We Need to Trade Back

[NATI BENGALS]

   
6 Picks isn't enough. We have a ton of roster building to do. With big money due to Trey and Chase and Tee. It's going to be hard to find money for a lot of outside free agent help. And we have a lot of free agents 13+.
I'm smelling a trade back year.
Hopefully we can hit the jackpot like I did with the Jets being dumb in that mock. 

[Luvnit2]

I have been playing around with mock drafts, and I agree we need to find trade partners to move down in round 1 as many times as needed to get more high-end picks.

If we can maneuver with multiple trades to around pick 30, these guys may be there:

Booker - Guard Alabama
Grant - DT Michigan
Harmon - DT Michigan
Savaiinaea - OT/G Arizona

There are others as well, but these 4 seem to constantly be available.

[*ochocincos*]

While I can get on board with trading back, I don't really want it to be trading back in Rd 3 for extra Day 3 picks.
Day 3 picks are basically lottery picks or purely backup/ST guys who people really don't get excited about.

I want as many impactful Year 1 players as possible, and those tend to happen much more on Day 1 and Day 2.

[SunsetBengal]

(02-05-2025, 03:29 PM)ochocincos Wrote: While I can get on board with trading back, I don't really want it to be trading back in Rd 3 for extra Day 3 picks.
Day 3 picks are basically lottery picks or purely backup/ST guys who people really don't get excited about.

I want as many impactful Year 1 players as possible, and those tend to happen much more on Day 1 and Day 2.

Say no more. I ran this one with a trade, shortly after Nati Bengals posted this one. I gave #17 and #154 for #27, #59 and #128. I think I got pretty fair quality from the picks.

[*ochocincos*]

(02-05-2025, 05:49 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Say no more. I ran this one with a trade, shortly after Nati Bengals posted this one. I gave #17 and #154 for #27, #59 and #128. I think I got pretty fair quality from the picks.

What I'm also personally in favor of is trading early picks in 2026/2027 for extra 2025 picks.
Bengals need to win now and have a lot of guys hitting FA this offseason or next.
Stack the draft and build your new core ASAP.

[SunsetBengal]

(02-05-2025, 08:17 PM)ochocincos Wrote: What I'm also personally in favor of is trading early picks in 2026/2027 for extra 2025 picks.
Bengals need to win now and have a lot of guys hitting FA this offseason or next.
Stack the draft and build your new core ASAP.

I take it you didn't care for the picks that were good value at my slots?

[pulses]

(02-05-2025, 05:49 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: Say no more. I ran this one with a trade, shortly after Nati Bengals posted this one. I gave #17 and #154 for #27, #59 and #128. I think I got pretty fair quality from the picks.

Not bad but don't care for that WR. If I was gonna draft a bigger WR to take a chance on it'd be Roc Taylor 6'3 215 with 33 7/8 arms and runs 4.4's

[TecmoBengals]

I'm not posting anything brilliant, but trading back doesn't appeal to me because it just means Duke has more picks to mess up.

[SunsetBengal]

(02-06-2025, 10:13 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I'm not posting anything brilliant, but trading back doesn't appeal to me because it just means Duke has more picks to mess up.

Perhaps, but with the coaching staff turnover they have also introduced some new voices into the discussion.

[coachmcneil71]

I'm usually not a fan of trading back, but this is probably a good year to do so. It should allow us to possibly get two impactful players early. As has been mentioned, the DE, DT, and LB positions are pretty deep in this class. Could get a couple of solid D-linemen, or perhaps an offensive weapon falls. A mauling IOL can be considered a weapon from my viewpoint.  

Definitely a draft to consider trading back imo.

[Luvnit2]

(02-06-2025, 10:13 AM)TecmoBengals Wrote: I'm not posting anything brilliant, but trading back doesn't appeal to me because it just means Duke has more picks to mess up.

I would argue there are only 10 to 12 can't miss #1 picks in the draft. I would say tier 2 has 30 players who likely succeed in the NFL. My point is if we stay put at 17, good chance we miss on 1st round pick, so risk is worth it to trade down and get additional picks like we saw with the Sunset mock above in this thread.

Of course, never easy to find a trade partner.

