Pick 17 Board Picks (2025)

[*bfine32*]

In another thread, the board has done a mock to get to the #17 pick
https://thebengalsboard.com/thread-40029.html

Now we have a separate thread to discuss and pick the Bengals first-round pick.

I get one of the more popular picks is "Other' I'd trade back and pick up "this dude," and then with the extra pick I'd grab "that dude"

Pick and discuss who you'd take if the Bengals stand pat. I've created a poll and tried to include all viable but "other" is also an option, but you'll got to post who.

The Draft to date:

RD1 PK1: TENNESSEE TITANS: SHEDEUR SANDERS/QB
RD1 PK2: CLEVELAND BROWNS: ABDUL CARTER/ED
RD1 PK3: NEW YORK GIANTS: CAM WORD/QB
RD1 PK4: NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS: WILL CAMPBELL/OT
RD1 PK5: JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: TRAVIS HUNTER/ATH
RD1 PK6: LAS VEGAS RAIDERS: ASTON JEANTY/RB
RD1/PK7: NEW YORK JETS: GRAHAM MASON/DT
RD1/PK8: CAROLINA PANTHERS: TETAIROA MCMILLIAN/WR
RD1/PK9: NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: MYKEL WILLIAMS/ED
RD1/PK10: CHICAGO BEARS: WILL JOHNSON/CB
RD1/PK11: SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: KELVIN BANKS/OT
RD1/PK12: DALLAS COWBOYS: WALTER NOLAN/DT
RD1/PK13: MIAMI DOLPHINS: MALAKI STARKS/SAF
RD1/PK14: INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: TYLER WARREN/TE
RD1/PK15: ATLANTA FALCONS: JAMES PEARCE/ED
RD1/PK16: ARIZONA CARDINALS: MIKE GREEN/ED

With the 17th pick in the 2025 NFL Draft the Cincinnati Bengals Select:

[*bfine32*]

The amount of viable candidates lends itself to trade back. Pat Kirwan said this is a draft where you'd love to trade your mid-first and a 4th for two-2s.

Chicago would probably love to get back in and pick up Membou or tODU OT and they have 2 early 2nds. But against the rules

3 fine favs are available(Walker/Barron/Grant) and I going to go JALON WALKER

[Luvnit2]

After further review I like Walker also

I would ike a trade back s well, but nowt out of round 1 to get the estra 2nd round pick

[Goalpost]

Walker has been a favorite of mine. But...

I'm going off the board with 'other' at the moment.

Jihaad Campbell LB.

Thanks to Bfine for doing the thread.

[puddycat]

Considered Membou, Nolen, and Barron before selecting on Jihaad Campbell LB.

[CJD]

My number 1 priority in this draft is getting a legitimate pass rusher to pair with Trey Hendrickson. Nolan, Pearce and Green being gone at 17 is not ideal, and I'm not that interested in drafting a guard with our first round pick, especially after Booker's performance at the combine. TE and WR would only be on my board if we don't retain Higgins, as it would be hard to justify drafting a player who would, at best, be your 3rd most important target in the offense. Jalon Walker and Kenneth Grant are good players who would improve this defense, but I think pass rushing edge is the bigger (and more valuable) position of need than either blitz centric linebacker or nose tackle.

Derrick Harmon is an elite pass rusher from the DT position, but he's such an incredibly poor tackler that I have my doubts that Al Golden, who preaches fundamentals, would be that interested in him.

Ultimately, I'm going to bet on a player rising up the boards to be worth this pick. I think once the combine data comes in, Nic Scourton will probably be worth the #17 pick. He isn't as dynamic a pass rusher as Pearce or Green, but he is not seen as a pass rush specialist like those two are, so you get a little bit of that every down versatility back with him.

[*Synric*]

Bengals take Texas A&M edge Shemar Stewart. A top 10 prospect.

[Bilbo Saggins]

I think I'd pick Harmon at 17.  Booker is tempting but may need some more polish.  Stewart is so toolsy - I don't see Vernon Gholston but I don't see TJ Watt either.  I'd think about trading down and taking Ezeiruaku.  I'd even think about taking him at 17 straight up. 

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

I went with Kenneth Grant. I understand the thoughts about getting an EDGE though in Shemar Stewart or Nic Scourton. Grant can stop
the run and rush the passer very well, I thought about Derrick Harmon too but went with the big badass DT that can play Nose Tackle and
rush the passer. This pick allows both McKinnley Jackson and Kris Jenkins to develop. Hopefully we bring back BJ Hill as well.

We can still get a quality EDGE later in this deep draft. Jihad Campbell and Jalon Walker were also both tempting for Golden's new Defense.

[FormerlyBengalRugby]

(5 hours ago)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I went with Kenneth Grant. I understand the thoughts about getting an EDGE though in Shemar Stewart or Nic Scourton. Grant can stop
the run and rush the passer very well, I thought about Derrick Harmon too but went with the big badass DT that can play Nose Tackle and
rush the passer. This pick allows both McKinnley Jackson and Kris Jenkins to develop. Hopefully we bring back BJ Hill as well.

