Bengals Predicted to Lose Joseph Ossai to Hated AFC North Rival

The Bengals can't afford to see Joseph Ossai sign with one of their biggest rivals.

Feb. 28, 2026 at 2:05am

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The Cincinnati Bengals are likely to lose defensive end Joseph Ossai to free agency this offseason, and one prediction has him signing with their AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns. Ossai has quietly improved in his NFL career, posting 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss last season. Losing him to the Browns would be a nightmare scenario for Bengals fans, as he could thrive playing opposite star pass rusher Myles Garrett.

Why it matters

The Bengals' defense has been a weakness in recent years, and losing Ossai, who is on the verge of a breakout, to their division rival would be a major blow. The Browns have been building an elite defense, and adding Ossai could unlock his full potential.

The details

Joseph Ossai is scheduled to become a free agent next month. According to a prediction from Christian D'Andrea of USA Today, Ossai could sign a 3-year, $33 million contract with the Cleveland Browns. Ossai thrived in 2025 even with Trey Hendrickson banged up, notching a career-high 45 pressures. Joining Myles Garrett and the Browns' defense could allow Ossai to reach new heights.

  • Ossai is scheduled to become a free agent next month.

The players

Joseph Ossai

A defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals who is scheduled to become a free agent. He posted 5 sacks and 9 tackles for loss last season.

Myles Garrett

A star pass rusher for the Cleveland Browns who could team up with Ossai to form an elite defensive line.

Trey Hendrickson

A defensive end for the Cincinnati Bengals who is likely to leave the team in free agency this offseason.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson

The quarterback for the Cleveland Browns.

Christian D'Andrea

A writer for USA Today who predicted that Ossai would sign with the Browns.

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What they’re saying

“There will be plenty of opportunities to add modest blocking or secondary help, but Ossai would be a high-value pickup at a potentially low price. He thrived in 2025 even with Trey Hendrickson banged up, notching a career-high 45 pressures last fall. Now he gets to team up with Myles Garrett to collapse pockets and make life easier for everyone else on the defense.”

— Christian D'Andrea, Writer

What’s next

The Bengals will need to decide whether to re-sign Ossai or let him test free agency, where he could potentially sign with their AFC North rival, the Cleveland Browns.

The takeaway

Losing Joseph Ossai to the Browns would be a nightmare scenario for the Bengals, as he could thrive playing opposite Myles Garrett and form an elite pass-rushing duo. The Bengals will need to prioritize re-signing Ossai this offseason to avoid strengthening one of their biggest rivals.