[Luvnit2]

Here is my mock, sorry to real tech savvy. i made trade downs 2x in round 1. It also has a list of 1st 3 rounds so you can see who was available when I drafted. I also walked away with all our picks in 2026 and added more picks in 2026.
Trade Recap
Cincinnati Receives:
2025: Round 1, Pick 23
2025: Round 2, Pick 54
2026: Round 4
Green Bay Receives:
2025: Round 1, Pick 17
Cincinnati Receives:
2025: Round 1, Pick 29
2025: Round 3, Pick 79
2026: Round 5
2026: Round 7
Washington Receives:
2025: Round 1, Pick 23
Cincinnati Receives:

2025: Round 6, Pick 198
2025: Round 7, Pick 227
2026: Round 6
Detroit Receives:
2025: Round 6, Pick 195
My Selections
29Bengals Logo
Walter NolenDL | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE
49Bengals Logo
Jack SawyerEDGE | Ohio State LogoOhio State
54Bengals Logo
Jonah SavaiinaeaIOL | Arizona LogoArizonaTRADE
79Bengals Logo
Tate RatledgeIOL | Georgia LogoGeorgiaTRADE
81Bengals Logo
Quinshon JudkinsRB | Ohio State LogoOhio State
118Bengals Logo
Dorian StrongCB | Virginia Tech LogoVirginia Tech
154Bengals Logo
Tai FeltonWR | Maryland LogoMaryland

198Bengals Logo
Cody LindenbergLB | Minnesota LogoMinnesotaTRADE
227Bengals Logo
Jalen RiversOT | Miami (FL) LogoMiami (FL)TRADE
Round 1
1Titans Logo
Cameron WardQB | Miami (FL) LogoMiami (FL)
2Browns Logo
Shedeur SandersQB | Colorado LogoColorado
3Giants Logo
Jaxson DartQB | Mississippi LogoMississippi
4Patriots Logo
Kelvin BanksOT | Texas LogoTexas
5Jaguars Logo
Mason GrahamDL | Michigan LogoMichigan
6Raiders Logo
Tetairoa McMillanWR | Arizona LogoArizona
7Jets Logo
James Pearce Jr.EDGE | Tennessee LogoTennessee
8Panthers Logo
Travis HunterCB | Colorado LogoColorado
9Saints Logo
Abdul CarterEDGE | Penn State LogoPenn State
10Bears Logo
Mykel WilliamsEDGE | Georgia LogoGeorgia
1149ers Logo
Will CampbellOT | LSU LogoLSU
12Cowboys Logo
Emeka EgbukaWR | Ohio State LogoOhio State
13Dolphins Logo
Malaki StarksS | Georgia LogoGeorgia
14Colts Logo
Will JohnsonCB | Michigan LogoMichigan
15Falcons Logo
Shemar StewartEDGE | Texas A&M LogoTexas A&M
16Cardinals Logo
Nic ScourtonEDGE | Texas A&M LogoTexas A&M
17Packers Logo
Jahdae BarronCB | Texas LogoTexasTRADE
18Seahawks Logo
Tyler BookerIOL | Alabama LogoAlabama
19Buccaneers Logo
Matthew GoldenWR | Texas LogoTexas
20Broncos Logo
Ashton JeantyRB | Boise State LogoBoise State
21Steelers Logo
Luther BurdenWR | Missouri LogoMissouri
22Chargers Logo
Tyler WarrenTE | Penn State LogoPenn State
23Commanders Logo
Armand MembouOT | Missouri LogoMissouriTRADE
24Vikings Logo
Tyleik WilliamsDL | Ohio State LogoOhio State
25Texans Logo
Jalon WalkerEDGE | Georgia LogoGeorgia
26Rams Logo
Jihaad CampbellLB | Alabama LogoAlabama
27Ravens Logo
Josh SimmonsOT | Ohio State LogoOhio State
28Lions Logo
Donovan JacksonIOL | Ohio State LogoOhio State
29Bengals Logo
Walter NolenDL | Mississippi LogoMississippiTRADE
30Bills Logo
Colston LovelandTE | Michigan LogoMichigan
31Eagles Logo
Kenneth GrantDL | Michigan LogoMichigan
32Chiefs Logo
Derrick HarmonDL | Oregon LogoOregon

