The Cincinnati Bengals held up their end of the bargain by defeating the Pittsburgh Steelers on Saturday. But following the Denver Broncos' victory over the Kansas City Chiefs, the Bengals were denied entrance into the playoffs. That's a bitter pill to swallow considering Joe Burrow is an MVP candidate, Ja'Marr Chase won the receiving triple crown, and Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks.
Cincinnati's nucleus remains in place moving forward. A swift reset to return to postseason prominence is the 2025 goal. The Bengals own the No. 17 overall selection in the 2025 NFL Draft. With improvement in mind, we've conducted a seven-round Bengals mock draft.
Round 1 (No. 17 overall): Kenneth Grant, DT, Michigan
The Bengals were incredibly soft up the middle of their defense this season. Defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo was fired after his unrecognizable unit allowed nearly 125 rushing yards per game. With starting defensive tackle BJ Hill slated for free agency and an upgrade needed, the Bengals draft Michigan defensive tackle Kenneth Grant in a move that reunites him with Kris Jenkins. Grant is a space-eater that would immediately restore toughness.
Round 2 (No. 49 overall): Donovan Ezeiruaku, EDGE, Boston College
Duke Tobin has drafted Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy, but neither player has grown into a long-term role opposite Hendrickson. The Bengals need to remove some pressure from their superstar pass rusher and that means continuing to take swings until they hit. Donovan Ezeiruaku is a high-effort rusher with terrific speed and bend.
Round 3 (No. 81 overall): Nick Emmanwori, SAF, South Carolina
The secondary was a bottom-half unit, consistently allowing opposing offenses to rack up points in shootouts. Free-agent signing Geno Stone is looking like a whiff, creating a need for an alternative solution at safety. The Bengals still haven't appropriately replaced Jessie Bates III. Nick Emmanwori has the instincts and ball skills that have been missing ever since, with six interceptions in his previous two seasons.
Round 4 (No. 118 overall): Oronde Gadsden II, TE, Syracuse
Mike Gesicki had a resurgent year at tight end, posting personal highs in every receiving category since 2021. Gesicki now hits free agency expecting a pay raise. If the Bengals re-sign Tee Higgins, which I anticipate, they'll need to get younger and cheaper at tight end. Oronde Gadsden II is a pass-catching prospect who would fill the Gesicki role nicely.
Round 5 (No. 152 overall): Carson Vinson, OL, Alabama A&M
The offensive line feels like an annual work in progress. Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims could be the starting offensive tackles next season, but better depth and positional competition will be required to usher this unit forward, both inside and outside. Carson Vinson is a small-schooler from Alabama A&M scheduled to attend the Senior Bowl. Vinson is a multi-purpose blocker with strong developmental traits.
Round 6 (No. 192 overall): Corey Thornton, CB, Louisville
Dax Hill and DJ Turner II both finished the season on IR. Cam Taylor-Britt and Josh Newton are playing like building blocks, but aging nickel corner Mike Hilton is a free agent. The Bengals need depth at corner. Corey Thornton is the other Louisville cornerback—most are familiar with Quincy Riley—but he is a draftable prospect in his own right. The big-bodied Thornton had two interceptions and six pass breakups in 2024.
