Take this draft in a heartbeat

[CrashDavisSports]

Your post just made me depressed. If we walk into the season with an interior offensive line group of Patrick, Lee, and Karras, I don't think I'm going to be able to watch without having a heart attack every time Burrow is back to pass. Particularly knowing that the Bengals intentionally absorbed 11 million of cap hits on the receivers that they didn't need to absorb this season. They could easily sign two veteran guards better than Patrick, but they are not a serious team.

If we sign Hendrickson to what I mentioned, our current cap space goes from 23 million to 18 million, about 6 to 9 million for draft. Leaves us like 9 -12 million and Schreff got 16.5 million last year. I am okay using a second round pick on OG. Maybe Ratledge will be there with pick 49.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Hobson took Emmanwori at 17, and gave his break down of both Emmanwori and how the Bengals may be looking at their board with other DL prospects. Maybe even Booker or a trade down.

Second Bengals.com Media Mock Draft Of 2025 Races To Find An AFC North Fit

 

[Cincyfan78]

Bengals have cornered themselves into a "needs" based draft...they are going to end up reaching for guys to fill spots. I hope they realize this and at least trade down to grab a few more picks here and there. You can do more reaching with more picks...but with only 6 picks, and so many needs....it's not looking like a great approach...

 

[DanBengalfan]

Bengals have cornered themselves into a "needs" based draft...they are going to end up reaching for guys to fill spots. I hope they realize this and at least trade down to grab a few more picks here and there. You can do more reaching with more picks...but with only 6 picks, and so many needs....it's not looking like a great approach...

they're not always very smart about what they need. they might surprise us again, in a bad way.

 

[Cincyfan78]

This is assuming Trey is a Bengal this year, and plays:

I'd trade back and grab Banks. Pick up an extra 3rd. With this, I was able to grab a top IOL who will start from day 1, and I would put at RG next to Mims for them to grow together. Sawyer is a high floor guy, who could follow the Hubbard path. Helps in the run game, but shows ability to get to the QB, but could improve here. Paul brings in a LB that can cover and move in space, and is a solid tackler. Allows the team to move on from Pratt. With the extra 3rd, you can double up at IOL, or you can hit a variety of other needs (DT, DB/S, WR).
Regardless, the key here is two-fold. 1 - Trey signs. 2 - Trade back, and get more picks (or another pick). This team still needs more, and more picks allows them to cover their bases.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

This is assuming Trey is a Bengal this year, and plays:

I'd trade back and grab Banks. Pick up an extra 3rd. With this, I was able to grab a top IOL who will start from day 1, and I would put at RG next to Mims for them to grow together. Sawyer is a high floor guy, who could follow the Hubbard path. Helps in the run game, but shows ability to get to the QB, but could improve here. Paul brings in a LB that can cover and move in space, and is a solid tackler. Allows the team to move on from Pratt. With the extra 3rd, you can double up at IOL, or you can hit a variety of other needs (DT, DB/S, WR).
Regardless, the key here is two-fold. 1 - Trey signs. 2 - Trade back, and get more picks (or another pick). This team still needs more, and more picks allows them to cover their bases.

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I hate PFF. Start charging money to be part of the site for the draft simulator. They can make more money on the advertising for those page views than they are going to get people to pay for that service for a couple months.

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Ideally, for me personally, we are able to trade back a couple times in the bottom section of the 1st round, and pick up and extra 3rd and 4th round pick, and still wind up with the following draft:

#1 - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
#2 - Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia
#3a - Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon
#3b - Emery Jones Jr., OG, LSU
#4a - Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina
#4b - Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
#5 - Savion Williams, WR, TCU
#6 - DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State

 

[Cincyfan78]

Ideally, for me personally, we are able to trade back a couple times in the bottom section of the 1st round, and pick up and extra 3rd and 4th round pick, and still wind up with the following draft:

#1 - Nick Emmanwori, S, South Carolina
#2 - Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia
#3a - Jordan Burch, DE, Oregon
#3b - Emery Jones Jr., OG, LSU
#4a - Demetrius Knight Jr., LB, South Carolina
#4b - Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State
#5 - Savion Williams, WR, TCU
#6 - DJ Giddens, RB, Kansas State

I like it - only thoughts I have - Nick isn't lasting until middle/late 20's of the 1st...at least IMO. Same with Knight in round 4...I think he goes late 2nd or sometime in the 3rd. He is a bit older, IIRC, so that might put some teams off - but he's one of the most polished LB's in the draft.

