The Cincinnati Bengals are here to stay as legitimate contenders in the AFC, but it’ll take a performance like this 2023 NFL Mock Draft in April to help them leapfrog the Chiefs. What do the Bengals need to do in the draft to reach the mountaintop?
In this scenario, simulated trades were active among other teams via the Mock Draft Simulator, but the Bengals held steady and did not make any moves.
Latest Cincinnati Bengals 2023 NFL Mock Draft
Darnell Wright, OT, Tennessee | Round 1, Pick 28
La’el Collins suffered a torn ACL and MCL in late December, and he wasn’t a dominant starter when he was healthy. Cincinnati can cut ties with minimal dead cap in 2023 or maybe move Collins inside. But at tackle, getting a more viable long-term option like Darnell Wright could be smart.
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Wright, a former five-star recruit, has the strength, hand power, precision, and size-relative footwork to be a stud bookend blocker for a long time.
Calijah Kancey, DT, Pittsburgh | Round 2, Pick 60
An underrated need for Cincinnati rests on the interior defensive line, where the Bengals could stand to have a stronger pass-rushing presence. Next to D.J. Reader, Calijah Kancey could be an absolute menace.
He’s undersized and lean for the position, but he’s a firecracker with elite explosiveness, twitch, hand speed, and devastating tenacity on the attack.
A.T. Perry, WR, Wake Forest | Round 3, Pick 92
We don’t know how the Tee Higgins saga will play out, but if Higgins’ contract demands prove untenable, a trade may be in the cards. In that case, the Bengals would need to infuse the WR core with a new size threat.
A.T. Perry isn’t the dominating spectacle that Higgins is. But at almost 6’4″, 195 pounds, with near-34″ arms, he’s a spider-like threat at the catch point with rare twitch and separation ability for his size.
Sydney Brown, S, Illinois | Round 4, Pick 131
The Bengals have both Jessie Bates III and Vonn Bell on their free agent queue this offseason, and it seems unlikely that they’ll bring back both of them — especially with Daxton Hill in the wings.
If both leave, Sydney Brown could be a great complement to Hill in Round 4. At 5’10”, 213 pounds with sharp physicality, he fits the strong safety mold very well. But he can also manage space in coverage and make plays on the ball.
Payne Durham, TE, Purdue | Round 5, Pick 165
With Hayden Hurst and Mitchell Wilcox both scheduled to hit free agency, the Bengals should have an eye on the depth of this TE class. On Day 3 of the 2023 NFL Draft, Payne Durham could be a steal. He’s not an elite athlete, but he’s a well-sized talent with great instincts and hand strength to go along with his willingness as a blocker.
Jartavius Martin, DB, Illinois | Round 6, Pick 206
We’re double-dipping into the Illinois secondary. And if you watched them play in 2022, why wouldn’t you? Cam Taylor-Britt played well enough down the stretch for the Bengals to earn the other boundary spot opposite Chidobe Awuzie.
But Jartavius Martin provides valuable depth and versatility this late in the 2023 NFL Draft. And as a bonus, he’s a smooth athlete with playmaking chops.
Aubrey Miller Jr., LB, Jackson State | Round 7, Pick 248
It’s hard to do anything other than throw darts in Round 7, but at linebacker, Aubrey Miller Jr. is as good of a dart throw as you’ll get. And with Germaine Pratt potentially leaving, Miller is worth the investment. He’s a dense, explosive athlete at almost 6’0″, 230 pounds.
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He has special teams experience, which should help early on, but he’s a relentless attacker in the box — with 23.5 tackles for loss to his name over the past two seasons.