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[Cincinnati Bengals]

2025 NFL Draft Profile: North Carolina RB Omarion Hampton

Bob Donnan-Imagn Images

The Bengals may not be in the market for a back early in the draft, but if he’s available later than most think, a guy.

When it comes to the second round, the Cincinnati Bengals have a track record not only of drafting running backs on whom they rely heavily but also of netting productive players. Ickey Woods, Harold Green, Corey Dillon, Kenny Irons, Giovani Bernard, and Joe Mixon were all picks made in this round, with varying degrees of success.

The Bengals are looking for a back to complement Chase Brown, who had a solid 2024 campaign, and the prevailing thought is that they will wait until the later rounds of the draft to address that need. Still, given their penchant for grabbing players with immense talent in the second round, they may be inclined to pounce on a BPA.

The idea of taking a back early in the draft isn’t an indictment of Brown, by any means, but rather an implementation of past Bengals strategies and a recognition of past successes. With uncertainty surrounding Zack Moss after his gruesome neck injury, Cincinnati will likely need a bigger, capable back for the coming year.

Enter North Carolina’s Omarion Hampton, who has an impressive resume and has drawn comparisons to Mixon. Looking back to 2023, there were flashes of the Mixon/Brown duo being effective, and Cincinnati could look to recreate that this spring.

Omarion Hampton​

• Height: 5’11 1/2”
• Weight: 221
• Age: 22
• Year: Junior
• School: North Carolina
• Hometown: Forest City, North Carolina
• 40-Yard Dash: 4.48
• RAS:

Background​

Hampton was a four-star recruit in the 2022 class, coming off winning North Carolina Football Player of the Year during his senior year of high school. He immediately saw starting time at UNC, taking over as the full-time starter in 2023.

He amassed 3,164 rushing yards, 30 rushing touchdowns, along with 67 receptions for 595 yards and three receiving touchdowns over the past two seasons. This earned him First-Team All-ACC and First-Team All-American honors in 2023-2024.

As mentioned earlier, his running style and size have drawn comparisons to Le’Veon Bell and Mixon. Given his production and tape, Hampton is projected to be a fringe first-round to early second-round pick in this year’s class.

Strengths and Weaknesses​

Some comparisons of Hampton have him resembling Mixon (his wearing of jersey No. 28 with the Tar Heels also helps), and there are also some Le’Veon Bell-esque qualities on film. He shows patience at the line, waiting for the crease, often leading to explosive plays.

Unlike Mixon, however, Hampton doesn’t always run so upright, which comes with both pros and cons. Still, he is frequently seen breaking tackles, particularly escaping arm wrap-up attempts around his feet and breaking off big plays.

His RAS profile shows he is a high-end athlete, and his sub-4.5 40-yard dash time is impressive for someone weighing 221 pounds. On film, his long speed looks good but not elite, as he is occasionally seen getting chased down on big plays.

The shuttle time noted on the RAS is concerning, but as a bigger back, that can sometimes come with the territory. Hampton is also an effective receiver, often breaking off big gains on screens and shovel passes. However, his route tree wasn’t overly expansive at UNC, though he can contribute in multiple ways, to be sure.

Outlook​

Hampton is a consensus top-five back in this class, with many pundits ranking him at No. 2 behind Ashton Jeanty. While it’s hard to predict exactly where he’ll land, No. 49 seems like a long shot. Still, stranger things have happened in past drafts.

The Bengals choosing a running back early may not sit well with everyone, but a backfield featuring Hampton alongside Brown would be a formidable duo—particularly now that Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins are signed long-term. It also offers flexibility, with some formations utilizing Hampton in the backfield while Brown splits out in the slot to confuse defenses.

PFF has some small worries that Hampton could be “a boom-or-bust prospect, depending on his offensive line,” but the talent is undeniable. We’ll see when he is available and if the Bengals get tempted by his abilities.

Check out our podcasts here on CJ, the Bleav in Cincy podcast feed, Spotify, Amazon, our YouTube channel, and as always, on iTunes!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...t-profile-north-carolina-running-back-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals bringing Quinshon Judkins in for pre-draft visit

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Thoughts on this, Bengals fans?

We’re less than a month away from the 2025 NFL Draft, and teams are doing their research and creating draft boards to help fill out their rosters. This includes bringing incoming rookies for pre-draft visits.

