Ohio State Edge Rumored As Hendrickson Bengals Insurance

The Cincinnati Bengals and their star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson have not agreed on a new contract, so the team could be looking to pick up some insurance at the position in the upcoming NFL Draft. In a recent article by PFF’s Mason Cameron, he picks the player who he thinks is the best fit for every NFL team that will be available on Day 2 of the draft. For the Bengals, he thinks they could target Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer.

“Sawyer wouldn’t have to travel far with this projection,” Cameron writes. “Given the Bengals’ uncertainty on the edge with disgruntled pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, grabbing a high-floor player like Sawyer would be the perfect plug-and-play option at 4-3 defensive end in Cincinnati’s scheme. The senior pass rusher notched a 90.7 PFF pass-rush grade on true pass sets in 2024.” Cincinnati has already had a pre-draft meeting with Sawyer, which means the two sides already have an established relationship, which could increase the chances of the team drafting him.

Sawyer finished his senior season at Ohio State with nine sacks, 59 total tackles, and was even able to take two fumbles back for a touchdown. He also showed his versatility by defending seven passes and snagging an interception. Do the Bengals need insurance here? If Hendrickson ends up going elsewhere, then the Bengals could be hoping that Sawyer is still available when they are on the clock on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft.