Your Post-Draft Thoughts ?

[|BlackJesus|]

 

 

[NativeTheory]

I know it's not the sexiest draft but I am happy with the overall results of having double dipped at guard and then focusing the rest of the premium picks on defense. Nobody knows at this stage which are the players who will rise up and who will not. Seems like Golden has a certain vision on defense and wanted certain guys so will give him the benefit of the doubt for now to let him do what he wants to on defense.

 

With our team if our gaurds are good then our offense will be one of the best if not the best in the league already. The new injection of talent plus new coach and scheme makes our defense a wild card so am excited to see what this team is like this year. I believe all 6 draft picks could play significantly this year hopefully that's a good thing.

[|BlackJesus|]

Bengals 2025 NFL Draft takeaways: Circus out, responsible adults in for Cincinnati

 

Paul Dehner Jr.

 

April 26, 2025

 

CINCINNATI — There were times in 2024 when the Cincinnati Bengals felt like a circus. Contract disputes, trade requests, hold-ins, undisciplined defense, the Jermaine Burton saga, the Sheldon Rankins free-agency whiff, going 0-3 while scoring 99 points, cracked team chemistry, the parade of missed tackles, losing game after game in improbable fashion, and Joe Burrow missing the playoffs despite landing in the MVP conversation.

 

A theme emerged throughout the offseason and hit an undeniable crescendo over six picks this weekend.

 

The circus has left town. Responsible adults only.

 

The Bengals not only focused all their big spending in free agency on players with whom implicit knowledge of their personality and character existed inside the building, but they also ripped off six picks, and every single one comes with strengths of maturity, leadership, responsibility and accountability.

 

No personality risks allowed.

“I think the theme is they love football, all six of these guys,” coach Zac Taylor said. “Some I know better than others, but that’s what you took away: They just love talking football, they love being around football, and they love their teammates. They made huge impacts on the programs that they were at, and by huge impact, I mean not only on the field but talked about them off the field and the impact that they made there. That means something to us.”

 

More specifically, that means something to them again. The Bengals lost their way in that regard in recent years — taking a chance here, a character risk there, betting on the culture established in the original renaissance of this franchise under Burrow to straighten out any talented wayward souls.

 

In the process, the locker room lost its way.

 

The past three days played out like one more sweeping regripping of the culture that built runs to the Super Bowl and AFC championships.

 

There was Shemar Stewart’s legendarily relentless play style. Demetrius Knight Jr. being known as an “old soul” who drove DoorDash after games while at Charlotte before transferring to South Carolina, becoming a captain immediately.

 

There was the instant connection between Dylan Fairchild and new offensive line coach Scott Peters, as well as Miami’s Jalen Rivers coming in for a 30 visit despite the fact “you are not going to find anybody that says a bad word about the guy.” Then they added linebacker Barrett Carter, a noted captain, leader and green-dot linebacker at Clemson who says he “leads with love.” Even sixth-round running back Tahj Brooks was a captain at Texas Tech.

 

They are all responsible, accountable, team-first ball-lovers. It’s hard not to go back to the game-changing draft classes of 2020 and see similar themes. The most important theme, this type of no-nonsense accountability, is exactly how new coordinator Al Golden wanted to rebuild this defense. There are holes in what was always going to be a multiyear project, but resetting the foundation feels like a checked box.

 

“This is a group with a great hunger and urgency to be great as a unit,” Taylor said. “As a unit, as a position group and individuals, you look across the board on every single person that is on that board in there, and they all have the same characteristics and that same description. That has got me fired up.”

Best value pick

Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech, sixth round. The value of running back in this draft was just too good to pass up. Brooks had a fifth-round grade, but considering his production and elite agility, he could have gone much higher any other year. Brooks is built like a block of granite and ran for 1,500 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons, dropping in 27 touchdowns over that span. He ideally rounds out a running backs room headed by Chase Brown with veterans Samaje Perine and Zack Moss also available for snaps.

