Bengаlѕ boldly predіcted to get even worѕe on defenѕe іn 2025

It’s fair to think the only way the Cincinnati Bengals defense can go in 2025 is up.

Those Bengals, after all, figure to make notable talent upgrades across all three levels of the defense. The arrival (return, really) of Al Golden as coordinator could help. Scheme differences, no matter how small, will have an impact, as will finding a way to clamp down on the tackling issues.

But it seems not everyone is convinced. Pro Football Network’s Kyle Soppe just made bold predictions for 2025 and his note about the Bengals suggests the unit will get even worse:

Ultimately, as porous as the Bengals’ defense was in 2024, it’s more alarming when you realize they reached that with a Defensive Player of the Year-caliber season. Without a repeat performance from Hendrickson on top of uncertainty at the coordinator spot, the Bengals can sink lower in 2025.

Much of the concern in the writeup seems to hinge on Trey Hendrickson, which is totally fair — he just gave the team an extend-or-trade ultimatum.

Production-wise, though, the Bengals shouldn’t need a DPOTY campaign from Hendrickson each and every season just to field a bottom-five defense.

On paper, names such as former first-rounder Myles Murphy should be helping produce a more well-rounded pass rush each week. Ideally, the middle of the line improves, too, while the secondary enjoys some better injury luck and remains digestible enough that the coordinator doesn’t have to simplify the scheme in December.

Provided the Bengals can lock down the Hendrickson contract situation, a do-over with notable personnel changes that seem guaranteed should produce a better unit in 2025.