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This short-form article has been updated at 12:50 pm 5/2/25.
Commonly referred to as “QB1” among the Reds faithful, Catcher Tyler Stephenson is eligible to come back to the Cincinnati Reds after a rehab stint with the AAA Louisville Bats. Tyler was diagnosed with a pretty serious oblique injury, and the Reds, large in part to their immense production they’ve got from their catching duo, have taken their sa-wee-eee-t time with Stephenson. Be sure to subscribe to our Newsletter!
The Louisville Struggle.
Even though he’s eligible, he may not feel ready. His brief stats from his rehab stint would suggest he’s still way off on timing. In 28 ABs, he’s slashing .107/.265/.515. We all know that’s not Tyler Stephenson, so much could suggest his timing is still way off from the months he sat idle. He has 1 HR, which adds to his 3 total hits. He’s walked 6 times, and also struck out 9 in those 28 ABs as well.
Much could say he’s not ready yet, and I think he would even agree. Tyler is a perfectionist and knows it’s a performance based game. He does not want to hurt the team by not being ready. The Reds’ catching situation is arguably the best it’s been in a decade, Tyler Stephenson is a must on this team, but it’s not right now.
Cincinnati Reds Tyler Stephenson
We believe he will opt to take some more ABs in Louisville, and that’s what the team is thinking too. All that matters is that he’s healthy. Nati Sports’ brass is putting their money on Tyler rejoining the Reds for their Atlanta series starting on Monday; Georgia is Tyler’s home state and one of his favorite stops. Expect to see Tyler back with the Reds on Monday.
Well, we were wrong, kinda! The Reds had to put Austin Hays on the IL again, and thus they are bringing Tyler Stephenson back. Tyler has been activated for Friday’s game against the Washington Nationals.
The Cincinnati Reds will have two of their farmhands making their MLB debuts during the double header on April 30th, 2025 versus the St. Louis Cardinals after 4/29’s game was postponed due to the storms in the area.
A few seasons after being acquired for Sonny Gray 1 for 1, Chase Petty is finally set to show off his dynamic arsenal after months of bullpens and pitch shaping. One thing you cannot take from Chase is his work ethic – he’s shown that to be one of his strengths. If he gets blown up in a game, he’s in the lab getting it figured out.
So far in 2025, Chase has been super efficient. He’s sporting a 3.25 ERA in 5 starts in AAA Louisville pitching 23.0 IP. He’d like to be getting more K’s, but he’s been serviceable, and that’s what you want. He’s still 22, and he’s been healthy, which is the biggest primer. He does have a 1.30 WHIP, so we’re going to need to hope he throws more quality strikes, but as of now he’s joining the Reds to make a spot start.
IF/DH Tyler Callihan
If you read this article on the site, you’d know we mentioned Tyler Callihan potentially getting the call to the bigs. Well, it’s rumored that’s coming with the Chase Petty news tomorrow. Tyler has been absolutely raking in AAA, and has also been really good on the basepaths, too, which we know to be important.
Callihan was a early top 100 pick by the Reds in their pivotal draft in 2019 (85th overall) and has been one of my favorite Reds prospects and it helps he’s been healthy…finally. In 89 ABs at Louisville, 24 year old Callihan is slashing .303/.410/.938 (OPS) and has 4 HRs to go with his 27 total hits. Per Fangraphs, he has a 155 wRC+. That’s a welcoming stick.
When/If the Reds announce Tyler Callihan’s recall from AAA Louisville, the corresponding move will likely be Jeimer Candelario to the IL. He “spoke up” about lower back tightness today, per Charlie Goldsmith via Terry Francona. Candy has been so bad, this is likely a ‘phantom’ IL and he can take some time to try to figure it out. He has $32,000,000 reasons to.
Tyler Callihan.
Holy moses. That ball was hit to the airfield. I've always been huge on this kids bat.
Earlier this week, the Reds promoted Randy Wynnes to make a spotstart for Nick Lodolo after the birth of his child (paternity leave) – yesterday he was Designated For Assignment, eventually cleared waivers, and now has been outrighted to Louisville where he’s expected to remain. So…this is where it gets interesting. The Reds are now at 39 players on the roster. You should sign up for our email list using the popup or the form below! Stay up to date on everything Reds!