Most surprising pick

The first one. Stewart was a home run swing for a team that felt designed to seek out a more sure thing up front. Cincinnati is betting on traits with an understanding that it could take time to develop Stewart’s elite traits into more production than 4 1/2 sacks in three seasons. Missing on Stewart or waiting years for him to come along could cost this team a Super Bowl when you consider the window they are in, and it’s only exacerbated by the Bengals still going through the traits-to-production process with 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy (zero sacks in 2024). Stewart will play a role this year, including kicking inside if necessary to add juice to a sluggish interior pass rush, but whether they can get even 50 percent out of his immense upside in Year 1 could go a long way in deciding how much teeth exists in this defense.

Biggest question mark

The Bengals stood behind safety Geno Stone in this draft. Despite not giving a round of ringing endorsements throughout the offseason, no competition was added. Golden even passed on his former Notre Dame captain, Xavier Watts, twice. That leaves special teams maven Tycen Anderson around to dip his toe into a competition for Stone or solidify a spot as the third safety with 2024 safety Daijahn Anthony, of fourth-and-16 against the Kansas City Chiefs notoriety, to hold down the back of the room. They need Stone to be a better tackler and overall player than last year, but it’s fair to wonder if he can take that next step. If he doesn’t, the insurance options are limited.

Remaining needs

For all the reformation of the defense for Golden over the draft and during free agency, the roster still has one notable missing piece. Where is the pass-rushing defensive tackle? The Bengals have only four defensive tackles on the roster: Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson, TJ Slaton and BJ Hill. Also, none of those four boasts a strength in rushing the passer. That felt like a primary need of the offseason, but not a single defensive tackle with a strength in getting after the passer was added to the mix.

 

The Bengals prioritized run-stopping and are expecting a jump from Jenkins, who struggled to a 2.9 percent win rate last year. Golden discussed a desire to kick Stewart, Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample and Murphy inside if needed on passing downs, taking advantage of their size and versatility. Their usage in a sub package will be part of the plan and a welcome adjustment, but there still seems to be a hole on the roster in terms of creating disruption up the middle on early downs.

 

“I think that’s something you’re always looking at, and we just, again, at different points in the draft, hit at some other spots,” Taylor said. “Undrafted free agency is still coming. We’ll work hard to add some guys to the mix there, and I think we feel good about the four guys we have in the room right now.”

Post-draft outlook

The Bengals were workmanlike in checking off their long list of needs in the draft. They didn’t add picks with any trades, so it’s not complete (DT, safety), but they checked off every box with a player who’s easy to believe in. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to think each of the first three picks will be starting in Week 1. This would mark the first time in franchise history that would be the case. The Bengals have cleared a path to that outcome for Stewart, Knight and Fairchild.

 

Competition on the offensive line at both guard spots and backup tackle will be the theme of training camp, and that’s by design, with Peters looking to implement a new, more athletic, aggressive, technical style up front. If competition can create stability and Golden’s plan for accountability and consistency returns the defense to average, it’s fair to say the roster is right where it should be with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in tow: among the Super Bowl contenders.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6312403/2025/04/26/cincinnati-bengals-2025-nfl-draft-picks-takeaways/?source=emp_shared_article

[T-Dub]

Ticked off the major needs outside of safety but I have to wonder if that was out of necessity or because the BPA fell that way.  Giving Stone a $5M raise after the year he had seems awfully generous but unless they've got a late FA hire in their sights I guess that's what they're going to pay.

[|BlackJesus|]

What we learned from the Bengals' 2025 draft — It's back to 2020 on defense

Charlie Goldsmith

 

Apr 26, 2025

 

Zac Taylor is the eighth-longest tenured head coach in the NFL, and rosters go through cycles during head coaching tenures that last this long.

 

The Bengals’ 2025 NFL Draft showed that on defense, they’re right back where they were in 2020. They spent this weekend working to overhaul the culture, identity, physicality and presence of the team, particularly at offensive line, defensive line and linebacker like they did five years ago.

 

With their 2025 draft class — defensive end Shemar Stewart, linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr., guard Dylan Fairchild, linebacker Barrett Carter, offensive lineman Jalen Rivers and running back Tahj Brooks — the Bengals followed the same path that they used in 2020.

 

They drafted some more captains from big schools whose leadership demonstrably showed up on the field last year. They drafted guys who the Bengals feel already know how to win.

 

“The theme is they love football, all six of these guys,” Zac Taylor said. “Some I know better than others, but that's what you took away - they just love talking football, they love being around football and they love their teammates. They made huge impacts on the programs that they were at, and by huge impact I mean not only on the field, but talked about them off the field and the impact that they made there. That means something to us.”