But, I'm on board with the thought process...

 

[DanBengalfan]

wondering who we drafted in recent years that might actually step up and start owning their roll.

 

[Cincyfan78]

wondering who we drafted in recent years that might actually step up and start owning their roll.

Hill looked really good at CB last year before the ACL. I thought Battle played well his rookie year (PFF agrees), and had a nice ending stretch last year once he finally got consistent playing time.

Pratt was really good for a few years, and Wilson in the middle has been good as well. Where they have failed is to replace the guys they signed at CB, S, and DE/DT. However, for some, like Ossai and Murphy - they were never given a ton of live game reps. Ossai really came on down the stretch once Hubbard finally shut it down. I'd like to see what he can do with more reps opposite of Trey (assuming he returns). Same for Murphy.

One of the best things about the change at DC that I hope to see is a more open competition style rotation early on. I felt like Lou had "his" guys, and those guys always got the snaps. Even when it was obvious that they weren't getting the job done. How long before they finally benched Bell? Then Pratt? Hubbard had to go on IR. Rankins was clearly ill prior to when he finally shut it down...I felt like Lou was just very, very slow to adapt and make the needed changes. I get veteran guys you trust get more rope, but it was clear by games 5-6-7 that those dudes were not getting it done. Hopefully with a reset at DC, we'll see more movement from some of the previous drafts start to flash out with more PT.

 

[Cincyfan78]

A little off the beaten path today - Green fell, and I decided to take him here. He has some character red flags (off field), but his win rate, rush rate, and shuttle/cone times are ELITE. Like, top 1% elite...ever. He's a bit on the lighter side - so he likely would need to add about 8 lbs to get him more into the 250, or even lower 260 range, but even if he ends up hybriding a bit between an OLB-rush spot and DE (Think Parsons from Dallas kind of movement all across the defense) - this kid can flat out get after the QB. With Trey, this would form an EXPLOSIVE rush.

Round 2 - Edit*wrong draft* Watts - comes in, knows Golden's defense, solid contributor in year 1 right off the bat. Will help to anchor the back end of the defense under Golden. Solid play-maker. Pairs nicely with Battle, IMO.

I'm big on the OT from Arizona. Was an All-Rookie selection his freshman year as guard before being moved to OT his last few years. Quick, light on his feet. Would transition right back to IOL at this level, but still offer some swing potential to OT if needed. I think the C grade on him in round 3 is really low, especially considering he'll be IOL here, not OT.

 

[Cincyfan78]

Rounds 1 and 2 would be a pretty much HR swing from the Bengals in this mock.

I disagree 100% with round 3 - as they have Newsome ready to replace Hilton. I think, looking at the picks after, they would go with the LSU guard, who could start right away, and still offers some flexibility at OT in a pinch.

I know @CrashDavisSports would love this draft based on round 1 - but round 2, and if they got the LSU guard in round 3 would be a freaking great 1-2-3 draft. Each guy would immediately upgrade their positions, and contribute right away in year 1.

Miller's seven-round NFL mock draft: Let's project landing spots for 257 top prospects

From the Titans' selection at No. 1 to the Chiefs' slot at the end of Round 7, Matt Miller predicted every single pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

www.espn.com

 

[CrashDavisSports]

Rounds 1 and 2 would be a pretty much HR swing from the Bengals in this mock.

I disagree 100% with round 3 - as they have Newsome ready to replace Hilton. I think, looking at the picks after, they would go with the LSU guard, who could start right away, and still offers some flexibility at OT in a pinch.

I know @CrashDavisSports would love this draft based on round 1 - but round 2, and if they got the LSU guard in round 3 would be a freaking great 1-2-3 draft. Each guy would immediately upgrade their positions, and contribute right away in year 1.

Miller's seven-round NFL mock draft: Let's project landing spots for 257 top prospects

From the Titans' selection at No. 1 to the Chiefs' slot at the end of Round 7, Matt Miller predicted every single pick in the 2025 NFL draft.

www.espn.com

It will not let me pick any other rounds but round 1. Shows there is a link, but when you click on it it doesn't go anywhere. Got a list.

First pick is not bad, hate losing out on Emmanwori and see him go to KC.