Who Are The Reds’ Options?
The Reds, since they’re subtracting from their pitching, can go several different ways. They could either end up reinstating a position player, or they could go the other route and add a pitcher. There’s prominent every day Reds players currently on rehab assignments, and one that is simply on the IL. None of these guys are on the 60 day IL, so that leaves room to add a player to the roster.
Christian Encarnacion-Strand went on the IL late last week with back spasms. He’s known to of got an epidural to help with his pains, but his status is still unknown as of now. It’s unclear if he’s been swinging the bat or not.
Tyler Stephenson started a rehab stint this week in Louisville, and has been both hitting and catching, labeling himself as “healthy” – could it be him that is recalled from AAA and slotted into the lineup? We were told he’d be ‘babied’ and that they’d take their time with him, the right thing to do, especially as Austin Wynns & Jose Trevino have been balling out.
Sam Moll also started a rehab assignment on 4/22 with Tyler Stephenson and pitched last night with increased velocity and more strikes being thrown. I’d think that he is the most likely candidate to be recalled and reinstated sooner rather than later, Stephenson will probably be getting his feet under him further. All of these guys, but none needing to be added to the 40…so that brings us to what really matters here…
The Next 40 Man Move?
The Reds have a spot open, and there’s a guy in AAA that has been absolutely shredding the competition and has been HOT that plays the outfield. His name is Ivan Johnson. There’s a possibility the Reds will use their open 40 man spot on him, and give him a chance, should somebody get hurt. The Reds do not need to add anyone else to their 40 man roster as of now, and no one on the 60 day IL is set to be reactivated, so this is a good chance for Ivan to be added.
As of now, Ivan Johnson, in 18 games so far in 2025 and 62 ABs, is slashing .323/.425/.532 with a .957 OPS. Ivan is a switch hitting OFer, primarily playing LF, who can definitely bank on the Reds calling his number soon if he continues this trend. Right alongside him is Tyler Callihan who also seems to be knocking on the door, but Tyler is already on the 40. As always, Nati Sports will let you know who gets added as soon as it comes out!
It’s the day before the NFL Draft and after countless mock drafts and trade down scenarios, it’s time to deep dive into these prospects. From projected stars like Walter Nolen, Jihaad Campbell, and Malaki Starks, to under the radar prospects like Logan Brown, Tahj Brooks, and Ty Robinson. Let’s dive into the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals!
The draft is full of excitement every season, and I’m here to help give fans projections as to who the Bengals should take this weekend.
Walter Nolen | DT | Ole Miss
Beginning with my selection from my recent mock draft, Walter Nolen would be an instant game changer for the Bengals. Projected to go in the middle of the first round, the Bengals would have to select him at pick 17. He’s an elite run defender with a ton of pass rush potential. Projected to be a 3-tech in the NFL, he caught many eyes at the senior bowl as a game wrecker.
Coming off of a 6.5 sack season at Ole Miss, it’s easy to conclude that he’s a solid pass rusher. He needs to improve his pass rush arsenal and have a better plan to be elite in the NFL. Nolen can be a game wrecker, but he needs some polishing. He can expose his chest which can lead to him disappearing on some plays.
With his weaknesses come many strengths. He was one of the best run defenders in all of college football in 2024. PFF gave him a 91.6 run defense grade and registered him with a 11.9% run stop rate. Along with that came a 80.8 pass rush grade out of true pass sets and a 10.9% pass rush win rate. He is my favorite of the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Mike Green | Edge | Marshall
Mike Green is and has been my favorite draft choice for the Bengals. He is a pass rush first edge with many pass rush moves already developed. The one that sticks out to me the most was his lethal spin move. Not only is he elite in the pass rush department, he is also an elite run defender. But with all of this comes character concerns and a sexual assault accusation.