 

Back in 2021, I wrote a story about the Bengals’ 2020 draft class. Golden described the Bengals’ approach with those picks as a way to “mitigate risk.”

 

The Bengals are trying to do that again this season.

 

Last year, the Bengals took some chances with the character backgrounds behind a few of their picks. This year, the Bengals reverted back to the 2020 approach.

 

“That group stayed together for four or five years and went to a Super Bowl, two AFC Championship games and were division champions a couple of times,” Golden said. “I think it’s important you have high-character guys that will compete and understand the bigger picture in terms of leadership and on-field command and presence, and I think these guys do.”

 

That 2020 draft class was arguably the best in franchise history, and it was an indispensable part of the process of rebuilding and resetting the culture, identity and physicality of a team that ended up going to the Super Bowl.

 

We all know what Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins have done, but the connection here is linked to what happened over the rest of that draft.

 

Logan Wilson is one of this team’s best Day 2 picks in years, Akeem Davis-Gaither and Markus Bailey’s ability to provide depth and special teams value truly mattered, Khalid Kareem made one of the biggest plays of the 2021 season and, hey, the Bengals won playoff games with Hakeem Adeniji at guard.

 

The 2025 Bengals are still a flawed team. The coaches laid out their plans at guard and pass rushing defensive tackle on Saturday, but you’ll have to really see those plans to believe them. This is still a Bengals’ team that hasn’t drafted a quality interior offensive linemen in years and a team that can’t seem to get consistent production from defensive draft picks.

This year, the Bengals’ front office went back to what its foundation is, just like Zac Taylor does as a play caller when things are crumbling and calls 40 passes to put the ball in Joe Burrow’s hands.

 

The Bengals are trying to replicate the class that they got in 2020.

 

“Adding good people that have leadership qualities is never a bad thing for us,” Taylor said. “I think these guys can walk in and they have to prove themselves first and foremost in the scheme. I believe that once they do that they will be able to take on whatever part of the career evolves for us.”

 

The upside of Knight, who’s 25, and Carter, who doesn’t have elite athleticism for the linebacker position, is a question. There were more physically gifted linemen than Fairchild and Rivers. In the first round, the Bengals could have taken more of a chance on the medicals of Derrick Harmon or Jihaad Campbell.

 

This defense desperately needed playmakers. It still does.

 

But what the defense needed even more is soul.

 

Stewart overcame incredible adversity, and his father credits Stewart’s discipline as the reason why he made it to the NFL. Al Golden called Stewart “the embodiment of what we want.”

Knight was a team captain and the heart of one of the best defenses in college football. Zac Taylor said, “He walks in the door (as) a mature leader. So many people that we’ve talked to — this is one of their favorite people that they’ve been around.”

Barrett was another team captain and carried a 4.0 GPA. Golden said, “He clearly, pre-snap, was in charge of that defense.”

 

“Those things are all important,” Golden said. “It allows you the freedom to get some checks executed on the field. We like to do a lot of our stuff on the grass, so to speak, so we need guys that can think on their toes and get us in the right call, and he’s capable of doing that.”

 

As the Bengals bumped up several captains on their draft board, the surprise of the weekend was that they didn’t select a single defensive tackle or safety.

 

At this point last year, the Bengals had nine defensive tackle. Right now, they have four!

 

And outside of BJ Hill (whose pass rush production dipped last year and isn’t an interior pass rusher who can lead a unit with those abilities), the Bengals have zero proven pass rushing defensive tackles. The Bengals signed TJ Slaton to stop the run, and they drafted Kris Jenkins and McKinnley Jackson to be run stoppers as well.

 

There were defensive tackles ranked highly on the Bengals’ board this week, but the draft just didn’t shake out in a way that landed a pass rushing DT in Cincinnati. One example might have been Walter Nolen, who went one pick before the Bengals’ turn in the first round.

 

“(Interior pass rush) is something you're always looking at,” Taylor said. We just at different points in the draft, hit at some other spots. Undrafted free agency is still coming. We'll work hard to add some guys to the mix there and I think we feel good about the four guys we have in the room right now. We feel good about how you can utilize some of the defensive ends, and in other passing situations as well.”

