The Cincinnati Bengals came away from the 2025 NFL Draft with six new players, three on each side of the ball. According to a recent article by PFSN’s Sterling Xie, though, the team still has a weakness on the interior of its defensive line.
The Bengals drafted two defensive tackles on Day 2 of the 2024 NFL draft and added T.J. Slaton in free agency. Still, though, Xie believes the team ignored a glaring need by failing to address the position further.
Bengals Addressed Defense, But Still Need Help
The Cincinnati Bengals raised eyebrows by signing both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to enormous contract extensions this offseason. Those extensions have led to an impasse with star defensive end Trey Hendrickson and left the team short of funds to improve its floundering defense.
With that in mind, it was clear that the team’s only avenue to an improved defense was through the draft. The fact that the Bengals spent half of their picks on offense, therefore, may have surprised some, but they left the draft having improved overall.
The Bengals were the only team in the top 11, in terms of points scored, to miss out on the playoffs last season. The team allowed the seventh-most points in the NFL in 2024 (tied); no team in the bottom 14 of that metric made the postseason. If Cincinnati is to get back to competing for a Super Bowl in 2025, those three defensive picks will need to step up early.
According to Xie, though, the team’s biggest weakness still lies in its defense. In his article, which points out each team’s biggest post-draft weakness, Xie listed defensive tackle as a problem area for the Bengals.
Bengals Failed to Capitalize on Strong DT Class
The 2025 NFL Draft class was said to be weaker than previous classes at the quarterback and wide receiver positions. It was, however, thought to be stacked with NFL-ready offensive and defensive linemen. Xie writes that while the Bengals have some run-stuffers on the interior, they could once more struggle to pressure quarterbacks up the middle in 2025.
“Trey Hendrickson accounted for over half of the Cincinnati Bengals’ sacks last season. Even if the team strikes a long-term deal with Hendrickson, that can’t happen again in 2025. Picking super-freak Shemar Stewart in the first round was a first step towards rectifying that imbalance, as Stewart has the upside to become Hendrickson’s successor as a true No. 1 edge rusher.
“However, in a deep defensive tackle draft, the Bengals didn’t come away with any players at that spot. B.J. Hill and Tedarrell Slaton are still the projected starters, with the latter likely to play mostly early downs as a run-stuffer.
“In fairness, the Bengals did invest heavily at the position last draft. However, both Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson profile as early-down contributors as well. Cincinnati defensive tackles combined to rank 21st in pressures last year, so the interior still looks like a weak spot on passing downs.”
The imbalance of the Bengals’ roster has been widely discussed, with many criticizing the team for going all-out on offense. Only time will tell if the team has managed to even things out with its offseason additions, but there will be egg on faces if the team misses the playoffs again.
