Top 10 Prospects Under 25: Cincinnati Bengals
Cincinnati has become a destination filled with second chances under de facto GM Duke Tobin.
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While the Cincinnati Bengals do not list an official general manager, current director of player personnel Duke Tobin serves as the de facto GM, a role he has held since 1999. Over the past 25 years, Cincinnati has become known as an organization willing to give players who often find themselves in a difficult situation, a second chance. Their fourth round selection in this year’s draft, wideout Colbie Young, would be the latest example.
The Bengals have done well drafting up top through the first half of the decade. Since 2020, the organization has added several blue-chip talents and top-end starters with their Day 1 selections. In 2020, Cincinnati drafted franchise quarterback Joe Burrow with the No.1 overall pick. During the 2021 NFL Draft, the team added All Pro wideout J’Marr Chase. The following year, the Bengals were playing in the Super Bowl. It proves just how fast the NFL Draft can turn around a franchise.
Cincinnati has done well in round one since, adding starting cornerback Dax Hill in the 2022 NFL Draft, while starting defensive tackle Myles Murphy was taken in 2023 and starting right tackle Amarius Mims (pic: Bengals) was chosen in 2024. A lengthy rookie holdout seemed to be a hinderance for last year’s first round pick Shemar Stewart, as the jury remains out on the defensive lineman.
Overall, the Bengals front office certainly earned their stripes from their 2025 NFL Draft haul a year ago. It was turned out to be baptism by fire for rookie left guard Dylan Fairchild, who logged nearly 1,000 snaps and allowed just two sacks all season. However, he did allow 31 quarterback pressures, which has led him back to the laboratory this offseason with offensive line coach Scott Peters, to work on his fundamentals.
Cincinnati also received huge dividends from fourth round pick Barrett Carter at linebacker. He replaced Logan Wilson halfway through the season as the green-dot middle linebacker, displaying great maturity, leadership and communication. Carter ended with 106 tackles as a rookie and is expected to have an even greater impact this year.
The Bengals defensive line possesses the most potential and will be worth monitoring for the 2026 season, as four members up front made our Top 10 prospects below. Keep reading for the complete list.
AFC EAST PROSPECTS: BUF | MIA | NE | NYJ || AFC NORTH PROSPECTS: BAL
TOP 10 CINCINNATI BENGALS PROSPECTS UNDER THE AGE OF 25
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