 

Now, they’ll have to be creative to find the interior pass rush that they completely lacked last season. Golden said that it’s a big deal to have the size at defensive end that the Bengals do with Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample, who can both kick inside on third downs.

 

“It’s not so stratified that, ‘The end has got to play here,’” Golden said. “Maybe your second-best end is a number-one third-down rusher. So, we’ll make sure that we rotate that around a lot to get a good look at everybody.”

 

Jenkins and Jackson didn’t show pass rush ability as rookies last year, but the Bengals now need development from them in that area on early downs, when you don’t kick defensive ends inside.

 

“I won’t discount anybody, especially not Kris and McKinnley, who were banged up a little bit in preseason and had a little bit of a slow start to their journey here in the NFL,” Golden said. “I can’t wait to get them back out there and start working with them again.”

 

Over the course of free agency and the draft, the Bengals simply prioritized other positions over interior pass rush. They’ll obviously have to address defensive tackle in some small way before the season because they need more than five DTs, but the plan between defensive tackle and linebacker showed how Golden is changing this defense.

 

Lou Anarumo matched big personnel groupings with five defensive linemen fronts that only included two linebackers. Golden uses more 4-3 and even some 3-4 looks.

 

To run those looks, you need fewer defensive tackles and more linebackers. Linebacker was the team’s biggest need heading into the draft.

 

“If we need to play with more linebackers, or if it’s bigger personnel and we need to play with four linebackers on the field, we’ll certainly do that,” Golden said.

 

He continued, “It just gives me a sense of, ‘OK, now we can plot the course,’ because we were waiting for, ‘Are we going to be a big nickel team against 12-personnel? Are we going to be a base team?’ So, at least we know now we have the components to go ahead and invest in a base package if we wanted to.”

 

The Bengals’ next-biggest need was offensive guard. Drafting Knight over Tate Ratledge was a defining moment for their draft strategy.

 

The Bengals still landed a guard who they view highly in Fairchild, who will get every chance to compete for the starting left guard spot. Rivers could enter the mix in camp at guard. But for now, he gives the Bengals something they lacked as a versatile swing tackle. Having him in the room helps Cody Ford (the favorite to win the right guard battle) focus on that spot.

 

Past the first round, the Bengals haven’t signed a good offensive lineman past the first round in a while. They took a new approach this year as Dan Pitcher and OL coach Scott Peters led the charge, but they stuck to their core belief that you need great intangibles, football IQ and leadership (just like they did at every position this weekend).

 

Like defensive tackle, the Bengals punted on the safety position. Malaki Starks, Kevin Winston and Nick Emmanwori looked like potential fits there, but the Bengals had too many needs to address all of them. There was a significant drop off in safeties available after Day 2, so now the Bengals move forward with Geno Stone at free safety, Jordan Battle at strong safety and Daijahn Anthony and Tycen Anderson as the depth.

 

You can make the case that when the Bengals cut Pratt, the most value that they’d be able to get from that cap space would come from signing free agent free safety Justin Simmons, who’s one of the most consistent center fielders in the NFL.

 

The biggest difference between 2020 and 2025 is that the 2020 Bengals had cap space and signed DJ Reader, Trae Waynes and Vonn Bell. The 2025 Bengals signed Slaton and Oren Burks (who’s now their fourth linebacker).

 

Still, this year’s draft picks are also set up to contribute or start immediately. They’ll also immediately change the way that the Bengals’ locker room feels, especially on the defensive side of the ball.

 

The Bengals believe that that’s good for an extra win, or more.

 

https://charlieschalkboard.substack.com/p/what-we-learned-from-the-bengals

[-GoBengals-]

i voted B, and Carter.

 

I think A grades are for needs at higher value positions and hitting them.. like burrow, chase, tee, etc...Carter is my favorite pick mostly because ive been surprised how much i like his game form the film ive been watching.. seems like a talented guy who can make plays.. he fits the versatility and playmaker moniker we've been hearing form Golden about hwt he wants on defense.. and in the 4th? round thats fun.. 

