Stop me if you’ve heard this one before, but the Cincinnati Bengals could afford to add an interior pass rusher.
Here are some IDL options who could be available in free agency.
Logan Hall
After posting 5.5 sacks and 10 quarterback hits in 2024, Logan Hall took a step back this year, with only 1.5 sacks and 6 quarterback hits.
Hall is still only 25, and this statistical drop-off could be just a temporary blip in a promising career.
A 2022-second round pick, Hall has improved his game every year. At 6’6” 283, Hall has an unconventional frame for the interior. In fact, He is more of a 3-4 defensive end, but the Bengals play a lot of odd fronts where their defensive tackles align like 3-4 defensive end.
Hall could be a fun chance up to the defensive interior, who provides a bit more pass rush than what they have right now.0
John Franklin-Myers
John Franklin-Myers might be the hottest name in free agency.
Franklin-Myers is truly a 3-4 defensive end, making him a bit of a hard projection to the Bengals.
The 29-year-old was selected by the Los Angeles Rams in the fourth round of the 2018 draft, but spent very little time with that club. He spent a few seasons with the New York Jets before joining the Denver Broncos.
Although he is at an age where you would expect a decline, Jones is coming off two consecutive seasons with at least 7 sacks.
Signing Franklin-Myers would be an uncharacteristic, big splash move, but I wonder how well his body will hold up over the next few seasons. a2
Dre’Mont Jones
Playing nearly 800 snaps in 2025, Dre’Mont Johns has seen a lot more action. Of course, that isn’t the only thing that is different. Jones also produced 8 sacks. His high production levels may be a function of being a versatile player who sees a lot of action on the edge.
Jones was a third-round pick for Denver in 2013. He is 29 and has seven years of playing experience with the Broncos, Chargers, Titans, and now Ravens.
DaQuan Jones
Age 34 is getting up there in the NFL, but DaQuan Jones doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
The 6’4”, 320-pound behemoth had an excellent season stuffing the run for the Buffalo Bills, but he is also a pretty solid interior pass rusher. Jones had 21 pressures and 3 sacks in a mere 424 snaps last season.
Jones has 12 years of experience, dating back to 2012, when the Tennessee Titans selected him in Round 4. He has since spent a season in Carolina and is just wrapping up his fourth season in Buffalo
Roy Lopez
Look, we all love D.J. Reader, but I just don’t see him coming back. There is, however, another Lions DT who I could see making sense for the Bengals, Roy Lopez.
Lopez is 6’2”, 312, and 28 years old. He’s had previous stops in Houston (who drafted him in the 6th Round in 2021) and Arizona.
Unlike Reader, Lopez is a big-body nose who can stuff the run but also gives you some surprising pass-rush juice.
In only 425 snaps last season, Lopez had 13 hurries and 2 sacks.
He just seems like the type of value prospect who the Bengals could get big things out of.
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