ESPN analyst predicts 5-time Pro Bowler with ties to Joe Burrow will be in Bengals’ free agency plans
Joe Burrow could reunite with one of his well-known teammates from Ohio State.
It’s no secret the Cincinnati Bengals will look to add pass rushers this offseason. Director of player personnel Duke Tobin made that goal very clear in his end-of-season press conference earlier in the month.
Help in that department can’t just come from the 2026 NFL Draft, even if a player like Rueben Bain Jr. is available to them. The Bengals need veterans to bolster their defensive line, and they could get aggressive.
ESPN analyst Aaron Schatz’s big prediction for Cincinnati is the club will sign multiple veteran EDGEs, including former five-time Pro Bowler Joey Bosa.
“The Bengals will sign more than one veteran edge rusher, such as Joey Bosa, Yetur Gross-Matos, D.J. Wonnum or Charles Omenihu. As mentioned above, the Bengals will have to attack the edge rusher free agent class with volume.” – ESPN’s Aaron Schatz
Bosa, the Los Angeles Chargers’ first-round pick back in 2016, spent the 2025 season with the Buffalo Bills after signing a one-year, $12.61 million contract. He played in 15 games and recorded five sacks during his 30-year old season. He’s expected to hit the free-agent market once again in March, and much like last year, his connection to Cincinnati revolves around Joe Burrow.
Joe Burrow and Joey Bosa go way back
Flashbacks to 2016 are all the rage right now, but Burrow and Bosa were teammates at Ohio State in 2015. Burrow was a true freshman, and Bosa was a junior. Burrow eventually became quite close wity Bosa’s younger brother, Nick Bosa, and have since been close along with former Bengals defensive Sam Hubbard.
More than a decade has passed since they wore the same colors, but a reunion in Cincinnati makes a ton of sense. Bosa was able to maintain solid pass-rushing production last season and stay healthy for all but two games. He’s still worth a swing with a one-year deal, but should be just as affordable as he progresses into his early 30s.
Bosa would only be one piece of the puzzle the Bengals need to figure out this offseason. Adding proven talent to the defense is imperative to match Burrow’s offense, and ignite a return to the playoffs.
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