[|BlackJesus|]

James Rapien's take 

 

[MichaelWeston]

Heres our full class

 

Payton Thorne-Auburn	QB18		Mobile (4.7), 48 starts, 3 time captain, Coaches son/grandson
Tahj Brooks-Texas Tech	RB22	Round 6	5-9 214, 4.52, team captain, pass blocker
Quali Conley-Arizona	RB54		116 career catches, good size and bounces off hits
Rashod Owens-Oke St	WR71		6'2 230
Jordan Moore-Duke	WR73		Former QB, great hands, only 3 years at WR,
Jamoi Mayes-Cincinnati	WR216		PR
Kole Taylor-West Virginia	TE60		Looks great in highlights, leaping over guys, making good catches, 6-7, 78 combined catches last 2 years
Seth McLaughlin-OSU	C3		35 career starts at C at OSU and Bama, won Rimington trophy, ruptured Achiles in November
Dylan Fairchild-Georgia	G7	Round 3	24 Career starts at LG @ Georgia
Jalen Rivers-Miami	G9	Round 5	20 Starts at LT, 11 LG, Captain
Caleb Etienne-BYU	T24		26 Starts at LT, 3 RT, 1 RG, 86 inch wingspan that screams developmental practice squad guy
William Wagner-Michigan	LS1		Ranked #1 LS in this Class by the beast
Shemar Stewart-Texas AnM	Edge3	Round 1	The next great Pass Rusher form AnM
Eric Gregory-Arkansas	DT30		44 Starts
Howard Cross-ND	DT34		Team Captain for Golden in 2024, 4 sacks
Demetrius Knight-South Carolina	LB6	Round 2	4.58 40, TC in single year @ SC
Barrett Carter-Clemson	LB9	Round 4	40 career starts, 31.5 TFL
Shaquan Loyal-Rutgers	S80		Versatile, played Box, Slot and FS

 

Overall it's really positive. I really like our UDFA, RB, DTs, T, TE and obviously C. 

 

I hope they are still looking at Veteran S, DT and RG

[MichaelWeston]

Guess at the 53 and practice squad

 

IR

PS

QB

Burrow 29

Browning 26

Woodside 26

1

2

Thorne 29

RB

Brown 27

Moss 26

Perine 27

Brooks 29

Milton 26

Conley 29

2

4

Brightwell

WR

Chase 30

Jones 27

Pryor

1

2

Owens 29

Mayes 29

WR

Higgins 29

Burton 28

Moore 29

1

2

Burgess

WR

Iosivas 27

Williams 27

All 28

2

Tinsley

TE

Gesicki 28

Sample 27

Grandy 26

Hudson 26

McClachlan 28

Taylor 29

2

4

LT

Brown 27

Rivers 29

Etienne 29

1

2

Cochran 26

LG

Patrick 26

Fairchild 29

2

Volson 26

C

Karras 26

Lee 28

McLaughlin 29

2

RG

Ford 27

Kirkland 26

Manning

1

2

RT

Mims 29

1

Coker

Steuber 26

K

McPherson 28

1

P

Rehkow 27

1

LS

Adomitis 26

Wagner 29

1

1

LE

Ossai 26

Stewart 30

Sample 26

3

Thomas 26

LT

Slaton 27

Jackson 28

Cross 29

1

2

RT

Hill 28

Jenkins 28

Gregory 29

1

2

RE

Hendrickson 26

Murphy 27

Johnson 28

3

Johnson

WLB

Burks 27

Carter 29

Heyward 26

1

2

MLB

Wilson 28

1

Pratt 26

Giles-Harris 26

SLB

Knight 29

Njongmeta 27

2

Young

S

Battle 27

Anthony 28

Jules

1

2

Key

Loyal 29

S

Stone 26

Anderson 26

2

CB

Turner 27

Newton 28

2

Abraham

CB

Taylor-Britt 26

Wilson 26

Brooks

1

2

NB

Hill 27

Ivey 27

Davis

1

2

Robinson 28

16

53

[-GoBengals-]

39 minutes ago, BlackJesus said:

James Rapien's take 

 

 

not even james repeins mother cares what james repein thinks.

[T-Dub]

53 minutes ago, GoBengals said:

i voted B

 

 

Same, but we really won't know until they get on the field in some games that count.

[snarkster]

2 hours ago, BlackJesus said:

Bengals 2025 NFL Draft takeaways: Circus out, responsible adults in for Cincinnati

 

Paul Dehner Jr.

