We made it! Here’s a batch of last-minute first-round mock drafts to hold you over until tonight!
It’s finally here. After the lull in free agency, NFL fans have just been sitting on their hands waiting for the draft. Well, the draft is here. The first round of the 2025 NFL Draft will kick off at 8 PM ET Thursday Night from Green Bay.
The time for mock drafts is finally coming to an end (at least for the first round), as we’ll know which player will be joining the Cincinnati Bengals to help them push for a Super Bowl in the coming season.
Before it does end, however, here are a few mock drafts to hold us over until the Bengals are officially on the clock.
Bengals Media Mock Draft 4.0 – James Pearce Jr. – Edge – Tennessee
But this looks to be a new day with Golden putting heat on the passer and of the three, Pearce is bigger and more productive in the nation’s best league. And, Green had only one year as a starter against lighter competition. Pearce has the kind of big-school resume that the Bengals like. In 39 games, he became the first Tennessee defensive lineman to earn back-to-back first-team All-SEC since College Football Hall of Famer John Henderson in the first two years of the century with 19.5 sacks and 29.5 tackles for loss.
Pete Prisco’s final mock draft at CBS Sports – Derrick Harmon – DT – Oregon
The interior of their defense remains a question mark. When was the last time they had a push-the-pocket inside player? Was it Geno Atkins? Harmon can do that.
Field Yate’s final mock draft, ESPN – Walter Nolen – DT – Ole Miss
It’s hard to find an area on defense that isn’t an issue for Cincinnati, especially with uncertainty still surrounding Trey Hendrickson’s future. With or without Hendrickson, the Bengals are desperate for more pass-rush help. Nolen could help from the interior, given his combination of power and an explosive first step.
Daniel Jeremiah mock draft 4.0, NFL.com – Donovan Ezeiruaku – Edge – Boston College
Ezeiruaku is a skilled pass rusher with some similarities to Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, whose future with the team remains murky.
Dane Brugler final mock draft, NYT – Tyler Booker – Guard – Alabama
This pick has to be defense, right? Well … it might be, but dropping Booker on this offensive line to stabilize the interior and protect Joe Burrow would have to be appealing for Cincinnati.
USA Today – Mike Green – Edge – Marshall
The Bengals had 36 sacks last season, seventh-fewest in the league. A whopping 17.5 of those belongs to one player, Trey Hendrickson, who demanded a trade away from the team during the offseason. Even if Cincinnati keeps Hendrickson, it needs to find him a top-end partner. Green, who led the FBS with 17 sacks last season and starred at the Senior Bowl, would provide that.
Albert Breer final mock draft – SI.com – Jahdae Barron – CB – Texas
I think Pearce or Campbell would be a consideration for the Bengals. Zabel should be, too. But in the end, corner is a spot that’ll be tougher to address later in the draft—based on the makeup of the class—so Cincinnati pulls the trigger on the versatile Longhorn, who’s a bit of a projection into new DC Al Golden’s man-heavy scheme.
Annual Jason Boris mock draft – Shemar Stewart – Edge – Texas A&M
The Bengals can score — but stopping opponents has been a different story. The defense needs help at all levels, especially with Trey Hendrickson’s future uncertain. Stewart’s college production was modest, but his upside and elite athleticism (a perfect 10.0 Relative Athletic Score at the Combine) make him a high-ceiling prospect. He fits the mold of recent Bengals picks: long, athletic defenders with room to grow.
Well, we got one offensive line pick and a whole bunch of defense.
Which one did you like the most? Which one do you think is the most realistic?
Who Dey!!
