Cincinnati Bengals
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A new mock draft details a potential trade between the Rams and Bengals
The Cincinnati Bengals have spent this offseason rebuilding their defense after the departure of All-Pro pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, and their struggles during the 2025 season. During the first week of free agency, the team signed pass rusher Boye Mafe to a three-year, $60 million contract, safety Bryan Cook to a three-year, $40.2 million contract, and former Pro Bowl defensive lineman to a two-year, $25 million contract.
While those three players project to be starters on the Bengals next season, they may not be enough to fix a defense that allowed the third-most points in the NFL last season. Despite possessing a top 10 offense, even with quarterback Joe Burrow missing half the season, the team finished with their worst record since 2020 and missed the postseason. Fortunately, as a result Cincinnati obtained a top 10 pick in the NFL Draft, and will have their highest selection since taking Ja’Marr Chase with the fifth overall pick.
However, anew mock draft by The Athletic has the Bengals trading out of their top 10 pick.
Cincinnati Bengals Trade Down to Select Safety
The Athletic’s Vic Tafur released his latest mock draft, and in it, the Cincinnati Bengals are predicted to trade down from their No. 10 selection to the Los Angeles Rams’ No. 13 pick. In this projected trade, the Bengals would gain an extra third-round pick.
They would then use the No. 13 selection to draft Ohio State safety Caleb Downs. Tafur wrote, “Downs can make plays against the pass and run, and matches up well with all of the game’s big receivers who are playing tight end.”
The trade could be viewed as a potential win-win for the Bengals as they would get an extra third-round pick plus add an elite safety prospect.
Regarding Downs as a prospect, Gene Clemons of Fantasy Life wrote:
“Downs is what you get when you mix intelligence, athleticism and sadistic violence with an ideal NFL frame and pro pedigree. That’s a lot, and Downs is a lot for offenses to handle. He exploded on the college football scene as a freshman at Alabama, where he won the Shaun Alexander Award for Freshman of the Year.
He is an elite processor of the game and operates like a quarterback on the defense. That knowledge allows him to play even faster than his athletic frame would suggest. He also has key natural Polamalu-instincts that he utilizes to make plays that are outside of his responsibility.”
Potential Fit in Cincinnati
The potential drawbacks to this idea is the Bengals would be risking Downs being selected prior to their No. 13 selection. Additionally, they would be using their first round pick on a player with injury concerns.
Regarding Downs’ potential fit in Cincinnati,Sports Illustrated’s Zach Pressnell said,“The Bengals need somebody to lead their defense. Downs is a natural born leader who led an Ohio State defense with stars like Arvell Reese and Sonny Styles. He could stay in the state of Ohio, come to Cincinnati and lead the next generation of the Bengals’ defense.”