 

April 26, 2025

 

CINCINNATI — There were times in 2024 when the Cincinnati Bengals felt like a circus. Contract disputes, trade requests, hold-ins, undisciplined defense, the Jermaine Burton saga, the Sheldon Rankins free-agency whiff, going 0-3 while scoring 99 points, cracked team chemistry, the parade of missed tackles, losing game after game in improbable fashion, and Joe Burrow missing the playoffs despite landing in the MVP conversation.

 

A theme emerged throughout the offseason and hit an undeniable crescendo over six picks this weekend.

 

The circus has left town. Responsible adults only.

 

The Bengals not only focused all their big spending in free agency on players with whom implicit knowledge of their personality and character existed inside the building, but they also ripped off six picks, and every single one comes with strengths of maturity, leadership, responsibility and accountability.

 

No personality risks allowed.

“I think the theme is they love football, all six of these guys,” coach Zac Taylor said. “Some I know better than others, but that’s what you took away: They just love talking football, they love being around football, and they love their teammates. They made huge impacts on the programs that they were at, and by huge impact, I mean not only on the field but talked about them off the field and the impact that they made there. That means something to us.”

 

More specifically, that means something to them again. The Bengals lost their way in that regard in recent years — taking a chance here, a character risk there, betting on the culture established in the original renaissance of this franchise under Burrow to straighten out any talented wayward souls.

 

In the process, the locker room lost its way.

 

The past three days played out like one more sweeping regripping of the culture that built runs to the Super Bowl and AFC championships.

 

There was Shemar Stewart’s legendarily relentless play style. Demetrius Knight Jr. being known as an “old soul” who drove DoorDash after games while at Charlotte before transferring to South Carolina, becoming a captain immediately.

 

There was the instant connection between Dylan Fairchild and new offensive line coach Scott Peters, as well as Miami’s Jalen Rivers coming in for a 30 visit despite the fact “you are not going to find anybody that says a bad word about the guy.” Then they added linebacker Barrett Carter, a noted captain, leader and green-dot linebacker at Clemson who says he “leads with love.” Even sixth-round running back Tahj Brooks was a captain at Texas Tech.

 

They are all responsible, accountable, team-first ball-lovers. It’s hard not to go back to the game-changing draft classes of 2020 and see similar themes. The most important theme, this type of no-nonsense accountability, is exactly how new coordinator Al Golden wanted to rebuild this defense. There are holes in what was always going to be a multiyear project, but resetting the foundation feels like a checked box.

 

“This is a group with a great hunger and urgency to be great as a unit,” Taylor said. “As a unit, as a position group and individuals, you look across the board on every single person that is on that board in there, and they all have the same characteristics and that same description. That has got me fired up.”

Best value pick

Tahj Brooks, RB, Texas Tech, sixth round. The value of running back in this draft was just too good to pass up. Brooks had a fifth-round grade, but considering his production and elite agility, he could have gone much higher any other year. Brooks is built like a block of granite and ran for 1,500 yards and 5.2 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons, dropping in 27 touchdowns over that span. He ideally rounds out a running backs room headed by Chase Brown with veterans Samaje Perine and Zack Moss also available for snaps.

Most surprising pick

The first one. Stewart was a home run swing for a team that felt designed to seek out a more sure thing up front. Cincinnati is betting on traits with an understanding that it could take time to develop Stewart’s elite traits into more production than 4 1/2 sacks in three seasons. Missing on Stewart or waiting years for him to come along could cost this team a Super Bowl when you consider the window they are in, and it’s only exacerbated by the Bengals still going through the traits-to-production process with 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy (zero sacks in 2024). Stewart will play a role this year, including kicking inside if necessary to add juice to a sluggish interior pass rush, but whether they can get even 50 percent out of his immense upside in Year 1 could go a long way in deciding how much teeth exists in this defense.

Biggest question mark

The Bengals stood behind safety Geno Stone in this draft. Despite not giving a round of ringing endorsements throughout the offseason, no competition was added. Golden even passed on his former Notre Dame captain, Xavier Watts, twice. That leaves special teams maven Tycen Anderson around to dip his toe into a competition for Stone or solidify a spot as the third safety with 2024 safety Daijahn Anthony, of fourth-and-16 against the Kansas City Chiefs notoriety, to hold down the back of the room. They need Stone to be a better tackler and overall player than last year, but it’s fair to wonder if he can take that next step. If he doesn’t, the insurance options are limited.

