Joey Bosa was recently released by the Chargers after nine seasons with the club. A huge 2025 cap hit was looming, and he wasn’t the same player the NFL world knew during his first handful of pro seasons.
He earned Pro Bowl honors last year, even though the numbers weren’t gaudy. Still, a new setting and a return to Ohio may spark a renaissance.
Joey Bosa
- Height: 6-foot-5
- Weight: 280
- Age: 29 (Turns 30 in July)
- Years Pro: Entering 10th season
- Hometown: Fort Lauderdale, FL
- College: Ohio State
- RAS:
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Background
Bosa was a dual-sport athlete in high school and was ranked as a four-star recruit in his class (the fourth-rated defensive end in 2012). He comes from an NFL lineage, with his father, John, being a former pro and his brother, Nick, being one of the best pass-rushers in the league. He’s also the cousin of Jake Kumerow, who had a flash-in-the-pan stint with the Bengals back in 2015-2016.
Bosa earned a number of college accolades by the time his collegiate career ended and eventually became the No. 3 overall selection in the 2016 NFL Draft by the then-San Diego Chargers. He earned NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors after the 2016 season and has been selected to five Pro Bowls.
Bosa was a dominant player from 2016 to 2021, racking up four double-digit sack seasons in six years. However, injuries took their toll and caused him to miss 24 total games over the last three seasons (including the postseason).
The Chargers released Bosa before the onset of the 2025 free agency period to save cap space and allow him ample time to test the free agent market. While injuries and age are concerns, he did play in 14 games in 2024, after playing in only 14 total games over the past two seasons.
Strengths and Weaknesses
When Bosa is on, he’s a game-wrecker. He has good size, strength, and a repertoire of pass-rushing moves that make him an effective edge defender. He has also played in both four-man front and 3-4 schemes without much of a hitch, and he’s even kicked inside on five-man fronts, making him versatile.
Bosa has primarily played on the left side, which is currently vacant on the Bengals’ roster due to Hubbard’s retirement. He has always played with a high level of tenacity, which is highly desirable in the AFC North.
The former Buckeye also has a track record of success against elite teams and quarterbacks. He’s accumulated sacks against Joe Burrow, Patrick Mahomes, and many others. This isn’t an exact metric by any means, but it is a notable feather in his cap.
He’s hit-and-miss in the run game, but his 15 additional tackles for loss over sacks in his career suggest that he’ll contribute here and there. This isn’t the biggest concern, though.
Of course, his age and recent injury history have to be accounted for. Teams will heavily monitor this as they court him in free agency.
Outlook
The 49ers appear to be the front-runners for Bosa’s services, given that his brother plays there. Still, the Bengals have to be in the mix, considering their dire situation at defensive end and his Ohio State/Joe Burrow connection.
While it was largely during the Marvin Lewis era, the Bengals have shown a historic proclivity toward reclamation projects. Former high picks who haven’t met their potential and/or players with off-field problems have seen varying degrees of success after the Bengals took a chance on them.
Bosa has met expectations as a former No. 3 pick, but it has been a few years since we’ve seen the down-in, down-out dominance from him. Cincinnati will likely be investing a lot of resources into free agency and the draft to improve their defense, particularly with new defensive coordinator Al Golden in the fold. So, even as a rotational piece, Bosa would be helpful.
However, if the Bengals were to strike a deal, it would need to be something they are very comfortable with. In theory, even though Bosa largely plays the opposite edge spot from Hendrickson, it would seem counterintuitive to offer a lucrative deal to Bosa if the Bengals are balking at a big deal for Hendrickson. Therefore, the structure of the deal would need to make a lot of sense.
Still, if it is “overhaul time” on the Bengals’ defensive line, players like Bosa and/or Young to supplement a new crop of draft picks could be an acceptable consolation prize, especially with Hubbard retired and Hendrickson’s status up in the air.
