At 5-8 with four games to go, the Cincinnati Bengals’ playoff hopes aren’t 100% gone. They say it ain’t over until the fat lady sings. Well, when it comes to the 2024 edition of the Bengals, she’s finished warm-ups and is headed to the stage. To say this year has been a monumental disappointment would still be selling it short. The offense is among the elites and Joe Burrow is putting up MVP numbers. However, the defense has been selling the farm.

There is a lot of football to be played between now and April 26 when the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft kicks off in Green Bay. After 14 weeks of play, the Bengals are currently situated as the 10th pick. Let’s see what we can to to get the Bengals better situated to get back to the playoffs.

“It Ain’t Over But It’s Over” Cincinnati Bengals Three-Round Mock Draft

Round 1, Pick 10: Abdul Carter, EDGE, Penn State

With the 10th overall pick, the Bengals could have plenty to choose from. Ideally, a handful of quarterbacks get drafted and/or a team trades up for its next signal caller and more and more non-quarterback talent drops. In this Pro Football Focus mock draft, two quarterbacks went. Potential targets Mason Graham, Tetairoa McMillan, Luther Burden, Will Campbell, and Will Johnson were gone.

Abdul Carter fell right into the Bengals’ lap.

Outside of Trey Hendrickson, the Bengals have no pass rush. He has 12.5 sacks. The rest of the team combined has 11.5. Five of those 11.5 have come from defensive ends. If the team comes out of free agency and the draft without adding at least one difference-maker at the position, it will be malpractice.

Enter Carter.

For each of his three years on campus, Carter has been a force for the Nittany Lions’ defense. Prior to the 2024 season, he made the move from linebacker to true edge rusher. It’s paid off. He led Penn State to a Big Ten Championship Game appearance and a College Football Playoff berth. The stud edge rusher led the way with 60 tackles, a Big Ten-leading 19.5 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three pass breakups, and two forced fumbles.

He is a freak athlete and would make an immediate impact.

Round 2, Pick 42: Derrick Harmon, DT, Oregon

This would have been a great pick for Thorpe Award winner Jahdae Barron at corner or Walter Nolen at defensive tackle but neither were available. It would be quite interesting with safety Xavier Watts sitting there. Additionally, there aren’t any offensive linemen worth taking here. So, let’s continue to fortify the defensive line with defensive tackle, Derrick Harmon

A leader on the Oregon defense, Harmon transferred to the Ducks after three years with Michigan State. All he did was put up career numbers. Heading into the College Football Playoff, Harmon is sitting with 42 tackles, 8.5 tackles for loss, five sacks, four pass breakups, two forced fumbles, and two fumble recoveries.

Harmon would be a great partner with last year’s second-round pick, Kris Jenkins. Harmon has great size and strength and is rarely beat off the ball. He has a good motor and can make a play when it otherwise looks like he is taken care of.

He’s not a natural pass rusher at the position but he has the tools to be developed. A defensive line with Hendrickson, B.J. Hill/Jenkins/Harmon, and Carter would be a significant upgrade.

Round 3, Pick 74: Harold Fannin, Jr., TE, Bowling Green

There is a little uncertainty with regard to the Bengals’ weapons. While Cincinnati has gotta a little productivity from Mike Gesicki at the tight end position, upgrading and fortifying the unit is always a good option, especially with Erick All’s second ACL injury in as many years. Enter one of the top playmakers in the nation, Harold Fannin, Jr.

The Bengals have been mocked to play-making tight ends for what feels like a decade at this point and with every passing draft, fans are wrong. However, this is a player the Bengals might not be able to pass up. Despite playing in the MAC, Fannin was a world-class player and could be on his way to being a consensus All-American (at the time of publishing, two All-American teams have been announced, both with Fannin as a First-Team selection).

In 12 games, Fannin hauled in 100 passes for 1,342 yards and nine touchdowns. His receptions and yards are second-most in the country. Now second-most among tight ends, second-most among any and all players in the country, only behind college football’s fourth triple crown winner in history, Nick Nash.

According to PFF, Fannin is the highest-graded player in all of college football regardless of position and his 31 broken tackles are most in the nation and most by a tight end over at least the last 11 seasons.

He’s not just a big receiver who happens to play tight end, he can block, too. He led the way among pass-catchng tight ends with a 74.5 run-blocking grade, significantly better than he other two Mackey Award finalists.

Giving Burrow Fannin – regardless of what happens with Tee Higgins – would be unfair.