Ah, April in Cincinnati. While the rest of the franchise is prepping for draft season, here, the Bengals front office is fearing a hot-seat season. If you listen closely, you can almost hear Zac Taylor’s coaching chair starting to hiss. See, Joe Burrow‘s got his band together with Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, who are both signing new contracts. But the ‘Who Dey’ is still hurt that the boys ended up missing the playoffs last season.

So, as we are just weeks out from the draft, Cincy is eyeing the sideline with one brow raised. Fair enough. Because Taylor’s 9-8 hangover season didn’t just miss expectations—it straight-up swerved off the road. But right on cue for Zac, the Bengals just dropped that they are bringing in 45 local prospects for their pre-draft workout. Coincidence? Hardly.

But let’s not be naive here. We all know, pressure makes diamonds, or it bursts pipelines. And right now, Taylor’s plumbing is under inspection. Bleacher Report‘s Moe Moton didn’t mince words, placing Taylor in the “Heated Seats” category: “Good coaches must find a way to win games with high-level offensive talent.”

That’s pressure mounting from critics and fans. The front office could feel it, too. So, what did they do? Greenlights a near-half-a-hundred player invite list. A clear indication of flipping couch cushions, hoping to find game-changers under the radar.

Also, why this many players? Why now? You could say it’s business as usual—teams are allowed to host local prospects before the draft. But 45 dudes? That’s a talent treasure hunt.

University of Cincinnati

• Safety Jared Bartlett

• Tight end Joseph Beljan

• Safety Derrick Canteen

• Kicker Nathan Hawks

• Wide receiver Xzavier Henderson

• Guard Luke Kandra

• Running back Corey Kiner

• Wide receiver Jamoi Mayes

• Linebacker Mehki Miller

• Safety Josh Minkins

• Edge Eric Phillips

• Guard Dartanyan Tinsley

• Tackle Phillip Wilder

• Tackle John Williams

Miami University

• Punter Alec Bevelhimer

• Guard Kolby Borders

• Running back Kevin Davis

• Defensive tackle Savio Frazier

• Quarterback Brett Gabbert

• Defensive tackle Kobe Hilton

• Tackle Reid Holskey

• Wide receiver Andre Johnson

• Wide receiver Cade McDonald

• Running back Keyon Mozee

• Edge Corey Suttle

• Edge Brian Ugwu

• Linebacker Ty Wise

Ohio State University

• Tackle Josh Fryar

• Cornerback Jordan Hancock

• Tight end Gee Scott

Local High Schools (with colleges)

• RB David Afari (Northern Colorado; Lakota West)

• WR Demeer Blankumsee (Memphis; Winton Woods)

• LB Dan Bolden (Toledo; Colerain)

• C Zeke Correll (NC State; Anderson)

• LB Cheikhsaliou Fall (California; Middletown)

• G Jake Gideon (Western Michigan; Ryle)

• LB Alex Howard (Duke; Mount Healthy)

• RB KJ Howard (Lock Haven; La Salle)

• Edge Montez Kelley (App State; Purcell Marian)

• TE Marshall Lang (Northwestern; St. Xavier)

• S Avi McGary (BGSU; Lakota East)

• G Vincent Munlin (Eastern Kentucky; Princeton)

• K Graham Nicholson (Alabama; Summit Country Day)

• DT Geemontae Peck (Davenport; Taft)

• LB Jaheim Thomas (Wisconsin; Princeton)

So, think of it like it’s a reset. A recalibration. With Taylor getting the green light to shuffle his coaching staff after a rocky 2024, this draft class might just be his last “build it my way” opportunity. But, at the same time, it’s urgency. And these local prospects? They’re walking into that building with a golden chance to shift the narrative.

Because if one thing’s clear, it’s that the Bengals are done evaluating 40-yard dashes and bench reps. Now, it’s time to evaluate who’s gonna help Zac Taylor win. Yes, it has come down to that. But does it also mean a lot of desperate moves? Well, you be the judge of that.

Apparently, Trey Hendrickson’s more likely out than in

So, you blink—and suddenly the Bengals’ biggest offseason storyline isn’t about Joe Burrow’s comeback tour or Ja’Marr Chase’s contract. It’s about Trey Hendrickson, the guy who nearly won Defensive Player of the Year, being left on read by the front office. While Cincinnati dropped the bag on its wide receivers (and rightfully so), the defensive cornerstone who racked up a ridiculous 17.5 sacks last season is still waiting for that same kind of love. Instead, he’s been given the NFL equivalent of a “you can look around” text.

But why would a team let one of its few defensive standouts test the trade waters? Good question. As far as anyone knows, they might be cooking something behind the scenes. Analyst Jacob Infante dropped a spicy mock that has Hendrickson shipped to the Chargers—packaged with the 81st overall pick—for L.A.’s No. 22. That… does make sense.

Because the Bolts just lost Joey Bosa in free agency. So, Hendrickson slides in as their instant alpha. “In this NFL mock draft, the Bengals part with Trey Hendrickson… in a pick swap that lands them two first-round picks,” Infante wrote.

If that deal goes down, the Bengals aren’t twiddling their thumbs. They’d use that extra first to grab a new sack machine—enter Mike Green out of Marshall. “After an All-American season where he racked up 17 sacks, Mike Green is one of the top edge rushers in this NFL Draft,” Infante adds. Younger, cheaper, and maybe just as deadly.

Meanwhile, Bleacher Report’s Moe Moton threw more gas on the fire as he suggested a different trade: Washington. He proposes Hendrickson and a sixth for a 2025 second and a 2026 fifth. “Cincinnati should call the Washington Commanders,” Moton wrote. With Dante Fowler Jr. gone and only Dorance Armstrong and Clelin Ferrell holding the line, Washington could use a war daddy like Hendrickson.

Well, the Commanders’ fandom is drooling. Back-to-back 17.5 sack seasons, Pro Bowl, First-team All-Pro, DPOY runner-up—this guy doesn’t just bring heat, he brings fire alarms. But the Who Dey might just want to revolt at this point.

Despite all the local lad love, add to the fact that he plays like 25, it’s as tough a call as it could get in Cincy right now. But we can loop around all that and still come to the same conclusion: Trey’s 30. Yes, the Bengals could try to flip one last dominant year into a long-term rebuild move, but why? When they can clearly call the shots to reset with a rather young roster.