One such visit, according to Jordan Schultz, for the Cincinnati Bengals is Ohio State Buckeyes running back Quinshon Judkins.

Judkins was part of a one-two punch for the National Champion Buckeyes. He spent two seasons with Ole Miss before transferring to OSU for a single season. In those three seasons, Judkins rushed for 3,785 yards and scored 45 touchdowns. He and TreVeyon Henderson formed an incredible one-two punch that helped the Buckeyes win the first expanded playoff national championship.

Lance Zierlien compares Judkins to former Bengals running back Joe Mixon and says he’s “wired and built for a heavier carry count and short-yardage success.” Pairing him with the explosive Chase Brown could give an already top-tier offense an extra dimension. He’s 51st on ESPN’s big board and is their No. 4 running back in this year’s draft class behind Henderson, who is No. 3.

PFF also ranks Judkins as the fourth-best running back in this year’s draft class (53 overall) but has him ahead of Henderson.

Most believe Judkins will be a second-round pick. The Bengals don’t have extra picks to play around with. In fact, they only have six, and every one of them is extremely important. It will be interesting to see what the Bengals do, considering they have needs at guard and throughout the defense.

Ohio State RB Quinshon Judkins has several upcoming visits, including the Texans, Broncos, Bengals, Giants and Browns — while recently completing one with the Cowboys, per sources.

A fast-rising prospect in a deep RB class, one scout told me: “Pretty complete player. Trusts his… pic.twitter.com/v7Qw0D9QYL

— Jordan Schultz (@Schultz_Report) April 4, 2025​

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...-draft-visit-ohio-state-buckeyes-football-nfl

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Monday Discussion: What should the Bengals do with Germaine Pratt?

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Sound off on what the Bengals should do with their starting linebacker.

Greetings, Bengals fans!

For today’s discussion, we’re asking you to let us know what Cincinnati should do with starting linebacker Germaine Pratt. Already a cap casualty candidate, Pratt requested a trade earlier this offseason, so his days in Cincinnati appear to be numbered.

Should the Bengals take the best offer available and send Pratt packing? And if there are no trade offers, should they cut bait now?

Or should the team bring him back in hopes of a resurgence under new defensive coordinator Al Golden?

Let us know your thoughts!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/7/24402770/what-should-bengals-do-with-germaine-pratt

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

A mixed pair of updates on Bengals’ contract talks with Trey Hendrickson: Is a trade still in play?

Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images

Could the Bengals still trade Hendrickson?

This offseason has been busy for the Cincinnati Bengals. They went through a coordinator search and negotiated deals to keep their top two receivers in the Queen City.

Now, they are turning their attention to trying to strike a deal with defensive end Trey Hendrickson.

The last few weeks have been filled with talks of the negotiation stalling, leaving the fanbase and the NFL really trying to figure out where this thing eventually goes.

According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, the Bengals are still pushing to sign their best defensive player.

On an appearance with The Pat McAfee Show, Rapoport spoke about the Bengals’ desire to retain Hendrickson.

“Yeah, it’s a little messy,” Rapoport said. ”I believe the Bengals would like to keep him and pay him and make it work. They are not in the business of letting good players go, so even when they granted him permission to seek a trade, I believe their best option was to sign him and pay him. We’ll see if that happens. I still think it is very, very possible. And if that happens, despite all the mess, it’ll be a really, really good offseason in Cincinnati.”

However, Sportskeeda’s Tony Pauline painted a much different picture in his own Hendrickson update, suggesting a trade was still very much in play if the Bengals spend their first-round pick on an edge rusher.

“Many tell me the Bengals will do exactly that. Take an edge rusher with the 17th pick, and then trade Trey Hendrickson on draft weekend or soon after the seven rounds are completed,” Pauline said.

There seems to still be a long way to go in these talks, but let’s hope the front office can get an extension done and not be forced into trading one of their four best players.

Signing Hendrickson to a long-term extension would put this team in a great position to make a championship run in the coming seasons.

Now we wait and see.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...-bengals-contract-nfl-draft-rumors-cincinnati

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Mel Kiper's 2-round mock draft has Bengals landing standouts from Alabama and Ohio State

Photo by Matthew Pearce/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Bengals have had success drafting Ohio State defensive players before.

Every year, many Cincinnati Bengals fans love to think about which Ohio State Buckeyes prospects could be good fits in stripes.

