Are the Bengals on the verge of re-signing Ossai?
While Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Trey Hendrickson get most of the attention, the Bengals have several other key players they want to keep in Cincinnati.
One of them is defensive end Joseph Ossai, who had a solid 2024 season and is now entering NFL free agency for the first time.
According to WLWT reporter Charlie Clifford, the Bengals are working to re-sign Ossai.
“The Bengals are engaged in negotiations to keep pass rusher Joseph Ossai, league sources tell WLWT,” Clifford wrote on Twitter.
“As the DE market continues to take shape, the free agent remains a priority in Cincinnati. Finished 2024 with five sacks over the final seven weeks. Turns 25 next month.”
Ossai might be the hardest Bengals free agent to project for what his next contract will look like. On one side, he’s a solid pass-rusher in a league that puts a strong premium on the position.
On the other side, Ossai has been injury-prone throughout his career. He missed his entire rookie season, had a nice 2022 campaign, then didn’t do much of anything in 2023 while being hobbled by injury.
The Bengals should try to keep Ossai, but he’s not someone you can commit a huge deal to with lots of guaranteed money.
