Post-FA Mock

[*ochocincos*]

With the remaining OGs on the market, I'm not convinced anyone who signs is going to be more than a 1-year stopgap, so for all intents and purposes, I consider FA to be basically done.

With that said, here is a mock I think helps fulfill their needs for both short and long term while also being something I think could be realistic they would do.

1) James Pearce Jr, DE Tennessee - Hendrickson, Ossai, and Sample are all on final year of their deals. If Ossai does well, I can see Bengals basically choosing to keep one of him or Hendrickson, but not both with the amount of money they've tossed to Higgins, Chase, Hill, and even Slaton. Bengals will likely need a future starter to cover one of the DE spots in 2026 or 2027, and you can never have too many pass rushers. If JPJ's off-field concerns check out, I think he would be a great add.

2) Xavier Watts, FS Notre Dame - 2023 DPOY and led the nation that year in INTs. Ball hawk center fielder type of safety. If the Bengals want to find a long-term guy to put next to Battle, Watts could be that dude. With Golden as the DC, this makes a lot of sense.

3) Wyatt Milum, OL West Virgina - Fantastic college OT who has all the traits you want for a quality NFL OL. The only concern is his lack of arm length, which likely will force him inside to Guard. Milum is a good pass protector, run defender, and has that coveted "nasty streak." IMO, Bengals would get a guy who could start immediately at one of the OG spots with Milum. The other nice bonus? Milum can fill in at OT if needed too. He is often compared to Colts RT Braden Smith.

4) Omar Norman-Lott, DT Tennessee - Undersized but effective DT who can help boost the pass rush. ONL can help fill the role that Carter was supposed to be.

5) Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame - Size and versatility at the TE position to become a quality TE2 and replace Sample next year.

6) Raheim Sanders, RB South Carolina - RB with solid size who is considered a thumper. From what I see and scouting reports mention, Sanders will get the tough yards. Dude has good speed along with that size, and he has 4 years of good SEC production - 3111 rushing yards (5.4 YPC) and 28 rushing TDs with 771 receiving yards (10.1 YPR) with 5 receiving TDs. As a RB3/4, I think he can be a solid rotational guy behind Brown and Perine.

EDIT - I also considered Tyler Booker in Rd 1 and Kyle Kennard in Rd 3, but I figured the above results in a bit better overall team performance if Hendrickson and/or Ossai departs next year. Plus, really good edge rushers typically cost (way) more than good IOL in FA. With the Bengals potentially needing to tighten purse strings even more with Ossai and Higgins locked up for 3-4 years, they may have to focus on the cheaper positions to address in FA.

[*Nate (formerly eliminate08)*]

Well done Ochocincos. Nice Mock. Would love to add Pierce if his character concerns are not valid, heard he struggled against Donovan
Jackson in the CFP though, was he injured or something or was Donovan just that good?

Watts fits like a glove. Milum would be a great grab in the 3rd round, Norman-Lott could be a good 3-tech in the NFL for sure and getting
both the Vols DL would help with chemistry.

Mitchell Evans was good when I watched him, can block and catch which is what we need at TE. Rocket Sanders is a great grab this late.

Good job.

[*Synric*]

It's going to be interesting to see if the Bengals are targeting safety and if they are which safety spot?

Jordan Battle was just as bad as Geno Stone.

[*ochocincos*]

(03-21-2025, 04:56 PM)Nate (formerly eliminate08) Wrote: Well done Ochocincos. Nice Mock. Would love to add Pierce if his character concerns are not valid, heard he struggled against Donovan
Jackson in the CFP though, was he injured or something or was Donovan just that good?

Watts fits like a glove. Milum would be a great grab in the 3rd round, Norman-Lott could be a good 3-tech in the NFL for sure and getting
both the Vols DL would help with chemistry.

Mitchell Evans was good when I watched him, can block and catch which is what we need at TE. Rocket Sanders is a great grab this late.

Good job.

DJ is good.
I think he'll go before Bengals pick in Rd 2.
The question will be whether teams want him for Guard or Tackle.
He should be a very good Guard.
He showed this year he can play Tackle, but only one year of it.

[sandwedge]

I read somewhere that Pierce is not the most coachable player. I guess he had problems with his position coach.
Has Milum ever played OG? If not, it could be dicey counting on him to play let alone start as a guard.
To be honest, this draft wouldn't make me that excited. 

