Bengals finally manage to work with an agent that's given them constant trouble for the past four years

Bengals fans are far too familiar with Mulugheta's name. He represents Jessie Bates III and used to represent Tee Higgins. Cincinnati infamously couldn't get long-term contracts done with either player when Mulugheta represented both of them. Negotiations with Bates started back in 2021 and both sides failed on multiple occasions to get something done. He ended up playing on the franchise tag in 2022 and left the Bengals in 2023. Higgins and the club reached similar impasses and he played on the tag in 2024 after requesting to be traded multiple times with Mulugheta advising him.

Obviously, the deals Bates and Higgins were pushing for weren't what Ossai is agreeing to in this case, but the Bengals weren't alone in pursuing the 24-year old pass rusher. Multiple teams such as the Indianapolis Colts expressed interest in Ossai, but the Bengals remained in the fight to retain his services.

They won out on one of Mulugheta's clients, no matter how large or small the deal is. That's a relative win for them.

Representation aside, Ossai coming back for another year is notable for a few reasons. 

Ossai has a chance to start in a true prove-it year

After spending the first four years of his career mostly riding the bench, Ossai wasn't going to draw a ton of interest on the market as a potential starter. By taking a one-year deal, he's betting on himself to become just that and hit the market again at just 25 years of age next offseason. The Bengals may also be interested in a multi-year extension if it comes to that.

The window of opportunity exists primarily because of Sam Hubbard's retirement. When Hubbard suffered a season-ending injury back in December, it was Ossai who replaced him at left defensive end to close the season out and registered at least a half-sack in each of those final three games and 10 pressures total.

If it comes down to either Ossai or Myles Murphy to start, Ossai likely has the edge entering training camp. There's also a reality in which both end up starting.

Trey Hendrickson seeking a trade plays a role in Ossai returning 

If the Bengals were able to lock in Hendrickson with a new contract prior to free agency, it's unlikely Ossai would've come back. Hendrickson instead requested permission to seek a trade and his representation told the Bengals that a trade could result in a first-round pick coming back to them. The Bengals made the rare decision to grant Hendrickson permission, which sparked interest in extending Ossai for another year.

Now that Ossai's return is scheduled, where does that leave them with Hendrickson? The deeper into free agency we go, the fewer suitors remain for Hendrickson's services. It could also lead to a team getting desperate to trade for him, which could net the Bengals getting the return compensation they're after.

There is a future in which Hendrickson returns to the Bengals after his trade market dries up. The defensive line is definitely better with him leading it along with Ossai and Murphy filling in as ancillary pieces off the edge. If Hendrickson does get the deal he wants from elsewhere and the Bengals trade him, they'll roll with Ossai, Murphy, and most likely a very early draft pick to fill the void Hendrickson left behind.

Regardless of what happens with Hendrickson, Ossai should be able to seize an opportunity under a new defensive coaching staff. What he does with it is entirely up to him.