The Cincinnati Bengals are at a crossroads this NFL offseason. Last season, despite sporting one of the most electric offenses in the league, they couldn’t make it to the playoffs, thanks to an equally derelict defense. But with Tee Higgins up for an extension and Ja’Marr Chase not far behind, the Bengals have to choose their priority.
According to reputed NFL analyst and mock draft specialist Warren Sharp, Cincinnati will do better by focusing on the defensive side in free agency. Instead of extending Higgins, they could replace their WR2 in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Cincinnati Bengals Get Their WR2 in the NFL Draft
According to Sharp, one of the three main draft targets for the Bengals at No. 17 overall has to come on the offensive side. But with no true standouts at the tight end position or in the offensive line, he has them selecting Emeka Egbuka from Ohio State.
The standout wide receiver tallied 24 touchdowns in his time with the Buckeyes and, in his two healthy seasons, was well clear of the 1,000-yard mark. For a Cincinnati team looking to replicate Higgins’ production, Egbuka could manage a ton of that with his excellent slot receiving.
🚨 Mock Draft 1.0 🚨
(no trades allowed version)
team needs + full logic for every pick
READ:https://t.co/pvnUQyEDAM pic.twitter.com/HB0fJzJitz
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) February 11, 2025
However, according to PFSN’s latest 2025 NFL Mock Draft, the Bengals will choose to go a different route and select Malaki Starks to bolster their defense. The Georgia Bulldog has excellent athleticism and coverage ability, which could go a big way in rebuilding Cincinnati’s defense.
Meanwhile, Egbuka slides to No. 21 overall to the Pittsburgh Steelers. PFSN analyst Brentley Weissman, however, understands the value Egbuka brings to the table.
He wrote, “Tough. Physical. Reliable. Those are words that come to mind when describing a Pittsburgh Steeler. Those are also words that just so happen to describe Ohio State wide receiver Emeka Egbuka.”
In particular, alongside a longball threat like George Pickens, Weissman believes Egbuka would be an ideal complementary piece, just like with Chase in Cincinnati.
“Egbuka is a highly productive slot receiver, offering excellent hands and separation quickness. He is a chain-mover who would be a great complement next to a big-play receiver like George Pickens.”
The Steelers’ 25th-ranked offense on PFSN’s Offense+ metric needs a game-changer more than the Bengals, who ranked seventh by the same standard.
Higgins ranks as the best available free agent on PFSN’s list of best free agents this summer. Losing him would be a huge blow for the Bengals. But for a team that finished with the fifth-worst defense in the NFL, according to PFN’s Defense+ metric, prioritizing that side of the ball is a necessity.