For the Cincinnati Bengals, they are not only preparing for the upcoming NFL Draft. They most desperately need to improve their defensive front, particularly in regards to turning around a woefully bad pass rush. For the Bengals, it’s a fateful decision crossroads for their defense. They don’t have any locked down defensive ends beyond this year and just one edge rusher with meaningful production signed.
Myles Murphy is the team’s first choice as an edge rusher. He has done so after being selected in the first round of the 2023 draft, with an immediate impact. For all his athleticism and explosive potential, Murphy has just three career sacks to his credit. Last season, he led all defensive linemen against Power Four opponents with an impressive total of 13.5 sacks, showcasing his potential to affect games significantly.
In addition to Murphy, Joseph Ossai contributed a career-high five sacks last season, indicating the need for further contributions from the defensive line to improve overall performance. Bengals’ management recognizes the necessity of enhancing their pass rush to remain competitive in a league that increasingly emphasizes quarterback pressure.
Al Golden, shining star of the Bengals’ 2021 Super Bowl run as their linebackers coach, is inheriting a mess. His focus paid immeasurable dividends on the defensive side of the ball, as the Tigers showed school-record improvement. His strategies and insights have been key as the team has sought to shore up its defensive position.
Jerry Montgomery, the Bengals’ defensive line coach, is constantly looking for edge rushers. He looks for players who can put that next level of pressure on opposing quarterbacks. This year’s draft class should produce seven potential franchise changers. On the Bengals’ side, they’re equally as hungry to discover who could be the perfect additions to their roster.
“We want more out of our front on defense,” said head coach Zac Taylor, emphasizing the need for an effective pass rush as a critical component of their game plan moving forward.
Unfortunately, the Bengals’ recent drafting history comes with a bit of skepticism. Of their last five draft picks, only Ezeiruaku has been able to make any real contributions on the field. Though that would seem to indicate a failure in the areas of scouting and development, there is great hope for this year’s class.
You might remember Trey Hendrickson from his days absolutely destroying the NFL last season with 17.5 sacks. His outstanding play underlined by one of the team’s first All-Pro selections in nine years, a huge feat for his short career. He has only one year remaining on his contract and he has put in a formal trade request. This would leave his future with the team in doubt.
The national champions Bengals have their work cut out for them as their walk this tightrope. However, Murphy’s loss for the first four games of 2024 due to a knee injury further muddies their pass-rush plan. This early-stage blow derails plans and makes the team scramble. Murphy and Cedric Johnson are the only other players on the roster signed through 2026. With such a dangerous proposition, it becomes imperative to find dependable talent in this year’s draft.
Katie Blackburn expressed confidence in Murphy’s potential, stating, “We highly respect him and he obviously had success at Notre Dame, so hopefully he can build on that and get us going in a good direction.” This infectious feeling mirrors the sense of urgency within the team’s walls as they look to improve their pass rush and figure things out defensively across the board.
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