The Cincinnati Bengals have made a few moves prior to next week’s free agency frenzy, but a lot of roster needs remain. Re-signing defensive back Jalen Davis and offensive lineman Dalton Risner were solid initial steps, but the defense still needs a lot of work.
On the most recent episode of The Orange and Black Insider Bengals podcast, John Sheeran and I engaged in our first mock draft of the offseason. We don’t engage in many of these, but with the start of free agency a week away, we figured we’d look at the team’s current, extensive list of needs and use the first three picks accordingly. We plan to have a few other versions of this down the road—namely after the first couple of free agency waves pass.
Trey Hendrickson appearing to head to free agency without any tag scenarios may have surprised some, but at least there is a sense of finality for all parties going forward. But, Hendrickson’s departure, even with talented former first-round picks waiting in the wings, leaves roster holes at each level of the defense.
Given where the board fell during the simulation, we made selections to attack each of those defensive levels. We found surprising value and a number of good options when each pick arrived, while also declining a number of simulated trades that didn’t seem to provide enough “oomph” with the players available.
(Editor’s Note: The three-wound mock draft begins at the 41-minute mark of the show.)
Round 1, Pick No. 10: Sonny Styles, LB, Ohio State
This became a difficult selection, given the fact that Caleb Downs was also simultaneously available. We weren’t overly-worried about the recent reports of Downs’ knee issues, but it did play a little into the equation.
Still, Styles absolutely crushed the NFL Combine, upping his stock from what was already great college tape. His film shows a great all-around linebacker with the ability to disrupt in a number of ways, while coupling that with an ELITE athletic profile.
As a former safety for the first two years of his Buckeyes career, Styles translated that ranginess in a big way to linebacker in his final two collegiate seasons. While his overall major stats took a bit of a dip in his senior season (he played two less games than in 2024), his missed tackle rate dropped from around 18% as a junior to an amazing 2% last year.
While some may quibble about taking “an off-ball linebacker” this high, as well as the Bengals’ selecting of two linebackers in the first four rounds last year, Styles appears to be a franchise-changing player on defense. He is also reported to be a high-character guy with an amazing work ethic, with some rumors even having an unnamed NFL staffer giving a standing ovation after his interview.
Round 2, Pick No. 41: Dillon Thieneman, DB, Oregon
After his workout, most feel that Thieneman being around at this spot is highly unlikely. Even so, the masses annually make these proclamations about players as knee-jerk reactions to Combine workouts and, lo and behold, some of these guys are available in slots once thought inconceivable.
Speaking of workouts, Thieneman also gained a lot of buzz at the Combine. Many believed he’d test well, but perhaps not as well as the numbers he ended up posting.
While the weight/bulk may be a concern for some, the league covets versatile safeties who can move well in space. Thieneman’s tape and workouts prove that he’s versatile and athletic enough to keep up with diverse offenses and good NFL receivers.
I personally sat in on an NFL media conference call prior to the Combine with NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah, and he gushed about the former Ducks defensive back. Jeremiah felt that Thieneman is a player who a team would seldom need to take off of the field, playing a more traditional safety role on early downs and sliding down into a slot corner role on third/obvious passing downs.
Thieneman kind of “kills two birds with one stone” for the Bengals, so to speak. He is an able cover guy, and could be a nice replacement for the Mike Hilton role. Thieneman may not last to this point after all, but with our passing on Downs for Styles in the first round, this became a no-brainer of a pick at No. 41.
Round 3, Pick No. 72: Dani Dennis-Sutton, DL, Penn State
Again, we were surprised that the simulator had Dennis-Sutton available here. Regardless, with our addressing of linebacker and safety in the first two rounds, getting another pass-rusher was a must.
Dennis-Sutton had 82 pressures and 17 sacks in the past two seasons with the Nittany Lions, and while their 2025 season was a bust, he was a standout player. While he was highly-regarded going into the Combine, some wondered what the workouts would show in conjunction with his tape.
When it comes to the Bengals and the edge defenders they prefer, a 256-pound guy isn’t usually in their wheelhouse. Still, this workout speaks volumes, and Cincinnati drafted a similarly profiled player (RAS, then-size, and college stats) in Joseph Ossai back in the third round of the 2021 Draft, so it isn’t exactly unprecedented waters in this range.
Many will want a pass-rusher, potentially even an interior one, earlier in this draft and rightfully so. However, the board fell a certain way, and the hope is that the Bengals will have addressed the interior of the defensive line in outside free agency (yes, we know it’s a pre-free agency mock!).
What do you think of this three-round mock draft? Would you be happy with these results?
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