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Bengals Pass on Defense With Top-10 Pick in Latest Mock Draft

Cincinnati is on pace to pick in the top 10 this April.
Russell Heltman|
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025.
Notre Dame Fighting Irish running back Jeremiyah Love (4) reacts after scoring a touchdown during the first half against the Pittsburgh Panthers at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA on November 15, 2025. | Michael Longo / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

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Cincinnati Bengals

CINCINNATI — We are quickly approaching mock draft season early for the Bengals. The team is 3-7 and has a strong chance to earn a top-10 pick for the second time in the Joe Burrow era.

CBS Sports' writer Mike Renner thinks the team should use its free agency resources to try to fix the worst defense this century and instead double down on offensive skill talent near the top of the draft.

He had the team select Notre Dame running back Jeremyiah Love with the ninth pick in the draft.

"Obviously, the Bengals need help defensively, but they've spent so much draft capital on that side of the ball in recent years that free agency might be where they have to turn to fix things. Adding Love to their room of playmakers gives them a terrifying amount of speed," Renner wrote.

Love is widely considered one of the best running backs available in the draft, but Cincinnati already has a solid back in Chase Brown, and has holes at nearly every position on defense.

They seemingly can only hit on top 10 picks this decade, so forgoing a top-end defensive talent may be ill-advised.

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Russ Heltman
RUSSELL HELTMAN

Russ Heltman is a contributor for AllBearcats and AllBengals. He is the morning host and producer for 89.3 WMKV in Cincinnati, OH.  Russ can be found on Twitter: @RussHeltman11 or you can reach him by email at Heltmandm@yahoo.com.

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