BREAKING NEWS: Bengals Urged to Sign $13 Million Edge Rusher as Trey Hendrickson Running Mate .giang

The Cincinnati Bengals must do everything in their power to improve their defense in 2025. After what was a horrific season for the unit in 2024, the Bengals need help at just about every level.

Edge rusher is certainly one area the Bengals need to address. Trey Hendrickson is in the final year of his deal in 2025 and could request a trade if he doesn’t get the well-deserved extension he’s seeking.

On top of that, Sam Hubbard is about to turn 30 and fell well short of expectations in 2024, and like Hendrickson, he will be in the final year of his contract. Joseph Ossai, who had the second-most sacks for Cincy, is slated to be a free agent.

With all that in mind, TWSN’s Larry B. Spicer believes the Bengals must make a run at New Orleans Saints edge rusher Chase Young, who is set to hit free agency in 2025 after playing on a one-year, $13 million deal this past season.

“There is still a high ceiling for Chase Young and depending on who is hired to run the Cincinnati defense as well as coach up the d-line, that ceiling is still very much reachable,” Spicer wrote.

“One could argue the two need each other to reach the heights they both desperately want to realize,” Spicer added. “At the end of the day, the Bengals have to drastically improve at getting to the opposing quarterback, there’s no getting around that. Chase Young needs a place to set roots and rebuild a once promising legacy. Maybe together, both can find what they have been missing.”

There’s no question that Young has fallen short of expectations after coming into the NFL with a ton of hype as the No. 2 overall pick in 2020. But young has been fairly productive over the past two seasons, tallying 13 sacks in 33 games, including 5.5 with the Saints in 2024.

Young isn’t going to be the kind of game-changing edge rusher Hendrickson is, but he would be a strong No. 2 to complement the four-time Pro Bowler, assuming Hendrickson is back next season. And, he has the potential to be a long-term solution, as he’ll only be 26 next year.

It’s possible Young could be fully unlocked playing opposite Hendrickson, who commands a ton of attention. That could lead to career-best numbers for Young, which would make him a bargain if he commands a similar price to the one he garnered in New Orleans.

For a Bengals team that finished bottom 10 in sacks in 2024 and desperately needs to improve its defense, Young should absolutely be on the Bengals’ radar in 2025.