Another pass rusher exits the Cincinnati Bengals in free agency.
The Cincinnati Bengals were dealt a major departure early in free agency after pass rusher Joseph Ossai found a new home on Monday.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Ossai will sign with the New York Jets, ending his four-year run in Cincinnati. The move marks yet another defensive loss for the Bengals, who have already seen star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson depart this offseason.
Ossai quietly developed into a productive rotational defender during his time in Cincinnati. Selected in the third round of the 2021 NFL Draft (69th overall) out of Texas, the explosive edge rusher arrived with significant upside after earning Consensus All-American honors in 2020 with the Longhorns.
However, his NFL career began with adversity. Ossai suffered a meniscus injury during the 2021 preseason, forcing him to miss his entire rookie season after being placed on injured reserve.
Once healthy, he carved out a role as a rotational edge defender behind established veterans like Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. Over four seasons in Cincinnati, Ossai appeared in 61 games, compiling 112 total tackles, 55 solo tackles, 14.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, two fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections.
His most productive stretch came in the past two seasons. In 2024, Ossai recorded 45 tackles (25 solo), five sacks, two forced fumbles, and one pass deflection while playing all 17 games and earning three starts.
He followed that up in 2025 with 41 total tackles (19 solo), five sacks, and two forced fumbles across 14 games, showing consistent improvement as a situational pass rusher.
Now, the 25-year-old edge defender is heading to New York, where the Jets are reportedly giving him a three-year contract worth $36 million, including $22.5 million fully guaranteed.
Another Defensive Loss for Cincinnati
Ossai’s departure is the latest overhaul for a Bengals defense that ranked 31st overall in 2025. The team already lost Trey Hendrickson, one of the NFL’s premier pass rushers and the centerpiece of Cincinnati’s defensive front in recent seasons.
While Ossai was not the same level of star, he played an important role in the Bengals’ defensive rotation. His ability to generate pressure in limited snaps allowed Cincinnati to keep its pass rush fresh throughout games.
Ossai also had several memorable moments during his time with the franchise. One of the most notable came during the 2022 AFC Championship Game, when a late penalty on Patrick Mahomes allowed the Kansas City Chiefs to move into field-goal range.
The Bengals continued to believe in his potential, bringing him back on a one-year contract in 2025 before he ultimately tested free agency this offseason.
Now Cincinnati faces the challenge of rebuilding its defensive front without two of its experienced edge rushers.