After a hugely disappointing 2024 season, the Cincinnati Bengals head into a pivotal offseason for the franchise.

The Bengals are at a crossroads, and whether they follow the path they too often have taken or approach it with the vigor franchise quarterback Joe Burrow has pleaded for them to will likely define the next decade in Cincinnati.

Regardless of the path taken, the Bengals have a great chance to retool in the draft after falling short of the playoffs last season. With the 17th overall selection, both day two picks, and six picks in total, this is the 2025 NFL Draft outlook for the Cincinnati Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals Needs & Draft Strategy

Despite the Cincinnati Bengals ending last year outside of the postseason and the looming roster-crunch decisions, they don’t enter the draft with an outsized number of needs. In recent years, Bengals czar Duke Tobin has drafted well by targeting pedigree and production. In 2025, I would expect a similar strategy.

Despite all the public pressure Joe Burrow’s applied on the front office to re-sign wide receiver Tee Higgins, it’s likely the ball-winning wideout will play elsewhere next year. That makes it imperative that the Bengals replace him with a quality starting receiver to play opposite Ja’Marr Chase.

As a rookie, Jermaine Burton was an outright disaster, while sophomore Andrei Iosivas fits as a part-time player. The duo, slated behind Chase and Higgins, combined for 40 catches, 586 yards, and six scores last year. They cannot adequately replace Higgins as an individual or as a duo, who, even in a down 2024, totaled 73 catches, 911 yards, and 10 touchdowns.

For as long as Burrow and Chase are on the roster, the passing game has to be the Bengals’ strength. This offseason, that means replacing Higgins.

With that notion in mind, Cincinnati’s second-biggest need is at tight end. It was the latest team to talk itself into the absurd athleticism of Mike Gesicki and the latest team to be underwhelmed by the result. The former Dolphin and Patriot posted 65 catches and 665 yards in his first season with the Bengals but remains a part-time player without the physicality to be a full-time starter.

Behind Gesicki, Erick All flashed promise – with 20 catches for 158 yards in nine games – but the latest in a long line of injuries for the rookie means his career is unlikely to ever live up to expectation. A reliable, full-time tight end who can play in line and win over the middle would be a boost to Burrow’s offense.

Cincinnati’s third pressing need is found on the other side of the ball, at safety. While it has multiple exciting young corners, no such long-term solution is found at safety. Last year, veterans Geno Stone and Vonn Bell manned the backend. While Stone was decently productive, neither were game-changers, as the pair combined for eight pass breakups and five picks.

The change at defensive coordinator will help improve the Bengals’ defense in 2025, but a talent upgrade is also needed. Last year, the team allowed the 11th-highest yards per attempt through the air. With Burrow at the helm, the team will frequently play with a lead, stressing the need for quality secondary play.

Potential Cincinnati Bengals Draft Picks 2025

While Tee Higgins’ truly elite level of one on one ball-winning and contested catch ability is difficult to replace, the Cincinnati Bengals can at least find a wide receiver with a similar skill set.

After the top couple of receivers, a few prospects would seamlessly slide into the Bengals’ offense opposite Ja’Marr Chase. Ohio State’s Emeka Egbuka would be the ideal choice, with plenty of experience enabling him to make an immediate impact on a contender like Cincinnati.

Behind the former Buckeye, Mississippi’s Tre Harris profiles as a vertical receiver with great ball-winning ability, like Higgins. Though not as strong of prospects, the same could be said for TCU’s Savion Williams, Illinois’s Pat Bryant, and Stanford’s Elic Ayomanor.

At tight end, the Bengals are likely to see the draft’s premier prospect, Tyler Warren, gone before pick 17. Michigan’s Colston Loveland, however, would be a worthy first round pick and bring a bit more physicality than Warren, albeit with less upside. From a day two perspective, LSU’s Mason Taylor is similar to Loveland but has a lower ceiling.

At safety, the Bengals will seek out size and physicality, with AFC North opponents forcing defensive backs to fill against the run. On the second day of the draft, a quartet of safeties stand out and are likely to be available between their picks in rounds two and three: Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, Oklahoma’s Billy Bowman Jr., Penn State’s Kevin Winston Jr., and Iowa’s Sebastian Castro.