We can still get a quality EDGE later in this deep draft. Jihad Campbell and Jalon Walker were also both tempting for Golden's new Defense.

I give Grant the nod as well.

He will close down rushing lanes and make the linebackers look better by soaking up blockers. I would like to see BJ Hill come back, but I would not be completely unhappy with Jenkins starting next to Grant to anchor the line, and would be very solid against the run.

[Clark W Griswold]

I picked Emmanwori
He would help on all levels of the defense. His natural ability is off the charts and he was productive in the SEC so he is not just a workout warrior.
It’s time for the Bengals to get their Pro Bowl safety.

[Stewy]

Grant - big bad ass in the middle - frees up Trey even more.

[Whatever]

I think I would personally take Kenneth Grant, here, but voted differently because the Bengals only spoke to one DT at the Combine and that was Nolen.

I think the Bengals take Loveland in this case. They spoke with most all of the top TE prospects at the Combine, meaning it looks like the want to add one early. He's also just flat out the best player available, in my opinion. I see him as a "True" 1st rounder while many of the rest are 2nd round guys getting moved up by the lack of really high end talent in this class.

[CJD]

(5 hours ago)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: I went with Kenneth Grant. I understand the thoughts about getting an EDGE though in Shemar Stewart or Nic Scourton. Grant can stop
the run and rush the passer very well, I thought about Derrick Harmon too but went with the big badass DT that can play Nose Tackle and
rush the passer. This pick allows both McKinnley Jackson and Kris Jenkins to develop. Hopefully we bring back BJ Hill as well.

We can still get a quality EDGE later in this deep draft. Jihad Campbell and Jalon Walker were also both tempting for Golden's new Defense.

Funnily enough, Jenkins and Jackson are the reasons I decided against Grant here. Jenkins is a run stopping DT, and Jackson has the size of a run stopping NT (even if he doesn't necessarily have the pedigree of a run stopping NT). Adding Grant to that group felt too much like a hat on a hat for me. We need a real pass rush from the DT position. My favorite at the moment is Nolan, but there are some pass rush specialists from the DT position that I wouldn't mind seeing us target later in the draft.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(5 hours ago)FormerlyBengalRugby Wrote: I give Grant the nod as well.

He will close down rushing lanes and make the linebackers look better by soaking up blockers. I would like to see BJ Hill come back, but I would not be completely unhappy with Jenkins starting next to Grant to anchor the line, and would be very solid against the run.

Could do worse than a Michigan Wolverine interior that is for sure. Expecting big time improvement from Jenkins in his sophomore year
especially with Kenneth Grant next to him. You usually cannot expect a rookie to play well, but I think Grant will be different and be good 
right off the bat.

Jenkins didn't improve as much as I would of wanted as a rookie as the year went on, but he is one heck of a hard worker.

(4 hours ago)Whatever Wrote: I think I would personally take Kenneth Grant, here, but voted differently because the Bengals only spoke to one DT at the Combine and that was Nolen.

I think the Bengals take Loveland in this case.  They spoke with most all of the top TE prospects at the Combine, meaning it looks like the want to add one early.  He's also just flat out the best player available, in my opinion.  I see him as a "True" 1st rounder while many of the rest are 2nd round guys getting moved up by the lack of really high end talent in this class.

We evidently wanted Kincaid and Loveland is another pass catching talent at TE that could be even better. Completely understand.

(3 hours ago)CJD Wrote: Funnily enough, Jenkins and Jackson are the reasons I decided against Grant here. Jenkins is a run stopping DT, and Jackson has the size of a run stopping NT (even if he doesn't necessarily have the pedigree of a run stopping NT). Adding Grant to that group felt too much like a hat on a hat for me. We need a real pass rush from the DT position. My favorite at the moment is Nolan, but there are some pass rush specialists from the DT position that I wouldn't mind seeing us target later in the draft.

Nolen has the character issues which is why I think he is out, but as far as the talent to be a pass rushing 3-tech, he has what we need
and as Whatever here said, we did interview Nolen so he could still be a possibility. I just think Grant is the more sure thing of these two
because of the character issues with Nolen. I get your thoughts, but Grant can rush the passer very well too so I don't think it is a hat on 
a hat thing here. Grant would instantly improve our run Defense and pass Defense. He is a 3 down DT, these don't come around often.

[NATI BENGALS]

Emmanwori looks to me like he could be a top safety in the league.

Play complementary football. Burrow and the O give us the lead. Emmanwori helps shut down the pass and the D prevents the comeback.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

(1 hour ago)NATI BENGALS Wrote: Emmanwori looks to me like he could be a top safety in the league.

Play complementary football. Burrow and the O give us the lead. Emmanwori helps shut down the pass and the D prevents the comeback.

I like Emmanwori myself, but we have a decent SS in Jordan Battle, we are missing a solid FS. Emmanwori seems a bit big to be a FS to me.

Xavier Watts in the 2nd round makes much more sense to me to fill a hole.