The Cincinnati Bengals are in an interesting spot. Their offense is tremendous, led by quarterback Joe Burrow and wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase. On defense, it is a much different story. New defensive coordinator Al Golden is going to be forced to overhaul that side of the football.

The 2025 NFL Draft is going to be an essential opportunity for the Bengals to find talented answers. In my recent seven-round mock draft, that was the aim. It is no surprise that defense was the main area of focus.  

Round 1, Pick 17: James Pearce Jr., EDGE, Tennessee

Bengals pass rusher Trey Hendrickson is coming off of a season where he led the league with 17.5 sacks. Outside of Hendrickson, the team didn’t have a single player with more than five sacks. Getting a pass rush threat on the other side of him, especially with the movement skills of Pearce, would be a tremendous addition to the unit.

Tennessee EDGE James Pearce Jr. (#27) was a lot more disruptive against Vanderbilt than the box score would indicate. Some people have stopped talking about Pearce, but they shouldn’t.

He might be the most physically gifted pass rusher in the class. pic.twitter.com/M8wSdedcxC

— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) December 30, 2024

Round 2, Pick 49: Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame

Like almost every area of this defense, it can be upgraded. Watts is an outstanding ballhawk on the back end who has hauled in 13 interceptions and recorded another 18 pass breakups during his career. His connection to Al Golden certainly doesn’t hurt the fit either.

Round 3, Pick 81: Jordan Burch, DL, Oregon

Burch is a bit of a tweener between the edge and interior, but the latter fits his skill set best. At 6-6 and over 290 pounds, Burch is a tremendous mover with tons of upside to tap into. His future at three technique is very bright.

Wasn’t a fan of Oregon EDGE Jordan Burch (#1) based on 2023 film, but he’s been a completely different player so far this season. Incredible athleticism at 6-6 and 280 pounds. pic.twitter.com/kkaoazA81x

— Ryan Roberts (@RiseNDraft) October 7, 2024

Round 4, Pick 118: Cameron Skattebo, RB, Arizona State

Chase Brown had a solid season in 2024, but he does function a bit better as a secondary back and pass catching threat. Skattebo isn’t dynamic as an athlete but he is a very strong runner. Skattebo also has a nice pair of hands out of the backfield.

Round 5, Pick 154: Jacob Parrish, CB, Kansas State

In a zone heavy system, Parrish has the awareness and stickiness to potentially last on the outside. If not, he is a very easy fit inside at slot. This is a versatile player who can do a lot for a team on the back end.

Round 6, Pick 195: Jackson Slater, IOL, Sacramento State

Slater brings a really interesting combination of power and solid movement skills. He should be able to play either at guard or center on the next level, and could potentially back up all three interior spots. At this point in the draft, there aren’t many better values than Slater. 

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