In 2018, the Bengals drafted Sam Hubbard in the third round of the NFL Draft. Hubbard delivered a solid seven-year career, highlighted by “The Hubbard Yard Dash” in the Bengals win over the Ravens in the Playoffs in January of 2023.

More importantly, Hubbard was a big part of the Bengals’ revival and rebranding as an organization and in the city of Cincinnati, with Zac Taylor resetting the culture in the locker room.

In his latest two-round mock draft, ESPN NFL Draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. has the Bengals drafting Ohio State defensive end JT Tuimoloau 49th overall.

Kiper writes on Tuimoloau: “Regardless of whether Trey Hendrickson stays in Cincinnati, the Bengals have to do something to improve the rest of the pass rush. Tuimoloau — my No. 2 defensive end in the class — had 12.5 sacks and 46 pressures last season.”

Tuimoloau also had 22 tackles for loss last season, playing a key role in the Buckeyes' run to the National Championship. He was a three-time First-Team All-Big Ten selection.

Kiper’s first-round selection for the Bengals is Alabama Crimson Tide linebacker Jihaad Campbell. Kiper calls Campbell “a complete football player.”

In 2024, Campbell had 12 tackles, five sacks, 11.5 tackles for loss, 16 pressures, 12 run stops, an interception, four pass breakups, and two forced fumbles. Sounds like what you want in a linebacker.

Campbell was First-Team All-SEC last season.

The NFL Draft this year could be a weekend where everything comes to a resolution or crescendos. Will the Bengals come to an agreement with star edge rusher Trey Hendrickson? Could they trade him during the NFL Draft?

There’s also the storyline of what’s going to happen with Germaine Pratt. He also requested a trade this offseason. That’s why Campbell would be a smart draft pick for the Bengals.

Either way, this offseason has no shortage of action and activity.

Follow our Twitter page and ‘like’ our Facebook page for more Cincinnati Bengals stuff. Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...2-round-projection-bengals-ohio-state-alabama

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

James Pearce to meet with Bengals this week

Brianna Paciorka/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

Another look at the trenches.

As the 2025 NFL Draft draws near, the Cincinnati Bengals have set up a string of visits with upcoming prospects. After a terrible year on defense in 2024, it is no surprise that Cincinnati is looking at several defenders ahead of draft night, with a focus on the defensive line.

The latest defensive lineman set to meet with Bengals brass is University of Tennessee pass rusher James Pearce Jr., per a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

#Tennessee edge James Pearce Jr. spent yesterday with the #AZCardinals, then he also has visits to #Colts and #Bengals this week. He was with the #Cowboys and #Falcons last week.

— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 8, 2025​

Pearce finished the 2024 season with 7.5 sacks, 38 total tackles, and a forced fumble as the Volunteer defense helped get the team to The College Football Playoff. Pearce also had 9.5 sacks in 2023.

Regardless of what happens between the Bengals and Trey Hendrickson, they need an infusion of pass rush. Former first-rounder Myles Murphy has yet to make an impact, albeit he seemed to be buried under Sam Hubbard on the depth chart since he arrived in Cincinnati.

The Bengals are certainly taking a hard look at multiple defensive linemen before they make their selections later this month, and it appears Pearce could be in play.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/8/24403888/james-pearce-bengals-draft-tennessee-vols-football

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Wednesday Discussion: The minimum you’d accept in a Trey Hendrickson trade

Photo by Lauren Leigh Bacho/Getty Images

If the Bengals trade Trey Hendrickson, what is the absolute minimum they have to get in return?

Happy Hump Day!

For today’s Bengals discussion, we’re asking you to sound off on Trey Hendrickson’s trade value.

In the (hopefully) unlikely event the Bengals deal him, what’s the minimum they’d need to get in a trade package?

Does it have to be at least a first-round pick? Maybe more?

Would you be willing to settle for a Day 2 pick(s)?

Or perhaps you want an impact player and a premium draft pick?

Sound off!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/9/24404442/trey-hendrickson-trade-value-cincinnati-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Will the 2025 Bengals top their 2024 record?

Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images

Will the Bengals top nine wins?

Greetings, Bengals fan!

We’ve got a special Bengals Reacts Survey for this week, as FanDuel Sportsbook has released their 2025 win totals for all 32 NFL teams.

