Bengals offseason checklist: Time to stop the bleeding

With the new league year kicking off March 12, NFL teams are already deep into planning for the offseason.

Here are five moves the Cincinnati Bengals should make in the coming months: 1.

Keep WR Tee Higgins, sign WR Ja'Marr Chase to an extension Higgins was set to become the best wide receiver in free agency until the Bengals slapped the franchise tag on him for the second consecutive year.

Cincinnati could still look to trade the star WR, but it should keep him in town considering the team is 2-7 in the last nine games without him.

As for Chase, the Bengals can't afford to keep stalling on his contract extension.

The LSU product will become a free agent next offseason if no deal gets done.

After leading the NFL in catches (127), receiving yards (1,708) and receiving touchdowns (17) in 2024, Chase deserves a record-breaking pay day.

2.

Sign edge Joey Bosa The Bengals have taken the rare step of granting All-Pro DE Trey Hendrickson permission to seek a trade.

Its been an honor and privilege to represent Cincinnati over the last four years, said Hendrickson, the NFLs sack leader.

I love this city and organization.

I appreciate...

pic.twitter.com/7P7Hbe2Y9e The Bengals are in the market for a defensive end after Sam Hubbard retired and Trey Hendrickson received permission to seek a trade.

Cincinnati is in win-now mode as long as quarterback Joe Burrow is still in his prime, so it needs to target a proven game-wrecker in free agency.

Enter Bosa , who just hit the open market after getting cut by the Los Angeles Chargers.

The 29-year-old carries some injury concerns, but he's still one of the best in the business at rushing the passer when he's on the field.

3.

Sign G Mekhi Becton Another position of need for the Bengals this offseason is offensive guard.

Cincinnati already cut Alex Cappa to save $8M in cap space, and Cody Ford is also set to hit free agency, so general manager Duke Tobin needs to make retooling the offensive line a priority.

Becton is coming off an impressive first season at the guard position, and his time with OL coach Jeff Stoutland in Philadelphia gives him the highest upside of any guard in this free-agency cycle.

Burrow would be thrilled to have a behemoth like Becton protecting him in 2025.

4.

Sign S Jeremy Chinn The Bengals have one of the worst safety rooms in the NFL, which is partly why they ranked 25th in points allowed per game (25.5) and 22nd in passing yards allowed per game (223.5) last season.

Cincinnati needs an upgrade in the back end.

Chinn, a former Defensive Rookie of the Year runner-up, is a willing tackler and capable blitzer who would infuse some much-needed physicality into this group.

5.

Draft a pass-rusher in the first round Signing Bosa is crucial to keep Cincinnati's pass rush competitive in 2025, but this roster needs some young talent along the defensive line.

The Bengals should target an edge with the No.

17 overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft.

Some options include Tennessee's James Pearce Jr.

(6-foot-5, 243 pounds), Georgia's Mykel Williams (6-foot-5, 265 pounds) and Texas A&M's Nic Scourton (6-foot-4, 285 pounds).

Jack Dougherty has been writing professionally since 2015, contributing to publications such as GoPSUSports.

com, Centre Daily Times, Associated Press, and Sportscasting.

com.

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