[*Synric*]

(03-21-2025, 06:16 PM)Synric Wrote: It's going to be interesting to see if the Bengals are targeting safety and if they are which safety spot?

Jordan Battle was just as bad as Geno Stone.

I wanna double down on this because it seems rhe Bengals are doing more homework on Linebackers than Safeties.

[Whatever]

(03-21-2025, 06:16 PM)Synric Wrote: It's going to be interesting to see if the Bengals are targeting safety and if they are which safety spot?

Jordan Battle was just as bad as Geno Stone.

Muddying the waters even more is they interviewed Starks at the Combine and scheduled a T30 visit with Emmanwori, but they are both very different prospects.

More and more, they act like 17 is a BPA pick, regardless of position, but where priorities lie after that is anyone's guess.  Edge and TE appear to be high on the list based on who they talked to, though.

[*ochocincos*]

(03-22-2025, 12:17 AM)sandwedge Wrote: I read somewhere that Pierce is not the most coachable player. I guess he had problems with his position coach.
Has Milum ever played OG? If not, it could be dicey counting on him to play let alone start as a guard.
To be honest, this draft wouldn't make me that excited. 

I get your concerns.
A "safer" version would be my alternate proposal, which is Booker in Rd 1, Kennard in Rd 3.
That gets a clear immediate starter RG and a DE who can rotate or compete for starter position opposite Hendrickson.

With that said, I really, really like JPJ as a pass rusher and would hope in the new DL coach being able to work with someone who may be hard-headed (if that's even the case).
For Milum, I am not sure how much you have watched him, but he's really, really good. He just may get forced inside due to lack of length.
While I get the concerns of being able to move inside, I have confidence he could, personally.
I understand the hesitation because it doesn't work for every college OT, Jackson Carman being one recent example.

[sandwedge]

(03-22-2025, 09:02 PM)ochocincos Wrote: I get your concerns.
A "safer" version would be my alternate proposal, which is Booker in Rd 1, Kennard in Rd 3.
That gets a clear immediate starter RG and a DE who can rotate or compete for starter position opposite Hendrickson.

With that said, I really, really like JPJ as a pass rusher and would hope in the new DL coach being able to work with someone who may be hard-headed (if that's even the case).
For Milum, I am not sure how much you have watched him, but he's really, really good. He just may get forced inside due to lack of length.
While I get the concerns of being able to move inside, I have confidence he could, personally.
I understand the hesitation because it doesn't work for every college OT, Jackson Carman being one recent example.

It's all good brother. They are all good players!

[pulses]

(03-21-2025, 12:29 PM)ochocincos Wrote: With the remaining OGs on the market, I'm not convinced anyone who signs is going to be more than a 1-year stopgap, so for all intents and purposes, I consider FA to be basically done.

With that said, here is a mock I think helps fulfill their needs for both short and long term while also being something I think could be realistic they would do.

1) James Pearce Jr, DE Tennessee - Hendrickson, Ossai, and Sample are all on final year of their deals. If Ossai does well, I can see Bengals basically choosing to keep one of him or Hendrickson, but not both with the amount of money they've tossed to Higgins, Chase, Hill, and even Slaton. Bengals will likely need a future starter to cover one of the DE spots in 2026 or 2027, and you can never have too many pass rushers. If JPJ's off-field concerns check out, I think he would be a great add.

2) Xavier Watts, FS Notre Dame - 2023 DPOY and led the nation that year in INTs. Ball hawk center fielder type of safety. If the Bengals want to find a long-term guy to put next to Battle, Watts could be that dude. With Golden as the DC, this makes a lot of sense.

3) Wyatt Milum, OL West Virgina - Fantastic college OT who has all the traits you want for a quality NFL OL. The only concern is his lack of arm length, which likely will force him inside to Guard. Milum is a good pass protector, run defender, and has that coveted "nasty streak." IMO, Bengals would get a guy who could start immediately at one of the OG spots with Milum. The other nice bonus? Milum can fill in at OT if needed too. He is often compared to Colts RT Braden Smith.

4) Omar Norman-Lott, DT Tennessee - Undersized but effective DT who can help boost the pass rush. ONL can help fill the role that Carter was supposed to be.

5) Mitchell Evans, TE Notre Dame - Size and versatility at the TE position to become a quality TE2 and replace Sample next year.

