{"id":224550,"date":"2025-03-25T09:00:14","date_gmt":"2025-03-25T13:00:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/?p=224550"},"modified":"2025-03-25T08:54:29","modified_gmt":"2025-03-25T12:54:29","slug":"cincinnati-bengals-three-round-mock-draft-2-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2025\/03\/25\/cincinnati-bengals-three-round-mock-draft-2-0\/","title":{"rendered":"Cincinnati Bengals Three-Round Mock Draft 2.0"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Cincinnati Bengals<\/a> will strive to supplement their roster in the 2025 NFL Draft in Green Bay<\/a> with players who can help them win games in the rugged AFC North. The team has several positions that must be bolstered to make a run at a divisional title. Upgrading the defense with impact players is priority number one, with a focus on the defensive line.\u00a0 The men in stripes need to generate more pressure on opposing quarterbacks from EDGE rushers and up the middle from interior DL. The secondary and linebacker corps also had issues with poor communication all season. Finally, the never-ending quest to adequately protect franchise quarterback Joe Burrow continues. The bookends are solid with Orlando Brown Jr. and Amarius Mims but, much like the defense, the interior needs work. Drafting athletic guards who move well in space has to be seriously considered in the early rounds.\u00a0 With this being said, let’s take a look at our second version of a three-round Bengals Mock Draft.<\/p>\n

Cincinnati Bengals Three-Round Mock Draft 2.0<\/h2>\n

Round One (Pick 17) – S | Malaki Starks \/ Georgia<\/em><\/h3>\n

Don’t be surprised if the Bengals strongly consider drafting a safety at pick 17 in this year’s draft. In this scenario, they get one of the best in class in Malaki Starks from the University of Georgia<\/a>. His stock is rapidly rising and you can never have enough defensive backs in the NFL. Starks is a fantastic athlete and could be inserted immediately into the starting lineup in a position Cincinnati has tried to fill effectively since the departure of Jessie Bates following the 2022 season.<\/p>\n

Starks was a three-year starter for the Bulldogs and is no stranger to playing in big moments and games with the highest stakes. He has good size for safety at 6’1″, 197 pounds, and earned plenty of accolades<\/a> during his time in Athens including, 2024 AFCA, FWWA All-America First Team, 2024 AP, The Athletic, ESPN, CBS, USA Today, Walter Camp All-America Second Team, 2023 Consensus All-America First Team, 2022 The Athletic Freshman All-America First Team and finished his career with six interceptions, six TFLs and 127 SOLO tackles.<\/p>\n

Starks wins in many ways, and his football intelligence is off the charts. His speed and recovery skills are top-notch, and his physicality and instincts allow him to be a versatile player who can play in the box if needed.<\/p>\n

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Combine testing don\u2019t have anything to do with these movement skills. <\/p>\n

Malaki Starks is a SPECIAL athlete. IDC about a 40. pic.twitter.com\/kaSD50Qutv<\/a><\/p>\n

— Brooks Austin (@BrooksAustinBA) March 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n