Remaining needs

For all the reformation of the defense for Golden over the draft and during free agency, the roster still has one notable missing piece. Where is the pass-rushing defensive tackle? The Bengals have only four defensive tackles on the roster: Kris Jenkins Jr., McKinnley Jackson, TJ Slaton and BJ Hill. Also, none of those four boasts a strength in rushing the passer. That felt like a primary need of the offseason, but not a single defensive tackle with a strength in getting after the passer was added to the mix.

 

The Bengals prioritized run-stopping and are expecting a jump from Jenkins, who struggled to a 2.9 percent win rate last year. Golden discussed a desire to kick Stewart, Joseph Ossai, Cam Sample and Murphy inside if needed on passing downs, taking advantage of their size and versatility. Their usage in a sub package will be part of the plan and a welcome adjustment, but there still seems to be a hole on the roster in terms of creating disruption up the middle on early downs.

 

“I think that’s something you’re always looking at, and we just, again, at different points in the draft, hit at some other spots,” Taylor said. “Undrafted free agency is still coming. We’ll work hard to add some guys to the mix there, and I think we feel good about the four guys we have in the room right now.”

Post-draft outlook

The Bengals were workmanlike in checking off their long list of needs in the draft. They didn’t add picks with any trades, so it’s not complete (DT, safety), but they checked off every box with a player who’s easy to believe in. It’s not out of the realm of possibility to think each of the first three picks will be starting in Week 1. This would mark the first time in franchise history that would be the case. The Bengals have cleared a path to that outcome for Stewart, Knight and Fairchild.

 

Competition on the offensive line at both guard spots and backup tackle will be the theme of training camp, and that’s by design, with Peters looking to implement a new, more athletic, aggressive, technical style up front. If competition can create stability and Golden’s plan for accountability and consistency returns the defense to average, it’s fair to say the roster is right where it should be with Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins in tow: among the Super Bowl contenders.

 

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6312403/2025/04/26/cincinnati-bengals-2025-nfl-draft-picks-takeaways/?source=emp_shared_article

 

* It would be ideal if the Bengals could find a DT who may be on the down side of their career, but can still get after the QB (I so wanted Calasis Campbell) as a 5th DT

 

*  Still need to find a veteran safety to push Stone

 

* SIGN Scherff or Risner!

 

 

[sois]

Really awesome draft, only going A instead of A+ because the 1st round guy has crap stats. I like all the picks though, even him. Finally got some LBs. This is how you do it!

[-GoBengals-]

21 minutes ago, snarkster said:

 

* It would be ideal if the Bengals could find a DT who may be on the down side of their career, but can still get after the QB (I so wanted Calasis Campbell) as a 5th DT

 

*  Still need to find a veteran safety to push Stone

 

* SIGN Scherff or Risner!

 

 

 

IMO i dont think they need nor will they do any of those things...

 

at Guard, you brought in 1 vet, and drafted 2 guys, and signed back 2 depth guys i dont think you add a 8th guard unless someone is hurt..

 

similar at DT, you have 4 guys who are going to play, period, there is usually a 5th rotation guy, two UDFA for camp at least, maybe a random vet for depth, or a late summer cut? there is at least room for one here, unlike at guard.

 

Safety is probably set as well, with stone and battle starting and anderson and anthony as teams/backups, al have dax in an odd pinch scenario possibly as well. but i could see an addition, but nothing substantial..

 

 

[-GoBengals-]

 

people pretty puckered after this draft on the roster:

 

Volson

Pratt

Burks

Murphy

Adomitis? (UDFA LS Signed)

 

people taking a deep breath:

 

Stone

Newton

Brown

 

 

 

 

[|High School Harry|]

I don't know a lot (zilch) about the players drafted but the

Bengals zeroed in on character and leadership.

 

The competition for the spots between the Offensive tackles is going

to be awesome to watch and this includes the Ohio State center not named

Billy Price.

[Le Tigre]

I never grade drafts. Everyone wins on Draft Day, so doing so is superfluous. Of course, everyone knows the real “grade” comes 2-3 years down the line. 
 

