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The Bengals are projected to draft Trey Hendrickson’s replacement
After missing the postseason for a third consecutive season, the Cincinnati Bengals will hope this offseason is where things begin to change. The team’s struggles in 2025 primarily came defensively, as they allowed the third-most points in the NFL. Despite missing quarterback Joe Burrow for most of the season, the offense largely held up its end, but they struggled to generate stops.
Losing Trey Hendrickson for most of the season due to an abdominal injury did not help. After his 17-sack season in 2024, Hendrickson was only able to record four sacks in seven games in 2025. Now, the Bengals are expected to lose him in free agency.
Regarding Hendrickson’s free agency and his chances of staying in Cincinnati, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler previously wrote, “This relationship has run its course. The Bengals have the option to franchise-tag Hendrickson, but after a year of contentious contract negotiations, the edge rusher appears poised to land elsewhere and capitalize on a booming positional market.”
Cincinnati Bengals Predicted to Draft Reuben Bain Jr.
A new mock draft by ESPN’s Field Yates has the Bengals going to the draft to replace Hendrickson’s production. Yates predicted the Bengals would draft Miami pass rusher Reuben Bain Jr. with the No. 10 overall pick. He wrote, “The Bengals are desperate for defensive help across the board, but it’s hard to achieve much in the NFL without a forceful pass rush. They swung big on an answer to that issue last year by taking Shemar Stewart, who had only 4.5 sacks in three college seasons but posed athletic upside. But Stewart had one sack across eight games as a rookie.
Bain is the exact opposite archetype, with 20.5 sacks in three seasons but a lack of premier physical traits. He makes up for his more compact frame with overpowering strength and quick hands. Bain earned ACC Defensive Player of the Year honors this past season, dominating opposing offenses on the way to the CFP Championship game. With Trey Hendrickson likely moving on this offseason, Bain would fit nicely here.”
ClutchPoints’ Jackson Stone called Bain the “perfect Trey Hendrickson replacement.” Now, it remains to be seen whether the Bengals will be in a position to draft him.
Reuben Bain Jr. Draft Profile
Landing Bain would likely be the Bengals’ ideal scenario for the draft, as many have him going before the No. 10 slot in the draft. If Bain were to fall to Cincinnati, Sports Illustrated’s James Rapien said, “If he somehow falls to No. 10, he’s looking more and more like a no-brainer pick for the Bengals. Unfortunately for Bengals fans, it seems more and more like teams will trust Bain’s tape, which will make it difficult for him to land in Cincinnati.”
CBS Sports’ Mike Renner does not believe Bain will be there for the Bengals at No. 10 overall, as he said he believes the New York Jets should take him with the second overall pick. Discussing Bain’s draft profile, Renner said, “I’ve compared him to Aiden Hutchinson a little in that Hutchinson got picked apart because the body type was weird. He’s not your traditional defensive end, but when you just watch his tape, you’re just like, ‘why is this guy so much better than everyone else?’”
Jose Esquer Jose Esquer is a Mexican-American sportswriter and communications student based in San Diego, CA. His work spans football, basketball, baseball, and soccer. He has written for platforms like RotoWire and DolphinsTalk. You can find him on Twitter/X @JEsquer8, usually talking Dolphins, world football, or both. More about Jose Esquer
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