For the Bengals, their win total is set at 9.5 wins. You can bet the over at -125 and the under at +105, so there’s a little more value for picking and winning with the under.

Ironically, the Bengals are coming off a 9-8 season in which all but one of their losses came by one score. It stands to reason that the 2025 Bengals ‘should’ be able to top nine wins if they stay healthy, but the ongoing Trey Hendrickson dispute and lack of any tangible upgrade to the offensive line does make that a bit dicey.

All told, will you over or under 9.5 wins for Cincinnati? Sound off in the poll below and in the comments section!

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NFL. Throughout the year, we ask questions of the most plugged-in Cincinnati Bengals fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys. Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/9/24404648/2025-bengals-top-their-2024-record

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals and Hamilton County release stadium renovation plan while asking state for funding

Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

If the Browns are going to get state funding, the Bengals should too.

The Cincinnati Bengals, along with Hamilton County, have released their potential renovation plans for Paycor Stadium while petitioning the state of Ohio for $350 million to help fund the project, according to The Cincinnati Enquirer.

This seems like the first positive step the two sides have taken together. They’re currently up against a June 30th deadline to sign the first of five rolling two-year lease extensions. If this deadline passes, it means the Bengals could technically play wherever they wanted after the 2026 season. They have, however, stated they wish to stay right where they’re at, it’s just progress between the Brown/Blackburn families and the county has been slow.

As for the $350 million from the state, the current budget, approved by the Ohio House of Representatives, includes $600 million in bonds, which will go to the Browns so they can build a domed stadium. It appears as if the Bengals and the county are trying to get their proposal, which is just over half of Cleveland’s, in the budget before it’s finalized. If it’s included, the two NFL stadiums will be the only two getting funds from the state.

County Commissioner Stephanie Summerow Dumas spoke with The Cincinnati Enquirer on Thursday once they submitted their proposal, and expressed her frustration with the fact the state has earmarked funds for the Browns when the Bengals’ stadium lease is up first.

“My concern is the fact the state budget seems to be focusing more on the Cleveland Browns,” she said. “Our lease ends before theirs. Just wondering why is there so much focus on the Browns. It’s not due to lack of effort on our part.”

This is the first positive step we’ve seen in a while, and hopefully, it’s a step in the right direction that will get the two sides to sign on the dotted line before June 30th.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...ium-renovation-plan-state-funding-ohio-browns

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals News (4/11): Myles Murphy in great shape

Photo by Todd Rosenberg/Getty Images

The Bengals may finally get a payoff for their 2023 first round pick.

Myles Murphy Looks to Take Next Steps
"I feel like I'm in one of the best bodies I've been in for years. Since sophomore year of college," Murphy says. "I ended the season at 282 and three weeks ago I was 265-267. Since then, I've been packing on muscle. Yesterday I weighed myself and I was 274. It's close to last year, but the body fat is different … I feel great … Losing that breakfast … I'm losing that sugar."

Bengals 2025 Mock Draft Roundup 12.0
"Derrick Harmon has solidified himself as a top-25 pick in this year's draft, as he is one of the cleanest prospects at defensive tackle... Harmon can play either defensive tackle spot, and his motor never stops."

2025 NFL Draft Top Defensive Tackle Prospects
The calendar has officially turned to April, meaning all eyes are set on Green Bay, Wis., and the 2025 NFL Draft. Over the next few weeks, we will take a look at some expert breakdowns of the top prospects entering this year's draft, position by position:

County, Bengals request $350M from state for Paycor Stadium
It comes a day after state House lawmakers passed a budget plan that includes a controversial plan to give $600 million in bonds for a new Cleveland Browns stadium. The budget now heads to the state Senate.

Bengals double down on SEC stars in 2-round NFL mock draft
"Walker has been Plan B for a lot of the recent picks, and the Bengals tab the undersized-but-dynamic pass rush option to make a potentially lethal 1-2 punch with Trey Hendrickson off the edge."

Cincinnati Bengals Bring in Iowa Star Kaleb Johnson for Visit Ahead of 2025 NFL Draft
The 21-year-old is Dane Brugler's third-ranked running back in this year's class. He may not make it to the Bengals in the second round. They hold the 49th overall pick.

Bengals Have Trey Hendrickson Problem, Steelers Facing Similar Issue With T.J. Watt
The NFL's sack leader is entering the final year of his deal and wants a new contract. The Bengals gave him permission to seek a trade, but never planned on trading him unless they received a first round pick or more.