Saying that…I have concluded that they did depart (a bit) from their norm…and went after solid football players with higher characters. The deficiencies in play can be “coached up” (jeebus how I despise that phrase). 
 

Overall, nice job. 
 

 

[Shebengal]

I gave it a B because we didn’t address the safety position and the Shemar Stewart pick strikes me as “high risk, high reward “. I hope he pans out. 
 

My favorite pick is the Dylan Fairchild pick. It seems like he has some nasty to him, plus I like the fact he has a wrestling background. Our OL needs some nasty. Plus, he strikes me as someone who will take it personally if Burrow gets hit. Again, we need this. 
 

I like the fact that they’ve focused on character this year, and it seems like every player is high character. 

[BBR]

I gave them a C but mainly because of the process.  The players they chose I like.  It just seems to me they should have been able to trade back once or twice to get more picks, especially in the 3rd round where they picked Dylan Fairchild who is also my favorite pick.  With Wyatt Milum and Jared Wilson still on the board they shouldn't have felt pressured to get Fairchild.  I know, it takes two to make a trade work but they just seem to not be able to get any trade backs to happen.  I would have given them a C+ if that was an option, maybe I'm dinging them for something they tried to do but couldn't get done and should have given them a B- but something just seems off to me about their process during the draft.

[I_C_Deadpeople]

29 minutes ago, BBR said:

I gave them a C but mainly because of the process.  The players they chose I like.  It just seems to me they should have been able to trade back once or twice to get more picks, especially in the 3rd round where they picked Dylan Fairchild who is also my favorite pick.  With Wyatt Milum and Jared Wilson still on the board they shouldn't have felt pressured to get Fairchild.  I know, it takes two to make a trade work but they just seem to not be able to get any trade backs to happen.  I would have given them a C+ if that was an option, maybe I'm dinging them for something they tried to do but couldn't get done and should have given them a B- but something just seems off to me about their process during the draft.

I was thinking the same way about the process until I saw the UDFA group. I am normally very unimpressed by what we do there but this year I see two good OL prospects plus two good DL prospects. Not sure on the TE but the team seemed to be hot and bothered about him. 

[BBR]

I only considered the actual draft.  I haven't had but a few minutes to look at the UDFA but the OSU Center and as Go pointed out someplace the Mich. LS are big gets.  Adomitis is definitely in need of competition for his spot.

[HavePityPlease]

What I like about this draft is it appears to demonstrate that Golden is going to turn the defense into a linebacker-driven unit, i.e. the position should be expected to make active, attacking plays, hopefully on every down.   I mostly say that because I personally enjoy watching it the most (and really want it to happen), but I believe it's the most versatile and extensible from a strategic perspective too.  I really liked the LBs that we picked before the draft, which is nice (Schwesinger was my favourite, I guess there was no secret about him considering where he was picked).

 

All in all, optimism abounds as it always does at this time of year.  The key to the season will likely be what our new coaches can get out of the existing players who underperformed last season, on both sides of the ball.

[texbengal]

Overall I liked what they did. They definitely upgraded athleticism, which was needed, especially on defense. I liked the two OL they got… getting Rivers was a great get…seeing him play both G and T in the same series is super impressive. And backup deep snapper? Nice. 
 

Jury is out on Stewart for me, but if he hits, it’s a grand slam because he’s just a tremendous athlete. Some of his clips where he flashes are pretty amazing, but the lack of finishing is a big issue that he needs to address, big time. 
 

What impresses me the most is the caliber of person each guy appears to be… like, I don’t think I’ve ever seen a group they’ve picked that  is that impressive (initially). Bright, energetic, leaders on their respective teams. Seems like they got real quality there… which may mean nothing, but I think it does. Guess we’ll see. 

[Jason]

As it was happening I didn't like most of the picks.  But now that it's over, and it has been discussed by coaches, media, and the players themselves I see the vision and I like it.  Now, they still have to play, but I understand the intent and I think it definitely makes us a better team.  Especially if Stewart is any good.

[Bleeds Orange]

I voted C and Carter. I think he was the best value pick (for the point in the draft taken) that they made.

 

I think passing on Tate Ratledge in the 2nd round will haunt them, but I certainly hope I'm wrong.