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The Cincinnati Bengals need to nail their first-round pick in the 2025 NFL draft.
Now that the team has thrown the big cap spend at wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, one has to think the draft will go toward addressing the rebuilding defense around new (returning) coordinator Al Golden.
Many NFL mock drafts have the Bengals doing just that, though few are as intriguing as the latest effort from ESPN's Matt Miller, who has them staying put at No. 17 and taking South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori:
"The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Emmanwori is a Derwin James Jr. clone in size, strength, speed and playmaking ability. Emmanwori put on a show at the combine, running a 4.38 40 and leaping 43 inches in the vertical and 11-foot-6 in the broad jump. He also produced on tape in 2024, with four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 88 tackles. Line him up at free or strong safety and let him spy Lamar Jackson twice a season."
Bengals fans might cringe a little at the idea of a Round 1 safety after how things went with Dax Hill as the supposed Jessie Bates replacement. But it's pretty hard to complain about a prospect who so closely echoes Derwin James Jr., one of the best in the NFL since his arrival in 2018 and multi-time All-Pro selection.
If the Bengals can nail a safety pick to run with Geno Stone and Jordan Battle while Hill and other upside players stick at cornerback, it puts a massively high ceiling on the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals draft 'Derwin James clone' in new NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
Now that the team has thrown the big cap spend at wideouts Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins, one has to think the draft will go toward addressing the rebuilding defense around new (returning) coordinator Al Golden.
Many NFL mock drafts have the Bengals doing just that, though few are as intriguing as the latest effort from ESPN's Matt Miller, who has them staying put at No. 17 and taking South Carolina safety Nick Emmanwori:
"The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Emmanwori is a Derwin James Jr. clone in size, strength, speed and playmaking ability. Emmanwori put on a show at the combine, running a 4.38 40 and leaping 43 inches in the vertical and 11-foot-6 in the broad jump. He also produced on tape in 2024, with four interceptions (two returned for touchdowns) and 88 tackles. Line him up at free or strong safety and let him spy Lamar Jackson twice a season."
Bengals fans might cringe a little at the idea of a Round 1 safety after how things went with Dax Hill as the supposed Jessie Bates replacement. But it's pretty hard to complain about a prospect who so closely echoes Derwin James Jr., one of the best in the NFL since his arrival in 2018 and multi-time All-Pro selection.
If the Bengals can nail a safety pick to run with Geno Stone and Jordan Battle while Hill and other upside players stick at cornerback, it puts a massively high ceiling on the secondary.
This article originally appeared on Bengals Wire: Bengals draft 'Derwin James clone' in new NFL mock draft
Continue reading...