6) Raheim Sanders, RB South Carolina - RB with solid size who is considered a thumper. From what I see and scouting reports mention, Sanders will get the tough yards. Dude has good speed along with that size, and he has 4 years of good SEC production - 3111 rushing yards (5.4 YPC) and 28 rushing TDs with 771 receiving yards (10.1 YPR) with 5 receiving TDs. As a RB3/4, I think he can be a solid rotational guy behind Brown and Perine.

EDIT - I also considered Tyler Booker in Rd 1 and Kyle Kennard in Rd 3, but I figured the above results in a bit better overall team performance if Hendrickson and/or Ossai departs next year. Plus, really good edge rushers typically cost (way) more than good IOL in FA. With the Bengals potentially needing to tighten purse strings even more with Ossai and Higgins locked up for 3-4 years, they may have to focus on the cheaper positions to address in FA.

Not a fan of the picks in the 3rd 4th and 5th rounds. Milum got wore out at the senior bowl and has been dropping ever since. If we're gonna draft a OG in this draft let's draft a natural guard whose got plenty of experience playing there. In the 4th round LOtt has some medical reg flags that have pushed him down as well. Something to do with his right knee. He would be a pass for someone else in that spot. I think they'll draft a TE sooner than most think ( Mason Taylor) they need a guy who can kind od do it all. Appreciate the time you put into the mock. Here is the article on Lott and his knee.

https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunteers/2025-nfl-draft-omarr-norman-lott-tennessee-football-medical-red-flag-leaves-scouting-combine/

[*ochocincos*]

(03-23-2025, 04:15 AM)pulses Wrote: Not a fan of the picks in the 3rd 4th and 5th rounds. Milum got wore out at the senior bowl and has been dropping ever since. If we're gonna draft a OG in this draft let's draft a natural guard whose got plenty of experience playing there. In the 4th round LOtt has some medical reg flags that have pushed him down as well. Something to do with his right knee. He would be a pass for someone else in that spot. I think they'll draft a TE sooner than most think ( Mason Taylor) they need a guy who can kind od do it all. Appreciate the time you put into the mock. Here is the article on Lott and his knee.

https://atozsports.com/nashville/volunteers/2025-nfl-draft-omarr-norman-lott-tennessee-football-medical-red-flag-leaves-scouting-combine/

Wasn't aware of the things you mentioned about Milum and ONL.

The big thing for me though is I wasn't finding a Guard I liked that I had targeted around Rd 3, and I wanted to put Xavier Watts in there for 2nd round, so it's basically either 1st or 4th round.
There are a couple Guards I like in Rd 4, but some would have probably lost it taking a Guard that late due to the big hole right now at RG.

[*Synric*]

(03-23-2025, 11:04 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Wasn't aware of the things you mentioned about Milum and ONL.

The big thing for me though is I wasn't finding a Guard I liked that I had targeted around Rd 3, and I wanted to put Xavier Watts in there for 2nd round, so it's basically either 1st or 4th round.
There are a couple Guards I like in Rd 4, but some would have probably lost it taking a Guard that late due to the big hole right now at RG.

West Virginia ran a heavy read option/RPO offense with Garrett Green as the QB (Green is switching his position to RB or WR for the NFL). Wyatt Milum has good "pass block efficiency" numbers because the system didn't ask him to pass protection much and why they did most of it was run action so he was jump setting. 

A big red flag for Milum in my book was week 1 vs Penn State when he had thr Abdul Carter matchup. The game was going poorly for WV and it looked like it was going to be alot of drop backs in the second half. Milum didn't come out of rhe locker room for that half with a "knee injury" then practiced and played rhe following week. It was definitely a business decision because Carter was already making him look slow in the first half.

[pulses]

(03-23-2025, 11:04 AM)ochocincos Wrote: Wasn't aware of the things you mentioned about Milum and ONL.

The big thing for me though is I wasn't finding a Guard I liked that I had targeted around Rd 3, and I wanted to put Xavier Watts in there for 2nd round, so it's basically either 1st or 4th round.
There are a couple Guards I like in Rd 4, but some would have probably lost it taking a Guard that late due to the big hole right now at RG.

Well from the videos I have saw from a few different experts they are saying after round 3 the guard quality is very bad. The guy I like in the 3rd is the kid from UC. I know some do like Fairchild from UGA as well. I agree with Watts in 2 unless somebody takes him right in front of us.