CBS Sports Names Cincinnati Bengals Top AFC Team That Must Ace 2025 NFL Draft

The Bengals have drafted poorly in recent years.

Feb 25, 2025; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Cincinnati Bengals general manager Duke Tobin speaks during the NFL Scouting Combine at the Indiana Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

CINCINNATI — The 2025 NFL Draft is crucial for Cincinnati to inject new talent into the roster (especially on defense) and bring the franchise back to contender status after consecutive seasons missing the playoffs.

CBS Sports's Jeff Kerr agrees and even made Cincinnati his top AFC team that must ace the draft this month with its six picks.

"The Bengals tied their salary cap into retaining Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins (who they drafted), signing the two wide receivers to massive long-term extensions this offseason," Kerr wrote. "Joe Burrow is one of the highest-paid quarterbacks in football, another reason why there is little margin for error in getting draft picks right and improving other areas of the roster. Then there's the future of pass rusher Trey Hendrickson, who Cincinnati still hasn't come to terms with on an extension. 

"The Bengals need significant help on defense at edge rusher (even with Hendrickson), cornerback and linebacker as new defensive coordinator Al Golden needs to revamp the unit. They also need to improve an offensive line that allowed a sack rate of 6.9% last season (19th in the NFL). If the Bengals can ace the draft with their top selections (they have No. 17 and No. 49), they'll be AFC contenders once again."

Cincinnati has gone on draft heaters before but largely hasn't bundled hit picks together at all in the last four years. Chase Brown and Ja'Marr Chase are the only home-run draft picks in that time.

Those facts must change if Cincinnati wants to maximize Joe Burrow's time with the franchise.

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