Local stars, polarizing talents, and other players the Bengals have been around multiple times leading up to the 2025 NFL Draft
Smokescreens aren't regularly deployed by the Cincinnati Bengals. We may not know every prospect who meets with the team leading up to the NFL Draft, but the pre-draft visits and other forms of contact tend to be very notable. Cincinnati met with both Amarius Mims and Erick All Jr. twice last year before selecting them […]
Smokescreens aren't regularly deployed by the Cincinnati Bengals. We may not know every prospect who meets with the team leading up to the NFL Draft, but the pre-draft visits and other forms of contact tend to be very notable.
Cincinnati met with both Amarius Mims and Erick All Jr. twice last year before selecting them in the first and fourth round, respectively. The double meeting indicates true interest in a player, whether or not there are legitimate questions surrounding his profile like injury history or character makeup.
Below is a list of players we know the Bengals have been in contact with at least twice over the past several weeks going back to the NFL Scouting Combine. They're placed in order by how they're ranked in A to Z Sports' Top 200 Big Board. Those who didn't make the top 200 were ranked by how they stack up in the A to Z Sports Mock Draft Database.
Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. (15)
Points of Contact: Combine meeting, 30 visit
Pearce was destined to go near the top of the draft this time last year, but a down year in 2024 mixed with questions about his personality and such have him as a fringe first-round prospect. He could be in play with the 17th overall pick, but I believe this interest was built on the idea of him dropping all the way to their second-round pick at 49th overall. The Bengals wanted to get a clear idea of who he is as a person in case he does drop all the way there.
Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen (29)
Points of Contact: Combine meeting, 30 visit
Nolen has similar character concerns to what are attached to Pearce, but it feels far more likely that Nolen will go ahead of his SEC counterpart. The 21-year old is one of the favorites to be Cincinnati's first-round pick, if he makes it that far. The Bengals meeting with him twice signals that interest, and gives them multiple impressions of him.
Georgia G Tate Ratledge (40)
Points of Contact: Combine meeting, position coach at Pro Day
Cincinnati hasn't shown much interest in "true" guards this cycle outside of Ratledge. Mims' former running mate at right guard is very likely to go off the board in the second round, and the Bengals make too much sense as his destination. A combine meeting paired with offensive line coach Scott Peters and offensive coordinator Dan Pitcher watching him work out at Georgia's Pro Day is telling.
Arizona OT Jonah Savaiinaea (43)
Points of Contact: Combine meeting, 30 visit
Savaiinaea played multiple positions for Arizona's o-line and projects best at guard, making him an ideal candidate for Cincinnati's second-round pick. The Bengals bringing him in for a 30 visit will need to be remembered if he's still available when when they're on the clock.
Georgia C Jared Wilson (86)
Points of Contact: Combine meeting, position coach at Pro Day
One of the true wild cards on this list, Wilson was a one-year starter at center for Georgia. Cincinnati could see him as its future replacement for Ted Karras, or simply as a guard convert. Pitcher and Peters could've been just as interested in him as they presumably were watching Ratledge at his Pro Day.
Nebraska WR Isaiah Neyor (263)
Points of Contact: Virtual meeting, position coach meeting at Pro Day
Now we're in the weeds. Neyor will hope to be drafted before Saturday concludes, but the Bengals likely see him as a priority free agent target. Wide receivers coach Troy Walters met with him at his Pro Day and a virtual meeting confirms interest.
Cincinnati OT John Williams (272)
Points of Contact: NFL Scouting Combine meeting, Local Pro Day
Drafting a swing tackle on Saturday is not out of the question for Cincinnati. Williams would make a solid sixth-round pick or a PFA.
Cincinnati RB Corey Kiner (294)
Points of Contact: NFL Scouting Combine meeting, Local Pro Day
Same song and dance with Kiner. Interest from all the way back in February translated to April when Bengals executives took some time to chat with the Cincinnati native at the team.
Marshall S J.J. Roberts (unranked)
Points of Contact: Pro Day meeting, 30 visit
The Bengals were present to watch not only Mike Green at Marshall's Pro Day, but Roberts as well. They even met with him after his workout and invited him to Paycor Stadium for a visit. He's an obvious target at safety in in the sixth round or after the draft.
Miami (OH) LB Ty Wise (unranked)
Points of Contact: Pro Day meeting, Local Pro Day
Wise met with the Bengals at Miami's Pro Day and then had the chance to work out in front of the team last week. PFA option here.
Bengals 2025 Pre-Draft Visits: Tracking all the players Cincinnati is meeting with with leading up to the NFL Draft
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