Bengals 2025 NFL Mock Draft featuring Senior Bowl players who stood out during practices
The part of the Senior Bowl the NFL cares about is over and done with. You can tune into the game Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. ET, but league evaluators and coaches have seen enough just from how the nation's top upperclassmen practiced against one another.As the Cincinnati Bengals look to get the roster in […]
The part of the Senior Bowl the NFL cares about is over and done with. You can tune into the game Saturday afternoon at 2:30 p.m. ET, but league evaluators and coaches have seen enough just from how the nation's top upperclassmen practiced against one another.
As the Cincinnati Bengals look to get the roster in order and replenish leadership that has already left or will leave in the coming months, it would not be surprising to see multiple of their six NFL Draft picks used on players who were in Mobile, Ala. this week.
What would a full Bengals mock draft look like just from Senior Bowl players? I'm so glad you asked.
1.17: Marshall EDGE Mike Green
It's always refreshing when the film and data align with a top prospect. There should be no doubt in anyone's minds about Green going off the board in the first round.
Green was dominant at Marshall, he was dominant in Mobile, he'll probably dominate the NFL Scouting Combine as well and even if he doesn't, he'll still have a good chance at the top 32. The Bengals have a desperate thirst for pass rush. They may find no better option than Green.
2.49: North Dakota State IOL Grey Zabel
This will surely trigger some bad vibes for Bengals fans, but helmet scouting is for the birds. He was one of the best players on the field during the first day of practice and continued that momentum through the end of the week.
This might be the only time I link the Bengals to Zabel not because he was teammates Cordell Volson, but because his meager arm length of 32.25" may scare the Bengals away. New offensive line coach Scott Peters appears to value that trait based on his recent conversation with Dave Lapham. For now, we'll give him the spotlight he deserves as someone who can oust Volson at left guard the minute he arrives in Cincinnati.
3.81: LSU TE Mason Taylor
The biggest lesson I learned this week is there are a lot of good tight ends in this year's class. Upon first glance it didn't seem to be a great year to need one, but the fellas in Mobile proved me wrong. I learned that Taylor is a total gamer and a jack of all trades.
"Taking pride in doing everything for the team," Taylor told A to Sports' Travis May. "It's much bigger than yourself. So, doing everything in the run game, pass protection, and running routes too. Doing it all. Why would you not want to be a tight end?"
Not a single person watching practice had a bad thing to say about Taylor from what I gathered. He was winning as a route runner, catching everything, and blocking everyone he went up against. The Bengals could use a player exactly like Taylor with Erick All Jr. out until 2026.
4.118: Toledo DT Darius Alexander
If Taylor was one of the biggest risers on offense, Alexander might've experienced the fastest rise on defense, or at least at defensive tackle. That's what our own Destin Adams believes after Alexander blew away the competition for three consecutive days.
Toledo's Darius Alexander is another player who had a strong week overall, but I think he ended the week with his best performance. His combination of strength and speed made life difficult for interior linemen throughout the week. I believe Alexander is probably the biggest draft riser at the DT position. Many considered him a late-day three option, but I suspect he hears his name no later than the fifth. Especially if he tests well athletically this draft cycle. – A to Z Sports' Destin Adams
The Bengals will likely draft an interior pass-rusher before the fourth round, and maybe Alexander won't even last this long, but the match would be ideal.
5.154: Georgia RB Trevor Etienne
I don't expect the Bengals to take a running back too early in the draft, but it's definitely a possibility on day three. They drafted Senior Bowl alum Chase Brown in the fifth round back in 2023. Etienne, the younger brother of Jacksonville Jaguars running back Travis Etienne, possesses similar abilities out of the backfield as a receiver.
One of the consistency from the first two days of practice is that it seems no one in Mobile can cover Georgia running back Trevor Etienne. He continues to shine as a pass catcher, and has proved to be one of the best in this class in that regard. Today, he also made plays between the tackles and showed that he deserves more people's attention when discussing this strong RB class. – A to Z Sports' Destin Adams
The Bengals don't always go for NFL bloodlines, but they won't shy away from them if the match is right.
6.195: Notre Dame LB Jack Kiser
There may be a Notre Dame defensive player in every mock draft I craft this offseason. Defensive coordinator Al Golden knows players like Kiser better than anyone in the NFL. He rarely missed tackles for the Fighting Irish and was a weapon in blitz packages. He may be exposed at times in coverage, but don't mistake that for him not knowing where to be.
Being 24 years old and potentially a middling athlete at best isn't going to get Kiser drafted very high, but it'd be foolish to dismiss his chances at reuniting with Golden in the NFL.
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