Sports Illustrated Names Bengals as Part of the Good, Bad and Ugly of 2025 NFL Offseason

 Sports Illustrated's Matt Verdarame dropped a look at the Good, Bad, and Ugly of the 2025 NFL offseason. His criticism of the Bengals continued with the defense landing in his "bad" group.

Verdarame is not optimistic about the unit turning around under Al Golden.

"The Cincinnati Bengals are going to be an amazing case study in how far three players can get a team," Verdarame wrote. "Cincinnati did what many thought it wouldn’t and gave massive, nine-figure extensions to receivers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. However, the Bengals also failed to address the league’s 25th-ranked defense in any meaningful way, save for using their first-round pick on defensive end Shemar Stewart.

"However, Stewart not only remains unsigned after a prolonged contractual dispute with the team, but he also delivered strong words through the media while at minicamp before leaving early. Then there’s the matter of fellow edge rusher Trey Hendrickson threatening to hold out for the entire campaign if he doesn’t get a lucrative extension. All told, the Bengals have an offense capable of scoring 30 points per game. That might not be enough based on the defensive depth chart and new coordinator Al Golden, who has no experience at his current position on the NFL level."

The Bengals rely on hope for a lot of things and this inclusion is another example of hope in Al Golden carrying much of the optimistic view (if any) for this unit.

Cincinnati added TJ Slaton as its only big addition to the defense, a unit that as of now, doesn't have its best player or 2025 first-round pick in the mix.