{"id":211584,"date":"2025-01-20T09:23:38","date_gmt":"2025-01-20T14:23:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=211584"},"modified":"2025-01-20T09:26:15","modified_gmt":"2025-01-20T14:26:15","slug":"3-potential-cincinnati-bengals-defensive-first-round-draft-targets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/01\/20\/3-potential-cincinnati-bengals-defensive-first-round-draft-targets\/","title":{"rendered":"3 Potential Cincinnati Bengals Defensive First-Round Draft Targets"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> enter draft season early again for the second consecutive year. The orange and black have plenty of needs on both sides and how they address free agency will dictate their direction in the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay. Let’s examine three potential first-round targets at pick 17 in a critical season for head coach Zac Taylor and his men in stripes.<\/p>\n

3 Potential Cincinnati Bengals Defensive First-Round Draft Targets<\/h2>\n

Kenneth Grant – DT | Michigan<\/h3>\n

The best possible outcome would be if Kenneth Grant were still on the board at 17 when the Bengals select, as they would rush to the podium to turn their card in. Grant has had a solid career for the Wolverines and was named<\/a> an All-American selection by the Associated Press (third team) and an All-Big Ten selection (second team, coaches and media) and has the ideal size and body composition for a defensive tackle at 6’3″ and 340 pounds.<\/p>\n

Grant has improved immensely this season and had excellent coaching under the direction of former NFL\u00a0 defensive coordinator Wink Martindale where he honed his skill in pushing the pocket and clogging up rushing lanes.<\/p>\n

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Not many 340-pounders can run like this. Kenneth Grant (78) can move. pic.twitter.com\/kO9NqGOAQJ<\/a><\/p>\n

— Ryan Fowler (@_RyanFowler_) November 11, 2023<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n