Because the Cincinnati Bengals gamers trickle again into the group’s facility for offseason exercise packages, the scouting division is getting again to enterprise by constructing their lists for the 2025 NFL Draft.
Earlier than they received too busy, although, director of professional scouting Steven Radicevic and director of faculty scouting Mike Potts sat down with The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. to share their ideas about many of the group’s picks on this yr’s draft class.
The dialog began with the group’s first-round decide of Georgia Bulldogs offensive deal with Amarius Mims, taken with the No. 18 general decide. Radicevic stated offensive tackles are at all times overdrafted, and he didn’t consider Mims would fall to them.
Potts chimed in by saying he believed Mims was their man by watching only one recreation.
“Watching that Ohio State playoff recreation final yr as a younger, true sophomore, he’s on the market taking part in within the first begin of his profession, shutting down some actually spectacular guys on the sting at Ohio State in a nationwide semifinal,” he stated. “That’s actually the place he jumped out. Watching him in opposition to high-end guys which have been as excessive because the No. 1 general decide within the draft that he’s blocking each day. He makes a heck of an impression going in opposition to a number of the finest competitors within the nation there.”
It’s true that Mims doesn’t have a lot movie to check. He’s solely began in eight video games, however in these eight video games, he performed in opposition to a number of the hardest school competitors there’s, and he did it with grace and athleticism is tough to seek out in somebody that dimension.
Because the group entered Day 2 of the draft, and with the Bengals holding on to a few picks over the second and third rounds, many thought the group would possibly commerce some draft belongings to maneuver up and choose defensive deal with Johnny Newton or one of many many gifted gamers that fell out of the primary spherical.
Potts stated the group probably acquired a whole bunch of texts or calls about trades all through the draft from a number of groups, however he was happy with how the group stayed affected person and located guys they appreciated had fallen to them with every of their 10 picks.
With their second choice within the draft, the Bengals started patching up the outlet defensive deal with DJ Reader left by bringing in Michigan’s Kris Jenkins. He’s the son of a former Professional Bowler and the face of the Wolverines’ Nationwide Championship protection. Head coach Zac Taylor was impressed with Jenkins’ skilled demeanor throughout his 30 go to.
Potts was most enthusiastic about what Jenkins brings to the Bengals locker room.
“The perfect factor is that aligns with the way in which coaches (at Michigan) speak about him,” he stated. “Power coaches, place coach, coach, tutorial folks. They describe that kind of persona and also you see it for your self nose to nose, look him within the eye, you are feeling his presence. He’s a extremely versatile man. We like how well-round his recreation is. We predict he has some untapped potential in his physique and as a cross rusher.”
Jenkins will be part of a defensive deal with rotation that features veteran BJ Hill and just lately signed inside cross rusher Sheldon Rankins. One other identify that can be part of that rotation is the group’s second third-round decide, Texas A&M nostril deal with McKinnley Jackson.
Many have been shocked by the group’s number of Jackson within the third spherical. Most analysts believed he was extra more likely to be chosen on day three of the draft, and a few have acknowledged he might have been a precedence undrafted free agent.
Nevertheless, Bengals space scout Christian Sarkisian appreciated Jackson proper the place they chose them.
“He’s a five-star child popping out of highschool,” he stated. “In 2020, as a freshman, he’s all-freshman SEC, 2021 he gained the group’s toughness award, 2022 defensive management award, ‘23 defensive MVP award, ‘23 power and conditioning award, then he’s a two-year captain in ‘22 and ‘23. The man is only a excessive achiever.
Sarkisian additionally appreciated what he noticed from Jackson’s tape and beloved the depth he confirmed at follow.
“Constant depth,” he added. “He performs the way in which you need that place to be performed: imply, sturdy, bodily. Going to a follow there and seeing how he operates was particular.”
Then the dialog turned to the group’s fourth-round choice, Iowa tight finish Erick All. The most recent Iowa tight finish would have been within the dialog with Brock Bowers had there not been medical crimson flags that got here together with All. He not solely suffered from a again damage, however he tore his ACL in 2023.
Potts and different scouts talked to everybody from surgeons to the coaching workers, in addition to the Bengals’ medical workers. They felt, after contemplating his tape, he was properly well worth the threat within the fourth spherical.
“They speak about him the identical means they do all the opposite Iowa tight ends,” Sarkisian added. “He was a captain at Michigan, he would have been a captain there if he there longer. He was actually the one offense on that Iowa group this yr. He’s a dynamic playmaker, bodily run blocker, we’re getting a fairly darned polished participant as soon as we’re able to roll with him.”
The Bengals even have Mike Gesicki, who was signed on a one-year deal, in addition to Drew Pattern, who was re-signed to a three-year deal, Tanner Hudson, who led the tight ends in receiving yards in 2023, they usually used considered one of their sixth-round picks on Arizona tight finish Tanner McLachlan. The tight finish room doesn’t essentially want All proper now, or presumably even in any respect in 2024. Nevertheless, when All is ready to play and will get on top of things, he might show to be the steal of the draft.
One other place of want for the Bengals heading into the draft was cornerback. The group had misplaced some beneficial depth after Chidobe Awuzie left in free company, even after the group introduced they have been shifting Dax Hill from security to nook completely.
Within the fifth spherical, the group chosen TCU cornerback Josh Newton, one other man Radicevic says had excessive character and needed to battle by way of adversity in his taking part in profession, one thing the group values. He stated Newton might have been a Day 2 decide after TCU made a run on the Nationwide Championship, however he confirmed loyalty to a program that took an opportunity on him when he transferred to the Horned Frogs from Louisiana-Monroe and determined to remain and now enters the draft with a chip on his shoulder.
The Bengals chosen 10 further gamers so as to add to an already-loaded roster. These 10 gamers embody the group’s new swing deal with (at a minimal), two recent faces so as to add to a defensive deal with rotation, a gifted vast receiver, two gifted tight ends, a cornerback, defensive teammates out of Ole Miss, and the group’s potential future heart. Draft grades have general been good for the Bengals.
Hopefully, this younger group will have the ability to contribute early and assist the Bengals convey house their first Lombardi.
Make sure you learn Dehner’s full report at The Athletic.