Round 2
33Browns Logo
Donovan EzeiruakuEDGE | Boston College LogoBoston College
34Giants Logo
Princely UmanmielenEDGE | Mississippi LogoMississippi
35Titans Logo
Wyatt MilumOT | West Virginia LogoWest Virginia
36Jaguars Logo
Benjamin MorrisonCB | Notre Dame LogoNotre Dame
37Raiders Logo
Omarion HamptonRB | North Carolina LogoNorth Carolina
38Patriots Logo
J.T. TuimoloauEDGE | Ohio State LogoOhio State
39Bears Logo
T.J. SandersDL | South Carolina LogoSouth Carolina
40Saints Logo
Azareye'h ThomasCB | Florida State LogoFlorida State
41Bears Logo
Mike GreenEDGE | Marshall LogoMarshall
42Jets Logo
Xavier WattsS | Notre Dame LogoNotre Dame
4349ers Logo
Shavon Revel Jr.CB | East Carolina LogoEast Carolina
44Cowboys Logo
Josh Conerly Jr.OT | Oregon LogoOregon
45Colts Logo
Landon JacksonEDGE | Arkansas LogoArkansas
46Falcons Logo
Nick EmmanworiS | South Carolina LogoSouth Carolina
47Cardinals Logo
Isaiah BondWR | Texas LogoTexas
48Dolphins Logo
Emery Jones Jr.OT | LSU LogoLSU
49Bengals Logo
Jack SawyerEDGE | Ohio State LogoOhio State
50Seahawks Logo
Jalen MilroeQB | Alabama LogoAlabama
51Broncos Logo
Deone WalkerDL | Kentucky LogoKentucky
52Steelers Logo
Aireontae ErseryOT | Minnesota LogoMinnesota
53Buccaneers Logo
Trey AmosCB | Mississippi LogoMississippi
54Bengals Logo
Jonah SavaiinaeaIOL | Arizona LogoArizonaTRADE
55Chargers Logo
Xavier RestrepoWR | Miami (FL) LogoMiami (FL)
56Bills Logo
Darien PorterCB | Iowa State LogoIowa State
57Panthers Logo
Shemar TurnerDL | Texas A&M LogoTexas A&M
58Texans Logo
Cameron WilliamsOT | Texas LogoTexas
59Ravens Logo
Jayden HigginsWR | Iowa State LogoIowa State
60Lions Logo
Grey ZabelIOL | North Dakota State LogoNorth Dakota State
61Commanders Logo
Jared IveyEDGE | Mississippi LogoMississippi
62Bills Logo
Tre HarrisWR | Mississippi LogoMississippi
63Eagles Logo
Elic AyomanorWR | Stanford LogoStanford
64Chiefs Logo
Maxwell HairstonCB | Kentucky LogoKentucky

Round 3
65Giants Logo
Alfred CollinsDL | Texas LogoTexas
66Chiefs Logo
Jack BechWR | TCU LogoTCU
67Browns Logo
Joshua FarmerDL | Florida State LogoFlorida State
68Raiders Logo
Dillon GabrielQB | Oregon LogoOregon
69Patriots Logo
Lander BartonLB | Utah LogoUtah
70Jaguars Logo
Charles GrantIOL | William & Mary LogoWilliam & Mary
71Saints Logo
Elijah ArroyoTE | Miami (FL) LogoMiami (FL)
72Bears Logo
Lathan RansomS | Ohio State LogoOhio State
73Raiders Logo
Saivion JonesEDGE | LSU LogoLSU
74Panthers Logo
Mason TaylorTE | LSU LogoLSU
7549ers Logo
Barrett CarterLB | Clemson LogoClemson
76Cowboys Logo
Kyle KennardEDGE | South Carolina LogoSouth Carolina
77Patriots Logo
Darius AlexanderDL | Toledo LogoToledo
78Cardinals Logo
Ty HamiltonDL | Ohio State LogoOhio State
79Bengals Logo
Tate RatledgeIOL | Georgia LogoGeorgiaTRADE
80Colts Logo
Harold Fannin Jr.TE | Bowling Green LogoBowling Green
81Bengals Logo
Quinshon JudkinsRB | Ohio State LogoOhio State
82Seahawks Logo
Marcus MbowIOL | Purdue LogoPurdue
83Steelers Logo
Quinn EwersQB | Texas LogoTexas
84Buccaneers Logo
Kaleb JohnsonRB | Iowa LogoIowa
85Broncos Logo
Omarr Norman-LottDL | Tennessee LogoTennessee
86Chargers Logo
TreVeyon HendersonRB | Ohio State LogoOhio State
87Packers Logo
Tory HortonWR | Colorado State LogoColorado State
88Jaguars Logo
Josaiah StewartEDGE | Michigan LogoMichigan
89Texans Logo
Will HowardQB | Ohio State LogoOhio State
90Rams Logo
Nohl WilliamsCB | California LogoCalifornia
91Ravens Logo
Jordan BurchDL | Oregon LogoOregon
92Jets Logo
Jordan PhillipsDL | Maryland LogoMaryland
93Saints Logo
Earnest GreeneOT | Georgia LogoGeorgia
94Browns Logo
Garrett DellingerIOL | LSU LogoLSU
95Eagles Logo
Billy BowmanS | Oklahoma LogoOklahoma
96Chiefs Logo
Dylan FairchildIOL | Georgia LogoGeorgia
97Vikings Logo
Kevin Winston Jr.S | Penn State LogoPenn State
98Dolphins Logo
Savion WilliamsWR | TCU LogoTCU
9949ers Logo
Carson SchwesingerLB | UCLA LogoUCLA
100Rams Logo
Gunnar HelmTE | Texas LogoTexas
101Lions Logo
Pat BryantWR | Illinois LogoIllinois

