Signing Trey Hendrickson to an extension remains on the team's offseason to-do list, and the Bengals drafted Shemar Stewart to pair with him in 2025. If contract negotiations remain at a stalemate, however, drafting a first-round edge defender in back-to-back seasons wouldn't be out of the question. Overton, a former teammate of Stewart before transferring to Alabama, offers positional versatility with a blend of size, power and athleticism to win in a variety of ways.

For some, Notre Dame running Jeremiyah Love is the top running back prospect in this class, but Baxter's freshman year was really encouraging. Now, he is returning from injury. The last three running backs that I included in way-too-early mock drafts were Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs and Ashton Jeanty. Baxter is not in the same class as those three players, but there is a lot to like.

The Bengals surprisingly did not address defensive tackle in this year's draft, so it looms as a huge need entering 2026. They need someone with Banks' great 6-6, 325-pound size in the middle of the line. He showed flashes last season, and if he can continue to progress in 2025 and increase his sack total (4.5), he has the traits to be a top-20 pick.

Best Pick: Fourth-round linebacker Barrett Carter can flat-out fly and will challenge for time early in his career. His play tailed off some last season, but he's a guy I've had my eye on for years.

Worst Pick: I get that first-round edge Shemar Stewart fills a need, but he is raw. The talent is there. The production wasn't and I think he lacks football instincts. Coaching will be huge for him.

The Skinny: I didn't love their draft. Stewart is so raw that it could take time. Second-round linebacker Demetrius Knight has some pop and will help at a need spot. I do like guard Dylan Fairchild in the third. But this is a draft that will be all about Stewart and his development. Sixth-round running back Tahj Brooks has talent and I like his chances as a third-down back.

Top needs entering the draft: Edge rusher, linebacker, safety and guard

If there was ever a year for the Bengals to go against some long-standing trends, this was it. First, they extended Ja'Marr Chase and re-signed Tee Higgins, including guarantees beyond the first years of the respective deals -- something the Bengals have not done in the past outside of the Joe Burrow deal two offseasons ago. But if that's what it takes to retain two of the league's best receivers, you do it. The offense -- which scored 26.4 points per game last season -- will be strong again.

Second, the Bengals drafted a front-seven player in the first round. They had done so just once in the past 15 years, taking Myles Murphy late on Day 1 in 2023. No other team has taken fewer than three defensive linemen or linebackers in Round 1 over that time. I'm not sure Cincinnati had a choice. The defense likely cost it a playoff spot last season (25.5 points allowed per game). Burrow and the Bengals lost four times while scoring 33-plus points. Trey Hendrickson -- who had 17.5 of the team's 36 sacks -- requested a trade, and his future is still in question. But Hendrickson or no Hendrickson, the Bengals had to land an effective pass rusher. And they had to do it early with only six picks.

Shemar Stewart has all the explosiveness and power you'd want in an edge rusher. He rockets into the backfield. But the 4.5 career sacks mean this is still a projection. Can he put it all together in the pros? The ceiling is very high, and he will be given every opportunity to reach it. The Bengals don't have much opposite Hendrickson. I ranked Stewart 27th overall.

Cincinnati also went need hunting on Day 2. Demetrius Knight Jr. gives the Bengals an off-ball linebacker, which provides cover in case Germaine Pratt isn't in town for the long haul; he also requested a trade. Dylan Fairchild gives the Bengals a reliable guard, where the pass protection really struggled last season. Neither player came at value, though. Knight was ranked 82nd on my board and went 49th. Ratledge was ranked 110th and went 81st. On Day 3, my favorite Bengals pick was running back Tahj Brooks. He is coming off back-to-back 1,500-yard seasons on the ground and provides depth behind Chase Brown and Zack Moss.

It was sort of a ho-hum draft for the Bengals overall, which is why I gave them a "C" grade.