Outside of four-time Pro Bowl defensive end Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals were ineffective in the pass rush and that will be an area that needs addressed this offseason, potentially with the No. 17 in the draft. Other positions that could be targeted in the first round include offensive guard, cornerback and wide receiver.
Cincinnati has other needs, like the tight end spot where Erick All is expected to miss the 2025 season because of complications with his torn ACL, and defensive tackle, where the Bengals spent two picks last year.
Here are five prospects projected to potentially land with the Bengals with the No. 17 pick:
1. JACK SAWYER, OHIO STATE, EDGE
Sawyer’s 83-yard fumble return for a touchdown in the College Football Playoff semifinals drew comparison to Bengals defensive end Sam Hubbard’s “Fumble in the Jungle” 98-yard scoop-and-score to seal a win in the Wild Card matchup against the Ravens at the end of the 2022 season. Perhaps he will follow Hubbard’s path from Ohio State to Cincinnati.
The Bengals could use a playmaker like Sawyer, and he’s Pro Football Focus analyst Max Chadwick’s pick for them at No. 17 in his most recent mock draft.
“Sawyer became an Ohio legend by helping lead the Buckeyes to a national championship, and he gets to stay in his home state here,” Chadwick wrote. “His 92.0 PFF overall grade since 2023 ranked second among Power Four edge defenders to only Tennessee’s James Pearce Jr. Sawyer is strong both as a pass-rusher and run defender, posting 80.0-plus grades in each facet over the past two seasons.”
2. JAMES PEARCE, TENNESSEE, EDGE
Speaking of Pearce, he has showed up on more than a few mock drafts as a pick for the Bengals, including in a recent USA Today article by Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz. Pearce recorded 7.5 sacks for the Vols in 2024.
“Cincinnati should be on the hunt for whatever high-end defensive prospects it can get its hands on, and Pearce is an explosive pass rusher who would pair well with NFL sack king Trey Hendrickson,” wrote Middlehurst-Schwartz
3. WILL JOHNSON, MICHIGAN, CB
Most mock drafts have Johnson going in the top 15, but if he falls, perhaps the Bengals would take a
chance on a Michigan defensive standout for a fourth straight year. They’ll have former Wolverines DBs Dax Hill (first round, 2022) and DJ Turner (second-round, 2023) returning at cornerback but coming off injuries, and if Cincinnati wants a top corner out of this draft, the drop-off in talent will be significant after the first round.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network had Johnson going No. 15 to the Falcons, noting he “provides size and production,” but that “some questions emerged about his tackling and top speed in 2024.” He would still be worth consideration if he is still on the board when the Bengals draft.
4. LUTHER BURDEN III, MISSOURI, WR
The Bengals took a chance on Jermaine Burton last year and found out they couldn’t count on him. The risk didn’t pan out, and now they are still in need of an elite wide receiver behind Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, if he’s back.
Burden was Blake Brockermeyer’s pick at No. 17 in his most recent mock draft for CBSSports.com, and Nick Baumgardner had him going to the Bengals as well in The Athletic’s mock draft posted earlier this week.
“Luther Burden III has shown flashes of brilliance, though Missouri hasn’t fully utilized his talents,” Brockermeyer wrote. “He’s sudden and powerful, capable of dominating in the short and intermediate game.”
Baumgardner called him a player with top-10 talent that might have a wide range in Round 1.
Credit: AP
Credit: AP
5. WALTER NOLEN, OLE MISS, DT
The Bengals just took two defensive tackles last year, but with B.J. Hill heading into free agency and Sheldon Rankins proving to be a bust free agent signing, there’s still plenty of room to add. Although there seem to be other positions that would be addressed first, several mock drafts have them landing Nolen in the first round.
“The Bengals need to address their leakiness against the run this offseason, and that begins up the spine of their defense,” wrote Nate Tice of YahooSports.com. “Nolen is another athletic defensive tackle in this class who is especially disruptive on twists and games. He still has to harness his ability to impact plays more consistently, but he can create edginess and explosive plays for a defense that desperately needs it.”
Chris Trapasso of CBSSports.com also has Nolen going to the Bengals, noting “with long arms and supreme power at the point of attack… he’s precisely what the Bengals need on their defensive interior.”
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