Bengals criticized for unexpected free-agency loss
“The Bengals can ill-afford to lose anyone on the offensive line, but they cast Brown adrift after a disappointing season in 2024. The veteran tackle suffered a torn patellar tendon in Week 3 and missed the rest of the season. The Houston Texans signed him to a one-year deal hoping for a bounce-back season. Meanwhile, the Bengals will have to add offensive line help via the draft.”

Bengals NFL draft picks 2025: Full list of Cincinnati’s draft picks for every round - NBC Sports
After reaching Super Bowl LVI in the 2021 season and the AFC Championship Game in the 2022 season, the Bengals have now gone 9-8 and missed the playoffs in each of the past two years. Last season, Joe Burrow led the NFL in both passing yards and passing TDs, Ja’Marr Chase won the receiving Triple Crown (led the league in receptions, receiving yards and receiving TDs) and Trey Hendrickson led the league in sacks. However, the Bengals were unable to overcome a slow start to the season, missing out on the playoffs by one game.

Hamilton County can't keep carrying the Bengals alone | Letter
Hamilton County can no longer afford the Bengals. The Bengals are a Tristate team, and the Tristate should pay to keep them. Ticket holders come from all the surrounding counties, and all the surrounding counties abutting Hamilton County should have a sales tax to help pay for them. A committee should be formed with one representative for each county, and they should handle all things concerning the stadium and Bengals. Hamilton County needs to get out of the pro-sports business. They are in over their heads.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/11/24405811/bengals-news-4-11-myles-murphy-in-great-shape

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Friday Discussion: Next Bengals player to get a long-term deal

Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

Who will be the next Bengal to get a new deal done?

TGIF my Bengals family!

For our final daily discussion this week, we want to know who you believe will be the next Bengals player to get a long-term contract.

With Joe Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins locked up, all eyes are on Trey Hendrickson, but there’s a very real chance the Bengals won’t keep him beyond 2025.

Maybe you still believe that a deal will get done, but if not, who’s next?

Cam Taylor-Britt is entering a contract year, as is Germaine Pratt. The same could be true for Dax Hill if/when his fifth-year option isn’t picked up.

Orlando Brown Jr. is a free agent in 2027, so he’s a sneaky one to watch since he’s Burrow’s blindside protector.

Or, maybe you still believe current free agent Mike Hilton gets a new contract.

Let us know who you think it will be!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/11/24405705/next-bengals-player-to-get-long-term-contract

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals ranked in a good spot of power rankings ahead of the 2025 NFL Draft

Mitch Stringer-Imagn Images

One NFL writer still believes the Bengals are a scary team

Despite a relatively quiet free agency period for the Cincinnati Bengals, one NFL writer believes the team is top-10 and still a scary matchup for anyone to face.

Although the Bengals were relatively quiet this offseason, the team did bring in some key pieces like TJ Slaton, Lucas Patrick, Oren Burks, and Samaje Perine.

The team also retained quite a few pieces like Joseph Ossai, BJ Hill, Mike Gesicki, Cody Ford, and of course, Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase.

With all that being said the team still needs to dominate the upcoming draft with the six selections they currently hold.

Touchdown Wire’s Jarrett Bailey believes the Bengals are still a top-10 team in the NFL, “Anything that can be said about the Chargers with receivers or the Texans with their offensive line can be said about the Bengals’ defense. Good on them for locking down Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins to long-term deals, but if the defense doesn’t get better, it won’t matter. That said, no teams are lining up to have to play that offensive trio of Joe Burrow, Chase, and Higgins.”

It is an incredibly valid point to make, no team wants to play the Bengals even with a defense that has question marks.

The Bengals went out and paid their superstars and kept the best wide receiver duo in the NFL with their franchise quarterback for the next four years.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/12/24404332/bengals-power-rankings-2025-nfl-draft

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals running back in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Friday, April 11, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025
Wednesday, April 9, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/12/24406761/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Ohio State OT Josh Simmons meets with Bengals

Adam Cairns/Columbus Dispatch / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Cincinnati continues with the pre draft meetings

As the 2025 NFL Draft approaches, the Cincinnati Bengals continue with hosting guys they believe they could draft at the end of April.

The Bengals have hosted numerous different players at different positions and most recently brought in Ohio State offensive tackle Josh Simmons, according to Malik Wright.