[*ochocincos*]

(02-05-2025, 08:20 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I take it you didn't care for the picks that were good value at my slots?

I was more commenting on the OP having 6 picks on Day 3 but only the normal 1 pick each round in Rounds 1-3.

As for the guys you picked, I don't know enough about Kaden Prather, but why did he only have 624-4 stat line in 12 games this past season?
Is he really gonna be more like Higgins, or is he gonna be more like Auden Tate?

I'm ok with Grant if needing a NT, but I think a UT is needed more, as I'm not overly impressed with Jenkins as a UT.
I had thought Jenkins may be best suited to add bulk and take the NT spot, or serve as a rotational piece.
Jenkins and Grant have played together though, so Grant may help elevate Jenkins.

I like Kandra as a Day 3 OG, and I'm surprised he's projected to go so late.

I can see Sawyer being a replacement for Hubbard, but I also think Murphy was supposed to be that guy.
I'd be ok adding him though, especially in Rd 2.

Donovan Jackson I'm a fan of too, if he's actually entering the draft.

[SunsetBengal]

(02-07-2025, 12:30 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I was more commenting on the OP having 6 picks on Day 3 but only the normal 1 pick each round in Rounds 1-3.

As for the guys you picked, I don't know enough about Kaden Prather, but why did he only have 624-4 stat line in 12 games this past season?
Is he really gonna be more like Higgins, or is he gonna be more like Auden Tate?

I'm ok with Grant if needing a NT, but I think a UT is needed more, as I'm not overly impressed with Jenkins as a UT.
I had thought Jenkins may be best suited to add bulk and take the NT spot, or serve as a rotational piece.
Jenkins and Grant have played together though, so Grant may help elevate Jenkins.

I like Kandra as a Day 3 OG, and I'm surprised he's projected to go so late.

I can see Sawyer being a replacement for Hubbard, but I also think Murphy was supposed to be that guy.
I'd be ok adding him though, especially in Rd 2.

Donovan Jackson I'm a fan of too, if he's actually entering the draft.

I've really coveted Grant since I watched him run down that Penn St. RB and take him down from behind. Aside from Rankins, the Bengals only have 2 DTs signed to the team. When he was sitting there, it was a no brainer. I feel like the interior of the DL would be in good shape with any two of Grant, Jenkins and Jackson on the field for any given down. I wasn't so high on Sawyer, until I really looked back at the season he had and the leadership role that he exemplifies. He's exactly the type of guy that Zac was talking about when he spoke of team captains and leaders. Donovan Jackson is going to be a really good Guard and he'll also likely be able to be an emergency Tackle if needed. Honestly, Prather was the "other" WR at Maryland, I never really watched him a lot in games. When I saw him high on the boad at that pick, I trusted his scouting report when it spoke of his size and length to win the contested catches and enough speed that he "glides right through" the defense. I just think that Mason Taylor is going to be a damn fine receiving TE who doesn't mind getting physical when he's not getting the ball.

