Latest 2025 NFL Mock Drafts take the Bengals down a familiar, yet unexpected path with their first round pick
There was a time when the Cincinnati Bengals selected cornerbacks almost every other year in the first round of the NFL Draft. Five of the team's 12 first-round picks from 2006-2016 were spent on the position.2016 was also the last year the Bengals went this route in the opening round of the draft. Dax Hill […]
There was a time when the Cincinnati Bengals selected cornerbacks almost every other year in the first round of the NFL Draft. Five of the team's 12 first-round picks from 2006-2016 were spent on the position.
2016 was also the last year the Bengals went this route in the opening round of the draft. Dax Hill is a cornerback now, but Cincinnati's original vision when drafting him in 2022 was for him to play safety.
Most of the 2025 NFL mock drafts you'll see won't have the Bengals taking a cornerback with the 17th overall pick, but one corner in particular is starting to be linked to Cincinnati.
Bengals select Texas CB Jahdae Barron with 17th overall pick in latest 2025 NFL mock drafts
Barron currently sports a ranking of No. 25 in A to Z Sports' Mock Draft Database, with most projections listing him as a fringe first-round pick. He's one of two Texas Longhorns with a good chance at cracking the first round along with offensive tackle Kelvin Banks Jr.
A to Z Sports' Adam Holt paired Barron with the Bengals' 17th overall pick in his latest mock draft, citing the team's desperation to better the defense in any way possible.
Cincy has to improve their defense this offseason, plain and simple. Joe Burrow had an MVP-level year last season, and they did not even sniff the postseason. Barron is a defensive back that can play inside or outside. He's gritty and plays with an edge that the Bengals need on the back end. – A to Z Sports' Adam Holt
As Holt mentions, Barron has experience on the boundary and in the slot. He first emerged as a starter in the slot in 2022 and stayed there in 2023 before moving outside in 2024 to wrap up his five-year run in Austin. He logged five of his eight career interceptions this past year.
NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah was on the same wavelength Tuesday morning when he gave the Bengals Barron in his second mock draft of the year.
I’m sure the Bengals would consider a defensive tackle here, but Barron is too good to pass up. Also, there will still be talented DTs available when Cincinnati is on the clock in Round 2. – NFL Media's Daniel Jeremiah
Jeremiah appropriately points out that defensive tackle will be arguably Cincinnati's biggest need when the draft rolls around, but stands on the notion that the club can't pass on Barron.
There's plenty to like about Barron as a player, but would Cincinnati be interested enough to draft him? Cornerback might be the position that sees the least amount of turnover for the Bengals' defense with Hill, DJ Turner II, and Cam Taylor-Britt all returning. Josh Newton also flashed as a rookie last season, and DJ Ivey rounds out the group nicely.
Mike Hilton's departure in free agency could be what spurs the Bengals to invest a premium pick at the position. Hilton has manned the slot for years in Cincinnati and is turning 31 years old next month, making him unlikely to be retained in free agency.
Even with Hilton out the door, Barron would probably need to be the very best player on the board for Cincinnati to draft 17th overall. He'll be a name to keep an eye out for during next week's NFL Scouting Combine.
