Entering last week’s Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals had plenty of work to do.
Unfortunately, they only had six picks with which to work some magic.
Going into Thursday, guards and pass rushers were the top priorities. The to-do list also included plugging gaps at linebacker and adding depth at running back, tight end and safety.
Annoyingly, these roster holes were entirely avoidable, had the front office addressed contract extensions promptly and been proactive in free agency. Then, they could have lived the dream, picking Best Player Available (BPA) in each round.
And if any fans hoped their team would trade back at some point for extra picks, they were kidding themselves. True to form, Cincinnati stayed put and left themselves facing an uphill battle.
Betting on potential over production
Their opening gambit at pick 17 was Shemar Stewart, a big, athletic edge rusher with 39 pressures last year. However, his disappointing haul of just 1.5 sacks in each of his three years at Texas A&M makes this a highly divisive pick.
While not a reach (Dane Brugler’s The Beast had him at #9), there were surer bets on the board. If the gamble pays off, Cincy could have the next Myles Garrett on their hands. But if it fails, Stewart joins a long line of underwhelming first-round picks.
On Day 2, the Bengals swooped for hard-hitting South Carolina linebacker Demetrius Knight Jr. He should start, given that Germaine Pratt is still looking to be traded – or, more likely, released.
However, as someone who failed to crack Brugler’s Top 100, the 25-year-old Knight feels like a reach, especially as he may only play out one contract. The Bengals could, and probably should, have picked a starting-level guard here.
Not doing so forced their hand so they opted for Georgia’s Dylan Fairchild at #81. A two-time state wrestling champion, he allowed just one sack in 787 passing snaps. Even so, he is probably not the guaranteed starter this interior offensive line is crying out for.
Doubling up on doubling down
On Saturday, the Bengals threw two curveballs, double-dipping – twice – at linebacker and offensive line. This makes the front office’s draft strategy even harder to decipher.
Clemson’s Barrett Carter brings more speed and versatility to the linebacker room. In isolation, this was a decent choice (a 4th Rounder according to Brugler) but it makes the earlier Knight pick even more confusing.
In Rounds 5 and 6, Miami’s Jalen Rivers has useful guard/tackle versatility for a rotational player while Texas Tech’s Tahj Brooks is a powerful running back with consecutive 1,500-yard campaigns. Both came a round later than projected by Brugler but are still depth pieces rather than difference makers.
So now what?
Even though this haul is full of solid, high-character guys and team captains, Cincinnati probably get a C grade at best, having only half-answered some of the questions. Many more gaps, including a pass-rushing defensive tackle, a safety and a high-quality guard, remain unaddressed.
Had the first three rounds gone with the consensus BPA at the time – say, defensive tackle Derrick Harmon, guard Tate Ratledge and safety Kevin Winston Jr or Xavier Watts – we would be talking a B+ or higher.
In an ideal world, the Bengals would now turn their attention back to free agency. Proven guards like Dalton Risner and Brandon Scherff are still available, as is safety Justin Simmons. Risner and Simmons have even expressed interest in joining Cincinnati.
The team has the cap space and can save $5.6 million more if Pratt is cut loose. For me, getting even one of these guys would give this offseason a whole different feel.
But we do not live in an ideal world and I should know better by now. The front office and coaches have cut their cloth and seem happy with the result. I doubt we will see any more wheeling and dealing.
So for now, both free agency and the 2025 NFL Draft feel like missed opportunities. That piles a load of pressure on new Defensive Coordinator Al Golden and new Offensive Line coach Scott Peters in particular.
And it leaves this roster where it was two months ago: A work in progress with more questions than answers.
