Tag: Bengals draft

Bengals draft projections find team a DJ Reader replacement

The Bengals again try to make up for the loss of DJ Reader in a new mock draft.

Technically speaking, the Cincinnati Bengals attempted to find a replacement for DJ Reader in last year’s draft with the duo of Kris Jenkins Jr. and McKinnley Jackson. 

But that won’t stop 2025 NFL mock drafts from doing the same thing again.

Bleacher Report’s latest draft outlook slotted the Bengals as a nice fit for Michigan star Mason Graham:

Lou Anarumo’s defense relies on the front four winning their matchups. They’re middle of the road in terms of blitz frequency and the unit was much reader when D.J. Reader was taking on double teams and eating up space for linebackers to attack. Graham isn’t an exact analog for Reader, but he would give the Bengals a high-potential star on the inside again.

When a defense is as bad as what the Bengals put on the field right now, new mock drafts aren’t going to care much that the team already drafted Jenkins and Jackson.

Both of those guys could turn out to be great players, but adding another blue-chip prospect at a good value in the first round is the smart approach.

Cincinnati almost oddly attempted to replace the massive Reader with a rotational platoon of smaller guys and that has backfired. Graham would be an ideal addition early in Round 1 capable of making the entire rest of the defense better.

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Bengals move into single digits in NFL draft order with five weeks left

The Bengals are getting closer to a top pick.

After yet another loss in which the offense put up points but the defense couldn’t hold, the Cincinnati Bengals fell to 4-8 after their 44-38 home loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a loss that all but sealed their playoff fate.

The Bengals are now five games back with five to play in the AFC North and 3.5 games behind the Denver Broncos for the last AFC Wild Card spot. It may soon be officially draft season in Cincinnati.

After 13 weeks, the Bengals sit at No. 9 in the draft order, according to Tankathon. They have the easiest schedule among the three 4-8 teams, the others being the New Orleans Saints and the Chicago Bears. They are also just one game back of the No. 5 spot, currently held by the 3-9 Carolina Panthers, though Carolina does have an easier strength of schedule. Cincinnati does have an easier schedule strength than the other three 3-9 teams (New York Jets, Tennessee Titans, Cleveland Browns).

It also just so happens that two of Cincinnati’s next three games are against the Titans and Browns, so draft positioning will be in play in Weeks 15 and 16. The Bengals head to Dallas next week, who aren’t far behind the Bengals in the pecking order at 5-7. A lot of shuffling will happen in the next five weeks.

Current 2025 NFL Draft order

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-10
2. Las Vegas Raiders 2-10
3. New York Giants 2-10
4. New England Patriots 3-10
5. Carolina Panthers 3-9
6. New York Jets 3-9
7. Tennessee Titans 3-9
8. Cleveland Browns 3-9
9. Cincinnati Bengals 4-8
10. New Orleans Saints 4-8
11. Chicago Bears 4-8
12. Miami Dolphins 5-7
13. Dallas Cowboys 5-7
14. San Francisco 49ers 5-7
15. Indianapolis Colts 6-7
16. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 6-6
17. Los Angeles Rams 6-6
18. Arizona Cardinals 6-6

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Bengals gamble on Tee Higgins replacement in new 2025 NFL mock draft

The Bengals say goodbye to Tee Higgins in a new mock draft.

Conventional wisdom says the Cincinnati Bengals will lose Tee Higgins to free agency next offseason.

But for the most part, that same logical line of thinking has suggested that one of Andrei Iosivas or even Jermaine Burton could step into the No. 2 role across from Ja’Marr Chase.

Not all agree, though.

Gordon McGuinness of Pro Football Focus, for example, just issued a new 2025 NFL mock draft that has the Bengals going with Luther Burden III out of Missouri at No. 10 overall:

Burden has been impressive this season, averaging 2.41 yards per route run. He was even better in 2023, earning an elite 91.0 PFF receiving grade while averaging 3.29 yards per route run.

Given some of the needs across the entire defense, the Bengals going with a first-round wideout would be something of a surprise.

But then again, Iosivas has largely been a disappointment this season and Burton has had all sorts of issues dodging the problems that gave him red flags during last year’s draft.

As of this writing, the 5’11” Burden has 21 touchdowns over his last three seasons and averages nearly 12 yards per catch, so he’d be a nice possible fit in the same offense as Chase.

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Bengals flirt with top-10 pick in 2025 NFL draft order

The Bengals are close to a top-10 spot in the draft order.

Despite the offensive explosion in the second half, the Cincinnati Bengals were once again left disappointed after their defense came apart at the worst time, leading to a 34-27 defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Chargers.

That loss dropped Cincinnati to 4-7 and dealt a severe blow to their playoff hopes. Entering their bye week, the Bengals are closer to a top-10 pick than playing meaningful football in January.

So where do the Bengals stand in the draft order heading into their bye week? This order is updated to include Cleveland’s shocking win over the Steelers Thursday night.

 

Updated 2025 NFL draft order

1. Jacksonville Jaguars 2-9
2. Tennessee Titans 2-8
3. New York Giants 2-8
4. Las Vegas Raiders 2-8
5. New England Patriots 3-8
6. New York Jets 3-8
7. Cleveland Browns 3-8
8. Carolina Panthers 3-7
9. Dallas Cowboys 3-7
10. New Orleans Saints 4-7
11. Cincinnati Bengals 4-7
12. Miami Dolphins 4-6
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 4-6
14. Chicago Bears 4-6
15. Indianapolis Colts 5-6
16. Seattle Seahawks 5-5
17. Los Angeles Rams 5-5
18. San Francisco 49ers 5-5

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10 facts about Bengals No. 5 overall draft pick WR Ja’Marr Chase

The Cincinnati Bengals have drafted LSU WR Ja’Marr Chase No. 5 overall in the 2021 NFL draft. Here are 10 facts surrounding the selection.

The Cincinnati Bengals selected former LSU Tigers wideout Ja’Marr Chase with the No. 5 overall pick in the 2021 NFL draft.

The Bengals take another receiver in the first round, the third time since 2011.

Here are 10 facts surrounding the selection of Chase.