Simmons is coming off tearing his ACL last season but has tremendous upside once he fully recovers from the injury.

Despite only playing in six games in 2024 he was still named honorable mention all-Big Ten Conference by the league’s coaches.

Prior to his injury, Simmons started 31 consecutive games, 19 starts at left tackle and 13 at right tackle, including the 2022 season at San Diego State.

NFL Draft analyst Lance Zierlein is high on Simmons.

“An athletic tackle prospect with adequate size and length, Simmons has experience starting on both sides. He suffered a season-ending knee injury in mid-October, so his recovery and timetable for return will need to be vetted. He’s a consistently fluid mover both inside the box and when asked to play in space, and he has the slide quickness to compete against NFL edge speed. He’s more positional than powerful in completing his run-blocking tasks, but he can fit into all schemes. Improved hand placement and latch-in strength can help better control opponents in both the run and pass games. Simmons can still be susceptible to twists and counters in pass pro, so he might need a year to continue honing his craft in that area before he is ready to take on NFL pocket hunters.”

Simmons is still projected to be a first-round selection, according to Zierlein, despite the knee injury.

Could the Bengals look to draft Simmons at 17 and move him to guard? We will see.

Josh Simmons has a polished game. Highest pass-block efficiency in the class per PFF pic.twitter.com/mX1SZVgAq7

— Billy M (@BillyM_91) April 10, 2025​

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...ns-bengals-ohio-state-buckeyes-nfl-draft-2025

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals defensive end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Saturday, April 12, 2025
Friday, April 11, 2025
Thursday, April 10, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/13/24407332/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Can you guess this Bengals tight end in today’s in-5 trivia game?

Think you can figure out which Bengals player we’re talking about? You’ll get five clues to figure him out in our new guessing game!

Hey Bengals fans! We’re back for another day of the Cincy Jungle in-5 daily trivia game. Game instructions are at the bottom if you’re new to the game! Feel free to share your results in the comments and feedback in this Google Form.

If you can’t see the embedded game and you’re using Apple News, click this link.

Previous games​

Sunday, April 13, 2025
Saturday, April 12, 2025
Friday, April 11, 2025

Play more SB Nation in-5 trivia games​

NFL in-5
MLB in-5
MMA in-5

Cincy Jungle in-5 instructions​

The goal of the game is to guess the correct Bengals player with the help of up to five clues. We’ll mix in BOTH ACTIVE AND RETIRED PLAYERS. It won’t be easy to figure it out in one or two guesses, but some of you might be able to nail it.

After you correctly guess the player, you can click “Share Results” to share how you did down in the comments and on social media. We won’t go into other details about the game as we’d like your feedback on it. How it plays, what you think of it, the difficulty level, and anything else you can think of that will help us improve this game. You can provide feedback in the comments of this article, or you can fill out this Google Form.

Who Dey!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/14/24407964/sb-nation-bengals-daily-trivia-in-5

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Bengals host potential first-round pick Josh Conerly Jr.

PPhoto by Ric Tapia/Getty Images

Defense is important, but so is keeping Joe Burroe upright.

The Cincinnati Bengals appear to know their weaknesses going into the draft. Just about every position on defense needs an upgrade or depth, and the offensive line needs some attention in the interior and some additional depth.

One name to watch now is Oregon Ducks left tackle Josh Conerly Jr.

According to Jordan Schultz, the Bengals hosted Conerly for a visit on Monday.

Right now, Conerly is predicted to go in the first round, and some projections have him going before pick No. 17. He is a bit more undersized than what you envision a tackle to be in the NFL (especially by Cincinnati's 6-foot-8 standards). He sits at 6-foot-4 and 311 pounds.

The fact that he was a 5-star recruit and is now seen as a top tackle in this draft says a lot about his talent beyond his missteps. He understands twists and blitz concepts at a high level and rarely gets fooled. He has incredible athletic ability to get where he needs to be, and he has great angles to boot.

Conerly has some fixable issues with hand placement and footwork. What could determine how close he gets to his high ceiling is how much he can increase his strength or learn to deal with that deficit at the next level.

You can kind of tell the Bengals may be planning to possibly slot a tackle in at guard to eventually kick them out to left tackle if Orlando Brown Jr. gets injured or for when his contract is up if they aren't able to retain him.

