The Cincinnati Bengals will need to move pretty specifically early in the 2025 NFL draft to come away with good grades.
No easy task, given Cincinnati's need for immediate help on both sides of the ball and the need to find long-term, affordable help beyond 2025, too.
A new five-round mock draft from NFL.com's Chad Reuter, at least, provides a quality blueprint the team could very well follow during the big event.
In the first round there, the Bengals grab Texas A&M edge defender Shemar Stewart, locking down a high-upside pass rusher who could come in and form a potentially long-term rotation with Joseph Ossai and Myles Murphy -- no matter what happens with Trey Hendrickson's contract situation.
Joe Burrow's offensive line gets some help in the second round of the mock draft courtesy of Ohio State's Donovan Jackson, too. That gives the team another possible starter at guard rather than leaning on only Cody Ford and Lucas Patrick as starters in 2025.
The Bengals go the following ways over the next few mocked rounds:
- Round 3: T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
- Round 4: Andrew Mukuba, S, Texas
- Round 5: Jack Nelson, OL, Wisconsin
Overall, it's one possible route the Bengals could take. And frankly, it would earn pretty strong grades, too, provided the Bengals get the rookies in the building and the revamped coaching staff can get them up to speed quickly.
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This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals follow smart blueprint in new 5-round NFL mock draft
