A Bengals Offseason Tradition

We have a bit of an annual tradition that kicks off around this time of year. Once the first waves of free agency and the NFL Draft are in the rearview mirror, we turn our attention to identifying which Bengals players might be poised to take that all-important next step in their careers.

Spotlight Series: “Potential Bengals Breakout Players”

Here at Cincy Jungle and on our associated podcasts, we launch a recurring series each offseason titled “Potential Bengals Breakout Players.” It’s our way of forecasting which players could step into larger roles, show significant growth from the previous season, or otherwise emerge as key contributors in the upcoming year.

This isn’t just guesswork—it’s based on anticipated increases in playing time, glimpses of potential, and overall development we’ve seen behind the scenes.

Introducing: “Make-or-Break Year”

Building on that tradition, we’re introducing a companion series called “Make-or-Break Year.” This series focuses on Bengals players entering crucial stages of their careers—those who must prove themselves now or risk being left out of the team’s long-term plans.

These are players at a turning point. Whether their situation stems from inconsistent play, off-field concerns, or simply the need to take a leap forward, the coming months could define the trajectory of their NFL careers.

Geno Stone

The Bengals had a relatively predictable free agency period last year, signing players they had tracked for a while. One was recently released defensive tackle Sheldon Rankins, a player Cincinnati liked dating back to his draft profile. Another was Geno Stone, a safety coming from within the division.

Stone put together a strong 2023 season, picking off seven passes in his first year with an expanded role. He earned an 85.3 coverage grade and a 90.6 overall grade from Pro Football Focus, which named him one of the top 20 safeties heading into the 2024 season.

However, after joining the Bengals last spring, Stone was among several defensive players who struggled early. His first interception didn’t come until Week 7—a play on which he was also injured—and things didn’t really start to click for him or the defense until Week 13.

Between Weeks 13 and 15, Stone collected three interceptions, coinciding with the defense finally finding its rhythm. Not surprisingly, the Bengals ended the season on a five-game winning streak and narrowly missed the playoffs.

Now the question becomes: What version of Geno Stone will we see in 2025 under a new defensive coordinator? Will the defensive upgrades in front of him allow him to play more freely and return to the ballhawking form he showed in Baltimore and late last year?

Background:

Stone was a seventh-round pick of the Baltimore Ravens in 2020 out of Iowa. He was a second-team All-Big Ten selection as a junior, earning playing time in all three of his seasons with the Hawkeyes.

As a rookie, Stone appeared in just two games for Baltimore but expanded his role in his second season, playing in 15 games. He recorded his first career interception in 2021 and parlayed that into 18 total starts (and appearances in all 34 games) across the 2022 and 2023 seasons.

As mentioned earlier, Stone was among the league leaders in interceptions two seasons ago, which helped him earn a lucrative two-year, $14 million contract last spring. Unfortunately, things didn’t go as planned—his Pro Football Focus coverage grade dropped significantly, from 85.3 in 2023 to 53.7 in 2024.

On May 6, it was reported that Stone agreed to a pay cut, reducing his 2025 salary from $6.475 million to $4.9 million. As he enters the final year of his contract with the Bengals—now under the guidance of new defensive coordinator Al Golden—the pressure is on for Stone to build on the momentum he showed late in the 2024 season.

What Geno Stone Needs to Prove in 2025:

From a broader perspective, 11 interceptions over the past two seasons is nothing to dismiss. While Stone had a down year in 2024, there’s no doubt he has a knack for creating turnovers—several of which came in the red zone, including one against Joe Burrow in 2023.

Tackling has never been his strongest skill, and unfortunately, that weakness was further exposed last season amid the struggles that plagued the Bengals’ entire defensive unit. New defensive coordinator Al Golden has emphasized tackling, improved run defense, and allowing players to play more instinctively—rather than overthinking—as priorities in his overhaul of the group. That approach could help Stone refocus on what he does best: coverage.

Vonn Bell’s steep decline from his 2022 form didn’t help Stone’s performance either. Even so, Cincinnati didn’t add any major external help to the secondary this offseason—aside from re-signing Marco Wilson—which suggests the team is comfortable with its current defensive backfield, at least for now.

That said, competition remains. Daijahn Anthony and Tycen Anderson are both looking to take the next step in their careers. Still, even after the reported pay cut, the starting free safety role appears to be Stone’s to lose.

All signs point to Cincinnati believing that Golden is the key to revitalizing the defense and jumpstarting the careers of several key players. Stone is certainly among those who could benefit from a different coaching approach, with hopes he can carry over his strong finish from 2024 into the 2025 season.