That lack of strength would get tested very early inside at guard, and it certainly doesn't seem like an ideal plan for Conerly. Still, if he gets a bit stronger, he could very well be a great long-term plan at left tackle.

The Bengals really need to start hitting on these draft picks to take advantage of the rookie deals now that they have to pay the likes of Joe Burrow, Ja'Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins. It cuts a bit down on their budget to supplement with outside free agents as often.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/14/24408321/josh-conerly-jr-oregon-ducks-first-round-pick-bengals

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

ESPN 3-round mock draft looks like a dream scenario for Bengals

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A stud defensive tackle and an emotional leader from the Buckeyes National Championship Team were selected in this NFL Mock Draft.

It’s becoming clear the Cincinnati Bengals are likely to target the defensive line in next week’s NFL Draft. Not only that, but the Bengals may have a defensive-heavy draft.

Getting younger is a huge priority for the Bengals' defense this season. There are some young players on that side of the ball with untapped potential, and it will be up to new defensive coordinator Al Golden and his new coaching staff to get the most out of the Bengals' young defensive players.

In Tuesday’s mock draft from ESPN Draft Analysts Mel Kiper Jr. and Field Yates, the Bengals selected a defensive player in each of the first three rounds.

At No. 17 overall in this Mock Draft, the Bengals select Ole Miss defensive tackle Walter Nolen.

On Nolen, Yates writes: “The Bengals have a number of defensive options to consider, as the team could plausibly spend its entire draft on that side of the ball, and I wouldn’t bat an eye. That unit struggled in 2024, giving up 25.5 points per game. Nolen is a disruptive interior rusher, and his best snaps show pure dominance. Finding more consistency would unlock another level of his game.”

Nolen is ranked No. 31 in The Athletic’s Dane Brugler’s annual NFL Draft Guide “The Beast.” He’s the No. 4 defensive tackle, coming off a season where he was a consensus All-American at Ole Miss.

Brugler writes, “Overall, Nolen has areas of his game that require maturing, but he flashes big-time disruption in his initial burst and fast, physical hands to regularly affect the backfield action. He will be attractive for NFL teams looking for an active gap-shooter with high-end upside.”

Yates was back on the clock at No. 49, and he has the Bengals selecting Notre Dame safety Xavier Watts.

On Watts, Yates writes: “Another defensive contributor for the Bengals. Watts’ 13 picks over the past two seasons were the most in the FBS in that time.”

Having a ball hawk like Watts would be an element the Bengals secondary hasn’t had since... The Swat Team? Reggie Nelson? Jessie Bates III?

Watts is the No. 3 safety in Brugler’s “The Beast." He was a two-time All-American at Notre Dame and a key part of the Fighting Irish’s run to the College Football Playoff National Championship this past season.

Finally, Yates was up at pick No. 81 in Round Three, where he has the Bengals drafting Ohio State edge rusher Jack Sawyer.

Yates writes, “Yes, more defense! The Bengals can get pass-rush insurance in case Trey Hendrickson leaves — or more pass-rush support for him if he sticks around. Sawyer is tough and powerful.”

Bengals fans know Sawyer for his scoop-and-score against Texas in the College Football Playoff Semifinal this past January, reminiscent of Sam Hubbard’s “Fumble in the Jungle” in the Playoffs in January of 2023.

Brugler has Sawyer ranked as the No. 11 edge rusher, and he references a comparison to Kansas City Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis when he writes “Similar in ways to George Karlaftis, he has the competitive play personality that NFL coaches will welcome as part of their rotation.” Karlaftis was selected by the Chiefs 30th overall in 2022, one pick before the Bengals drafted safety Dax Hill.

From what Yates wrote about his three Bengals draft selections in this mock draft, don’t be surprised if the Bengals attack this draft with a heavy emphasis on defense.

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...-draft-espn-dream-scenario-bengals-ohio-state

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

2025 NFL Draft Prospect Profile: Texas A&M Defensive Lineman Nic Scourton

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The Bengals love maximizing their roster with versatile players and Nic Scourton fits that bill. There are questions on production ebbs and flows, but his getting back to his early playing weight for the NFL bodes well for past production.

The 2025 Cincinnati Bengals’ defense needs work. After being a major catalyst in the team’s epic run in 2021 and 2022, a lethal combination of free agency attrition, aging players, and low returns on draft picks has taken a toll on that side of the ball.

