What are the biggest Day 3 needs for the Bengals?

Cincinnati grabbed a linebacker and a guard in Rounds 2 and 3. What’s left?

Most of us were left scratching our heads with at least one of the selections by the Cincinnati Bengals on Day 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, but they continued to fill needs even though neither of their selections made you stand up and shout.

Sure, linebacker was a need, but Demetrius Knight of South Carolina was certainly not the player that most of us envisioned filling that need, and certainly not in the second round. He seems built more in the mold of Vontaze Burfict, but who knows…

The third-round selection, Georgia Bulldogs guard Dylan Fairchild, was a little less of a reach and, at least based on his 2023 performance, has the potential to step into the starting lineup right away.

The Bengals currently hold three more picks tomorrow, and, barring a trade, those picks include:

• Round 4 – pick 119
• Round 5 – pick 153
• Round 6 – pick 193

Regardless of how things worked out today, Cincinnati still has plenty of holes to fill with those last three picks. Among them are:

Defensive Tackle

Cincinnati had at least a couple of chances to grab a solid defensive tackle in the first two rounds but refused to pull the trigger. There are still at least a few who could help them, including Joshua Farmer of Florida State, Nebraska’s Ty Robinson, and JJ Pegues of Ole Miss.

Defensive End

First-round selection Shemar Stewart has all of the potential in the world but has yet to realize it. The Bengals need a fallback position in case Trey Hendrickson ends up walking, and there are still a few out there who could help them. At 6-5 and 280 pounds, Sai’vion Jones of LSU has the size Cincinnati covets, while Michigan’s Josaiah Stewart brings plenty of speed.

Safety

Safety is clearly a position of need for the Bengals, and new defensive coordinator Al Golden is very familiar with at least one of the names that are still out there. Xavier Watts of Notre Dame is probably the top name on the board, but Cincinnati could also look to Billy Bowman Jr. of Oklahoma.

Guard

Despite drafting a guard in the third round, there is still a need for at least a quality backup. If either Purdue’s Marcus Mbow, 6-4 and 303 pounds, or Miles Frazier of LSU, 6-6 and 317 pounds, are still on the board when Cincinnati’s number is called, the Bengals need to run to the podium.

Cornerback

The Bengals have question marks at every cornerback spot after the way they performed last year to go with season-ending injuries to DJ Turner and Dax Hill, while Cam Taylor-Britt was wildly enigmatic.

What do you think the Bengals’ biggest Day 3 needs are?