Duke Tobin, Zac Taylor Trying To Beef Up Bengals Pass Rush

CINCINNATI — The Bengals are getting into a hazy period with their go rush, particularly if Trey Hendrickson finally ends up leaving in free company. Head coach Zac Taylor and director of participant personnel Duke Tobin addressed their standings on the go rush belongings on the market, whether or not it’s in free company or the draft.

Outside of Hendrickson, names like Odafe Oweh (Chargers), Jaelan Phillips (Eagles), Khalil Mack (Chargers), Boye Mafe (Seahawks), Jadeveon Clowney (Cowboys), and K’Lavon Chaisson (Patriots) are all candidates for the open market. 

There are additionally 4 edge rushers within the consensus prime 15 draftable gamers if Arvelle Reese finally ends up lining up on the ball.

“There is. 31 other teams are hunting,” Tobin mentioned ther ebing good choices on the market. “But there are guys that we like that we can envision in our scheme elevating our team, and we’ll see. They have to be interested in us. They’ve got to make it to free agency. It’s got to fit within the context of what we’re talking about and all those things. It’s also a good rush draft. There are a lot of guys in the draft that we have high regard for. So it’s exciting for us when we look at how this guy would fit. Each guy has a slightly different analysis. 

“This man is in all probability going to be at this vary. How would he match? Would he elevate us sufficient? How would this man match? What does it do with our present crew? How can we deploy the guys that now we have on our roster? I feel that the blokes that now we have on our roster can elevate our go rush as a result of I suppose now we have loads of guys which can be younger of their careers that can elevate our go rush. You’ve acquired to get to 3rd right down to get that go rush. And so it is a two-pronged strategy. You need to be good on first and second down as properly. And it isn’t simply who’s doing it however what they’re doing, and we’re engaged on all these areas to get it fastened.”

Taylor echoed Tobin’s stance.

“There’s an excellent group of fellows, you understand, and so we’ll see the way it matches for us and see the place it goes,” Taylor said about the free agent market. “But you are proper in that it does matter. You simply watch the playoffs.”

Cincinnati pressured the quarterback at a 20.9% rate last season, 23rd in the NFL, after being at 23.2% in 2024. Hendrickson’s injury was obviously a big factor, but that mark has to creep back up toward the elite 30% level.

“You watch the groups get after the passer, and it is a huge a part of having success. You’re in search of power multipliers,” Taylor concluded.