Bengals mock draft 0.5: Setting the table with an infusion for Al Golden's defense

The Bengals have piles of influential business on their desk with the free-agent status of Tee Higgins, extension negotiations with Trey Hendrickson, potentially making JaMarr Chase the highest-paid non-quarterback in the NFL and fixing a defense that kept an MVP season from Joe Burrow out of the playoffs.

Advertisement In addition, they must gauge a feel for how this draft stacks up and the path they could chart when it kicks off in 69 days.

The NFL Scouting Combine is two weeks away and coaches will start being folded into the conversation.

The needs and outlook will change dramatically in the coming weeks, so understand this is a wildly flawed exercise, but lets look anyway at how the Bengals could use their current draft assets to fill the needs on their offseason checklist.

Latest Growler w/ @GeoffHobsonCin : On Duke Tobin's tone in Mobile, #Bengals nuggets from NOLA and inside Willie Anderson's evolving case for the HOF.

"Sounds like a guy ready to make a deal." : https://t.co/CsRcgF1ti2 : https://t.co/wKs4rrtiAr pic.twitter.com/d2zS23uBwq Paul Dehner Jr.

(@pauldehnerjr) February 13, 2025 Im calling this version 0.5 because it shouldnt be on the record as the official first mock draft, but merely a rough draft for a situation certain to change dramatically in the coming weeks.

Im also obsessed with the mock draft culture protocol where everyone must use 1.0, 2.0, etc., but never utilizes the decimal point.

If we arent going to use the decimal, why is it there? Why are we slaves to the structure? Just call it Mock Draft 1 or Mock Draft A.

You dont have to conform and become lemmings of what Big Draft wants you to be! Moving on, Ill use Dane Bruglers top 100 rankings as a guide and I wont choose any player ranked 10 percent higher in his rankings than the Bengals projected picks (compensatory picks have not been distributed yet to complete the draft order).

After that, dont focus as much on the names as the position groups to guide the types of spots Cincinnati would be looking to fill on Day 3.

Round 1 (17): Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon As Brugler says, there wasnt a more disruptive defensive tackle in college football this year.

That sentence should sound like the chorus of angels in the Cincinnati Bengals draft room.

They desperately need a disruptive interior defender like they need air.

Perhaps they take an aggressive approach in free agency, but either way, theyll be dependent on a premium pick making a difference with last years second-rounder Kris Jenkins and third-rounder McKinnley Jackson taking a Year 2 leap.

Harmon plays like an AFC North defensive tackle.

Hes not the most physically dominant player on the interior, but he skillfully finds ways to muck up every snap.

Immediately plug Harmon into a three-technique rotation with Jenkins and hope he grows into and beyond the next BJ Hill.

GO DEEPER Bengals front office under the microscope in pivotal offseason: Dehner Jr.

mailbag Round 2 (49): Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame Make this 108th out of 2,922 mock drafts that connect Watts to the Bengals.

Cincinnati has been trying to solve its safety problem since the moment Jessie Bates walked out the door to Atlanta.

Now, Watts defensive coordinator in South Bend, Al Golden, is directing the Bengals defense.

Its almost too easy.

Advertisement Watts is a two-time All-American and one of the most decorated defenders in Notre Dame history.

He picked off 13 passes and didnt allow a touchdown reception over the last two seasons.

Hes not going to leave jaws dropped at the combine as an average athlete for the position in the NFL, but his knack for finding the ball, taking the right angles and being in the right place at the right time leap off the film.

If Golden wants to establish a tone and level of trust with his young players, there are few options that fit better than Watts, who you could easily see starting on opening day.

Cincinnati must decide on last years free agent signing at safety, Geno Stone.

They can save $6.5 million against the cap by letting him go.

If they do cut ties with him, the chance that a match with Watts rises exponentially in this spot.

Round 3 (80): Princely Umanmielen, edge, Ole Miss This spot lends itself to the Bengals taking advantage of the drafts rare defensive line depth.

If they went with an edge in the first round, then one of the many defensive tackles ranked in this range would have more allure, and vice versa.

Eight of the 21 prospects Brugler ranks between 71 and 92 are defensive linemen here.

Golden will have an opportunity to land the type of young player he seeks to build around in this draft and this will be a spot to pick what trait he most desires.

There will be flaws in any of the remaining pass rushers, but Goldens voice can hold particular weight in this spot to point out what he values over other traits.

In Umanmielens case, finding a player with bend off the edge to get after the passer sounds like a great place to start and would create instant competition for 2023 first-round pick Myles Murphy.

GO DEEPER A 10-step path to Super Bowl 60: How the Bengals can get back to the big game Round 4 (118): Luke Kandra, OG, Cincinnati Why not stay home? The Cincinnati product can shift from Nippert Stadium to Paycor Stadium filling a major need for the Bengals.

The Bengals will be looking to finally add a mid-round prospect who sticks at guard.

They got close with Cordell Volson (R4, 2022) but he was benched last year after two-plus years as a starter.

They need to add another guard to mix to compete with a position that will also likely see a starter added in free agency.

Advertisement Round 5 (154): Damien Martinez, RB, Miami The Bengals have Chase Brown and a series of unknowns at running back.

Brown will be expected to take the vast majority of the snaps and look for a free agent to land in Cincinnati if they opt to move on from Zack Moss (neck).

That said, they need to find another young player to be the next Brown, a 2023 fifth-round pick out of Illinois.

Martinez also brings a different body type at 6-foot, 230 pounds.

Cincinnati didnt have a big-body back on the roster last year and this one is coming off back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons first at Oregon State and then at Miami.

GO DEEPER Bengals positional priority draft big board: Pinpointing needs and targets Round 6 (195): Cody Simon, LB, Ohio State Golden will need to add depth at linebacker with turnover at that position even if they bring back Joe Bachie and Akeem Davis-Gaither.

They could use a draft pick to make a quick impact on special teams, a proven ability to hold their own at linebacker and potentially develop into more down the line.

This pick could go any direction, as is typically the case late in Day 3, but a linebacker is among the most likely of the targeted positions.

(Top photo of Derrick Harmon: Steve Dykes / Getty Images).

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