Title: The Worst of the 2025 Draft: The Bengals Have No Plan
The 2025 NFL Draft has come and gone, leaving a trail of excitement, anticipation, and in some cases, utter bewilderment. One team that has left fans and analysts scratching their heads is the Cincinnati Bengals. Their approach to the draft was, to put it mildly, perplexing. It seems that the Bengals have no clear plan for their future, and this lack of strategy was glaringly evident in their 2025 draft performance.
The Bengals entered the draft with a myriad of needs to address. They had gaping holes in their offensive line, a lack of depth at wide receiver, and a defense that was one of the worst in the league last season. Yet, their draft choices did little to address these pressing issues.
In the first round, they selected a quarterback, despite having Joe Burrow, who is still in his prime and has shown flashes of brilliance when healthy. This move was puzzling, to say the least. While it’s always good to have a backup plan, using a first-round pick on a position that is not an immediate need is questionable. It would have been more prudent to bolster their offensive line or add a dynamic wide receiver to give Burrow more options.
In the subsequent rounds, the Bengals continued to make baffling decisions. They picked up a couple of defensive players who were projected to go in the later rounds, overlooking higher-rated prospects. They also drafted another quarterback in the fourth round, further compounding the confusion about their plans for the position.
Perhaps the most glaring issue was their failure to address their offensive line until the fifth round. This is a unit that allowed 48 sacks last season, third-most in the league. Yet, they waited until most of the top offensive line prospects were off the board before attempting to address this critical need.
The Bengals’ approach to the 2025 draft seems to lack a coherent strategy. Their picks do not align with their most pressing needs, and they appear to be stockpiling quarterbacks for no apparent reason. This has left many fans and analysts wondering what their plan is moving forward.
Of course, it’s possible that the Bengals see something that the rest of us don’t. Maybe they have a grand plan that will become clear in time. But as of now, their draft strategy seems misguided at best and disastrous at worst.
The Bengals have a talented core with players like Joe Burrow and Ja’Marr Chase. They have the potential to be a competitive team in the AFC North. But to reach that potential, they need a clear, focused plan. The 2025 draft was an opportunity to take a step in the right direction. Unfortunately, it seems like they took a step back instead.
In conclusion, the Cincinnati Bengals’ performance in the 2025 NFL Draft leaves much to be desired. Their lack of a clear plan and failure to address key needs has left them in a precarious position. It’s going to be interesting to see how this plays out in the upcoming season. One thing is for sure – they have a lot of work to do if they want to compete with the top teams in the league.