Bengals have better odds for a top-10 draft pick than making the playoffs

Hard times.

The Cincinnati Bengals entered the 2024 season with Super Bowl aspirations. With superstar quarterback Joe Burrow back healthy and both Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins not letting their hold-outs carry into the season, there was plenty of reason to think this team would win 10+ games.

Instead, through eight games, the Bengals are a lousy 3-5 and just one game ahead of the 2-6 Cleveland Browns for third place in the AFC North.

Currently sitting ninth in the AFC standings, the Bengals are 1.5 games behind the 4-3 Los Angeles Chargers for the final Wild Card spot in the NFL Playoffs. While all hope isn’t yet lost, as the current odds stand, it looks more likely the Bengals will land a top-10 pick in the 2025 NFL Draft than make the postseason.

According to ESPN, the Bengals are more likely to land a top-10 pick than make the playoffs.

Its chances for a top 10 draft pick: 40.1%

Its chances for making the postseason: 27.6%

Per NFL Tankathon, the Bengals would currently hold the 11th pick in the 2025 Draft and are projected to select Penn State edge rusher Abdul Carter.

Rather than worrying about the draft, the Bengals will look to defy their low odds at making the playoffs despite having a schedule that still consists of a Thursday Night game in Baltimore against the 5-3 Ravens, a trip to Los Angeles to take on the 4-3 Chargers, and two games against the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers.

Woof.