Cincinnati Bengals 2025 NFL Mock Draft: Two-way star will have Joe Burrow hyped

The Cincinnati Bengals have started another NFL season at 0-2.  Although both losses to the New England Patriots and Kansas City Chiefs were close, the team can’t feel good about another slow start and yet another season where they will have to dig themselves out of a hole.

When all is said and done, the Bengals will be alright.  Joe Burrow went head-to-head with Patrick Mahomes in Week 2 and the defense showed up in a 26-25 loss to the defending Super Bowl champions. In all, there is not much to worry about with the Bengals on either side of the ball, but the team must cut down on the mistakes and above all get healthy, particularly wide receiver Tee Higgins.

With Ja’Marr Chase’s contract situation hanging over the team’s head, the Bengals will also have the challenge of staying focus as the NFL season moves forward.  Burrow can work his magic, but off-season distractions could get in the way of the Bengals turning their early season around. 

If the team can’t get on a roll quick, Cincy head coach Zac Taylor could see himself on the hotseat as the Bengals haven’t gotten off to the start they wanted.  With upcoming games against the Washington Commanders and Carolina Panthers, Burrow and company should get a couple of wins under their belt before an AFC North clash with the Baltimore Ravens.

Current state of the Cincinnati Bengals

• 2024 NFL season record: 0-2, 3rd in the NFC North

• Team offense: Rank Tied 24th (272.0 yards per game)

• Team defense: Rank 10th (288.0 yards per game)

• 2025 NFL Draft position: No. 1

• Top positional needs: OG, EDGE, WR, CB

2025 NFL Draft outlook

The Bengals could end up in a position where they will need to find Burrow a new set of playmakers as the future of both Chase and Higgins in Cincinnati are up in the air.  With that in mind, Cincinnati will likely use one of their top picks on a receiver.  Depending on where the Bengals end up as far as draft position, there will be some interesting names in another deep wide receiver class.  The top ranked receivers are Missouri’s Luther Burden, Arizona’s Tetairoa McMillian and Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka, each of whom would be intriguing weapons for Burrow.

Other top options include Texas standout Isaiah Bond and Oregon’s Evan Stewart.  The Bengals may also want to dip into a deep cornerback class and take care of other positional needs like offensive guard and another rusher off the edge. Let’s reveal what the Bengals will do in this three-round 2025 NFL Mock Draft early season edition.

The Bengals take care of two needs in one with the selection of Colorado two-way star Travis Hunter.  As one of the top cornerbacks and wide receivers in the nation, the Heisman Trophy frontrunner both strengthens the Bengals’ secondary featuring Cam Taylor-Britt and gives Burrow another weapon offensively.  His explosive athletic ability on both sides of the ball makes him a unique talent, but the Bengals will see him as more of a prize cornerback at the NFL level.

Cincinnati adds to their pass rush with the selection of Landon Jackson out of the University of Arkansas.  Standing at 6-foot-7, 280 pounds, Jackson is an impactful pass rusher with the versatility to play multiple positions along the defensive line.  With his high motor, length and quickness, Jackson will be great addition to a line that already includes Trey Hendrickson and Sam Hubbard. The selection of Jackson could allow the Bengals to move on from either Hubbard or Hendrickson following the 2025 NFL season.

The Bengals will look to add an offensive lineman, but that comes later in the draft as they add more youth to the secondary with the selection of Iowa’s Sebastian Castro.  Ranked in the top 10 amongst 2025 NFL Draft prospects, the 5-foot-1, 205-pound Castro is a zone safety with high football IQ and instincts that will remind Bengals fans of Jessie Bates, especially his aggressive tackling style.  As a versatile defender who can play multiple coverages, Castro could be a Day 2 steal for the Bengals.