It's no secret that the Cincinnati Bengals must improve their defense to return to the playoffs. Some of that will come in the form of regression and the benefits of having new blood on the coaching staff, but if that isn't met with key acquisitions in the offseason, it won't be enough.
That is only exacerbated by the concerns surrounding edge rusher Trey Hendrickson's future in Cincinnati.
It remains possible that Hendrickson's market doesn't develop as much as he hopes, and that teams aren't willing to part with significant capital to grant him an extension. His return would be incredible news for a defense that desperately needs a strong pass rush.
Yet, it's important to remember that Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Hendrickson were on this team last year. They didn't make the playoffs.
Subsequently, the Bengals picked an explosive edge rusher and cornerback in this two-round mock draft.
The following mock draft was made using Pro Football Network's mock draft simulator.
Round 1, Pick 17: Texas A&M Edge Rusher Nic Scourton
If this feels like forcing a pick because of positional need rather than the best player available, that's because it is. But if there's a run on edge rushers early, the board could fall unfavorably.
Scourton may be closer to a late-Round 1 prospect than a top-10 talent tumbling down the board. His upside still persists. Compared to Hendrickson by Lance Zierlein, he's a strong 260-pounder who holds up well against the run. Ideally, he'd be Hendrickson's sidekick, although there's plenty of pass-rushing talent to like. With a conference-leading 10 sacks in 2023, Scourton is physical and athletic but also versatile and advanced with his hand usage.
Bengals fans would be able to take solace in Scourton being the premier talent of the next good Cincinnati pass rush, even if Hendrickson's departure kneecaps the potential of the unit.
Related: Bengals Draft Plans Could Hinge on Higgins Tag
Round 2, Pick 49: Kentucky Cornerback Maxwell Hairston
The Bengals double-dip on defense by adding Hairson, whose post-Scouting Combine rise might make him a first-round pick.
Hairston's game is defined by his sub-4.30 speed which makes him dangerous in both man and zone. He's a poor tackler, but his ability to recover in man coverage and close on throws in the zone should lend itself to ball production with any improvement at the catch point. In 2023, he led the SEC with five interceptions.
Hairston is somewhat redundant with Daxton Hill and D.J. Turner's brand of fast-but-not-physical corners, but he's shown enough in coverage to consider starting on the boundary from Week 1.
Related: Second-Round Signing as Steelers Place Tender on Jaylen Warren
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This story was originally published March 15, 2025 at 11:42 AM.