The 2025 NFL Draft will take place in April, and the Bengals will have the 17th pick in the first round. We've rounded up the latest projections from media outlets across the league to give you a look at who could be joining the Bengals this year.
Updated: March 14, 2025
LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
"Campbell is still a bit raw, but at 6-3 and nearly 240, he's the type of defender that's the future of pass rushers — and that future is now. Having a Micah Parsons-like wild card in your front seven can open up so much."
S Malaki Starks, Georgia
"The Bengals get one of the cleanest prospects in the entire draft in Malaki Starks."
"The Bengals can take one of the best players available in big-play safety Malaki Starks"
EDGE James Pearce Jr. Tennessee
"Pearce was one of the best pass-rushers in college football over the past two seasons, leading all FBS edge defenders in pressure rate (22.4%) over that span."
EDGE Mike Green, Marshall
"Green is one of the most dynamic pass rushers eligible in the class."
DL Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
"Many teams will try to mimic the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles' build-through-the-trenches model, and that's what Cincy does here. Nolen's 91.6 PFF run defense grade was the second highest by a defensive tackle in college football last season."
EDGE Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
"Stewart just put together one of the all-time freakiest workouts we've ever seen for a guy who weighs in at 6-foot-5, 281 pounds."
