After yet another disappointing season which saw them fail in the playoffs, the Cincinnati Bengals will look to the offseason, with the first order of business being hiring a new defensive coordinator after Lou Anarumo I was shown the door.
From there, the Bengals will focus on free agency, then comes the 2025 NFL Draft, where Cincinnati has the 17th overall pick. The Bengals also have a selection in each subsequent round.
While the Bengals could have a big void to fill if wide receiver Tee Higgins leaves in free agency, Cincinnati also has several areas to address on the defensive side of the ball.
Improving the defense has to be an important focus after the unit was a major cause of Cincinnati’s failures in 2024. The Bengals will undoubtedly address some of their needs in free agency, but we expect also for the Bengals to add talent to the draft.
As far as expert opinions go, all but one in our summary below show the Bengals taking a defensive player. Here’s a look at five different projections.
Bengals Mock Draft 2025: Expert Predictions
Vinnie Iyer, Sports News: WR Luther Burden III, Missouri
Iyer: “The Bengals may want to try to keep Tee Higgins while extending Ja’Marr Chase to a lucrative contract, but Higgins could end up being too expensive. Burden may be a solid, cheap possibility to play well against Chase with impact immediately on number 1. 2.”
Jordan Reid, ESPN: EDGE James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
Reid: “The Bengals have recorded a sack on just 5.5 percent of drops by opposing QBs this season (the sixth-worst rate in the NFL) despite the presence of NFL sack leader Trey Hendrickson. Pearce, 6-5 and 243 pounds, is a lean, lightning-fast passer who can easily get around blockers His 18.7% pressure rate ranked second in the FBS, with 7.5 sacks. be the complementary passer that Cincinnati desperately needs.
Connor Rogers, NBC Sports: DL Kenneth Grant, Michigan
Rogers: “At 340 pounds, Grant has the size of a true throwback nose tackle, but surprising speed considering the mass he carries. He’s the beef, with some inside-out pass rush, including the Bengals defense really needs it.”
Luke Easterling, Athlon Sports: EDGE/DL Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
East: “Trey Hendrickson is one of the best rushers in the NFL, but the Bengals need an upgrade on the other side of their defensive line. Much like his Aggie teammate Scourton, Stewart is a versatile defender with the size and skills to play on the edge or slide inside, but he’s the perfect fit for what Cincinnati is looking for in its edge rushers.
Curt Popejoy, Draft Wire: CB Benjamin Morrison, Notre Dame
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