The Cincinnati Bengals need their defense to improve in 2025 if they want a chance to make a playoff run. The Bengals invested heavily in the best part of their team when the extended pass catchers Tee Higgins, Ja’Marr Chase, and Mike Gesicki.
Cincinnati will expect quarterback Joe Burrow and those receivers to put up points to stay competitive in the upcoming season. The Bengals have not put resources into fixing the defense, which gave up the seventh-most points last season.
Cincinnati could be without their best pass rusher, Trey Hendrickson, who is seeking a trade after putting up 35 total sacks in the last two seasons. Hendrickson claims the Bengals have not dealt with his agent directly about a contract extension.
With questions surrounding the Begnals at defense this offseason, the team brought back a familiar face before OTAs.
The Cincinnati Bengals signed a 3 game starter at LB
Per the Bengals’ website, the team signed linebacker Joe Giles-Harris on a one-year contract.
Via the Bengals:
“Originally a college free agent signee of Jacksonville in 2019, Giles-Harris (6-2, 234) was on Cincinnati’s practice squad for one game late last season. He also has spent time on the practice squads and rosters of the Jaguars (’19-20 and ’24), the Buffalo Bills (’21 and ’22) and the New England Patriots (2023 and ’24).
“He has played in 22 total NFL games with three starts and recorded 20 tackles and one sack on defense, as well as 10 tackles on special teams. He will be classified as a second-year player in 2025.”
Joe Giles-Harris faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster
Harris, a native of Nyack, New York, played four years at Duke from 2015-2018 before entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent. The six-foot-two, 234-pound athlete played and stated in 34 games for the Blue Devils, recording 313 tackles, 9.5 sacks, two interceptions, eight passes defensed, and one forced fumble.
Giles will be a camp body as the Bengals’ roster grows to 90 players for the offseason. However, he faces an uphill battle to make the 53-man roster after training camp, even on a Cincinnati roster that is depleted of premium starting talent.