The prevailing belief is that the team will address its defensive line early—and potentially often—in a couple of weeks, and it appears to be a deep class to do so. Whether it’s an interior lineman to give more bite to the middle of the line or athletic edge defenders, Cincinnati should be able to get immediate returns from these high picks.

One player who could catch the eyes of Cincinnati’s staff is Nic Scourton. The junior experienced several twists and turns during his three-year collegiate career, and teams are hoping he’ll return to the form he showed during his standout sophomore season, rather than what they saw in 2024 as a junior.

Nic Scourton​

• Height: 6’2 1/2”
• Weight: 257
• Age: 21 (22 upon season starting)
• Year: Junior
• Hometown: Timpson, Texas
• RAS:

Background​

Scourton was a sought-after recruit coming out of high school, playing in the 2022 All-American Bowl. After flashing for scouts as a junior and senior, he went on to play for Purdue.

He saw the field right away for the Boilermakers, racking up 22 tackles and two sacks as a freshman. He followed that with an outstanding sophomore season, leading the Big Ten Conference with 10 sacks in 2023, along with 50 total tackles (15 for loss) and three passes defended.

Given his early career production, Scourton entered the transfer portal to boost his draft visibility and opted for Texas A&M. While he hoped for a breakout season, his numbers saw a noticeable drop—likely due to schematic differences in how the Aggies used him compared to his role at Purdue.

Playing a blend of roles as a junior, Scourton still managed to notch five sacks and 14 tackles for loss in 2024.

Strengths and Weaknesses​

Scourton’s versatility can’t be overlooked. While he excelled in an outside linebacker/edge role at Purdue, he also embraced the role Texas A&M’s coaches asked of him, playing more along the defensive line. Although he still played 500 of his 558 total snaps from the edge last year (down from 677 edge snaps in 2023), he was tasked with being more of a run defender than he was at Purdue.

Last year, Scourton bulked up to 280 pounds to meet the demands of the Aggies’ defensive scheme. Because of the added weight and positional shift, his stats took a hit.

However, his knack for making tackles behind the line of scrimmage didn’t waver much year over year. It’s that ability as an all-around disruptor—whether in quarterback sacks, tackles for loss, or passes defended (five over the past two seasons combined)—that has scouts excited about his potential.

Scourton appears to have committed to playing as a true edge rusher in the pre-draft process, as indicated by his weigh-in at around 260 pounds. That will appeal to teams, though questions may still linger about how to best utilize his skill set at the next level.

Outlook​

Scourton is one of the most intriguing defensive players in this class. Did the transition to Texas A&M stunt his development in a way that will lead to a steeper NFL learning curve, or will he be able to adapt with relative ease due to his youth and college track record?

Whatever his NFL role may be, Scourton has proven to be a frustrating matchup for opposing offenses. Most pundits have him ranked within the top seven edge defenders in this year’s class, though he likely would have been higher if not for the weight fluctuation.

It will be interesting to see not only when he gets selected during draft weekend, but also which coaching staff takes a chance on him, given his unique college journey.

This episode is brought you in part by FOCO, the “Fans Only Company. One of their upcoming releases is a very special one, not only because of the players featured, but in the fact that it is a limited release of only 75 in production. Check out the Ja’Marr Chase/Carl Pickens Rookie of the Year bobblehead for pre-release purchase here.

You can also check out exclusive videos only on our YouTube channel. One recent one is a chronicle of Sam Hubbard’s career with the Bengals.

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Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/...-prospect-profile-texas-a-m-defensive-lineman

 

[Cincinnati Bengals]

Wednesday Discussion: Favorite defensive end prospect for the Bengals

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Tennessee’s James Pearce is among the top edge prospects likely to be on the board when the Bengals go on the clock.

We’re now just one week away from the Cincinnati Bengals kicking off their 2025 NFL Draft class with the 17th overall pick.

As it stands, the ‘favorite’ for that selection is likely a defensive end, being that Trey Hendrickson’s future remains murky at best, and Joseph Ossai is also entering a contract year, while Myles Murphy has yet to prove he’s a full-time starter in this league.

So, if the Bengals do go with an edge rusher at 17, who do you like the most (assuming Abdul Carter is off the board)?

Sound off!

Source: https://www.cincyjungle.com/2025/4/16/24409208/nfl-draft-favorite-defensive-end-prospect-bengals