[*ochocincos*]

(02-07-2025, 01:59 PM)SunsetBengal Wrote: I've really coveted Grant since I watched him run down that Penn St. RB and take him down from behind. Aside from Rankins, the Bengals only have 2 DTs signed to the team. When he was sitting there, it was a no brainer. I feel like the interior of the DL would be in good shape with any two of Grant, Jenkins and Jackson on the field for any given down. I wasn't so high on Sawyer, until I really looked back at the season he had and the leadership role that he exemplifies. He's exactly the type of guy that Zac was talking about when he spoke of team captains and leaders. Donovan Jackson is going to be a really good Guard and he'll also likely be able to be an emergency Tackle if needed. Honestly, Prather was the "other" WR at Maryland, I never really watched him a lot in games. When I saw him high on the boad at that pick, I trusted his scouting report when it spoke of his size and length to win the contested catches and enough speed that he "glides right through" the defense. I just think that Mason Taylor is going to be a damn fine receiving TE who doesn't mind getting physical when he's not getting the ball.

I decided to go watch some highlights of Prather from this past year to get an idea of what he at least did best.

What I notice - His highlights were most often stopping and turning back toward the LOS to catch the ball and coming across the middle on slants/posts.
I do see some Higgins style of play in him when it comes to arm extension and not always letting the ball come into the body, but I haven't seen anything to suggest his leaping ability or ability to high point.

I can see the guy maybe being an ok depth receiver, but nothing stands out to suggest potential future starter.

If the goal was just to bolster the back end depth and push someone like Charlie Jones or Jermaine Burton out, I can see that.
If this is the plan to cover for Higgins/Gesicki, I'd be worried.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(02-05-2025, 04:56 AM)NATI BENGALS Wrote: 6 Picks isn't enough. We have a ton of roster building to do. With big money due to Trey and Chase and Tee. It's going to be hard to find money for a lot of outside free agent help. And we have a lot of free agents 13+.
I'm smelling a trade back year.
Hopefully we can hit the jackpot like I did with the Jets being dumb in that mock. 

Agree for the most part and really like your Mock because you got my boy Skattebo and took care of the trenches pretty well. Tez Johnson
has his slight build but he sure makes plays for being so slight so I don't care. This is the Draft to trade back and earlier might be even better
in this one like Sunset did in getting Kenneth Grant and instant upgrade for the DL.

Darius Alexander might take a year or two being from Toledo. I like him though.

[pulses]

(02-07-2025, 04:33 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Agree for the most part and really like your Mock because you got my boy Skattebo and took care of the trenches pretty well. Tez Johnson
has his slight build but he sure makes plays for being so slight so I don't care. This is the Draft to trade back and earlier might be even better
in this one like Sunset did in getting Kenneth Grant and instant upgrade for the DL.

Darius Alexander might take a year or two being from Toledo. I like him though.

I think Alexander is gonna be a disruptor from the get go.

[*ochocincos*]

(02-07-2025, 04:33 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Agree for the most part and really like your Mock because you got my boy Skattebo and took care of the trenches pretty well. Tez Johnson
has his slight build but he sure makes plays for being so slight so I don't care. This is the Draft to trade back and earlier might be even better
in this one like Sunset did in getting Kenneth Grant and instant upgrade for the DL.

Darius Alexander might take a year or two being from Toledo. I like him though.

(02-07-2025, 05:31 PM)pulses Wrote: I think Alexander is gonna be a disruptor from the get go.

One thing to potentially worry about is Alexander is turning 25 later this year.
He'll be near 30 by the time he's off his rookie contract.
Bengals may want to get someone who is closer to 21-22 years old.

[NATI BENGALS]

I need to dig in deeper on Rylie Mills. At first glance I really liked what I’m seeing

[pulses]

(02-07-2025, 06:29 PM)ochocincos Wrote: One thing to potentially worry about is Alexander is turning 25 later this year.
He'll be near 30 by the time he's off his rookie contract.
Bengals may want to get someone who is closer to 21-22 years old.

Sometimes they don't resign guys after their rookie contracts and he wouldn't be the only one they draft anyways.