Let’s focus on the football part of Green’s game. He is the most polished edge in the entire draft, in my opinion. He has a 20.4% pass rush win rate and a 91.4 pass rush grade. Pair that with a 9.4% run stop rate and a 90.9 run defense grade, and you have a pro bowl edge. Even if only his pass rush translates to the NFL, he would easily be a 14+ sack player. If he’s available at 17, it’ll be hard to pass up the opportunity to add him to a lackluster defense.
The concern with Mike Green stems from a sexual assault allegation from his time at Virginia Tech. Green has denied any wrong doing and his case was dismissed in 2022. He was dismissed from Virginia Tech’s football team and transfered to Marshall at the beginning of 2023.
James Pearce | Edge | Tennessee
James Pearce is one of the most interesting prospects in the 2025 NFL Draft. When he’s on, he is one of the best players in his class. But his troubles start there. He has major character concerns and has been dropping out of the top 20 entirely. However, if he can improve his attitude, he would be a stellar pick at 17.
James Pearce is a pass rush first edge, and was solid in run defense in 2024. He had a 23% pass rush win rate and 8 sacks in 2024. This is a down year for Pearce after recording 13 sacks in 2023 and a 90.4 overall grade from PFF.
The overall take on Pearce is that if he can fix his off the field struggles, he will be an elite edge rusher in the NFL. Will the Bengals look past his issues and trust in his development? We’ll have to see on Thursday night.
Derrick Harmon | DT | Oregon
Derrick Harmon recorded the most pressures in all of college football in 2024. He would immediately be the Bengals starter at the 3-tech spot, much like Walter Nolen. The debate between Harmon and Nolen has been active all off-season, and it’ll be interesting to see how the Bengals have them ranked.
Derrick Harmon comes into Thursday night with a 17.7% pass rush win rate and 5 sacks in 2024. Like I mentioned earlier, he lead college football in total pressures. A Michigan State transfer, he was a crucial part of that 2024 Oregon defense that was the number one seed in college football.
The issue with Harmon begins with his missed tackle rate. He missed 26.7% of his tackles in 2024. He has proven that he can get pressure, but finishing the job is what separates him from other tackles in the class.
Jihaad Campbell | LB | Alabama
Continuing the trend with defensive players, Jihaad Campbell is one of the best defenders in the entire draft. His versatility to rush the passer and play off ball is hard to pass up. He had surgery after the combine to repair a torn labrum, which could cause him to slide on draft night.
His average depth tackle per run was 3.3yds, which is a solid number for a linebacker of his type. He recorded an 80.6 coverage grade and ran a 4.52 40-yard dash. Campbell only missed 5.9% of his 89 tackles in 2024. He is the 2024 season leader in coverage stops at 30 in college football.
Jihaad Campbell is another one of those splash picks the Bengals have the opportunity to make. But the concern relies in that shoulder. Will his labrum heal in time for training camp? Probably not. I think he’ll be 100% by the beginning of the season, but for a rookie, missing camp is a critical factor.
Carson Schwesinger | LB | UCLA
Carson Schwesinger is the 2nd best off-ball linebacker in this draft to me. Much like Logan Wilson was in 2020, Schwesinger is as sure-fire of a pick as there is. Not projected to go until round two, I could see the Bengals taking him at 49. He is a lighter build for a lineabacker, only 225lbs, but he is a freak of nature.
The one thing that stood out most on film from Schwesinger is his pursuit speed. After watching awful pursuit angles from Bengals linebackers in 2024, Schwesinger would fix that problem. He only missed 7.6% of his tackles in 2024 and recorded a 74.6 coverage grade. He is a name that has risen on draft boards over the last few weeks, so if he’s there at 49, I’d take him without hesitation.
The only real concern I have with Schwesinger is his size. He is a smaller linebacker, but what he lacks in size, he makes up with athleticism. Schwesinger scored a 9.86/10 on the RAS score, which is one of the highest scores in this years class. He would be a day one starter and has star potential. It would be hard to not like the pick.
Shemar Stewart | Edge | Texas A&M
Shemar Stewart is one of the more interesting draft prospects in the class. His hype has been entirely based off of his athletisim. He has all of the traits to be an all-pro edge in the NFL. The problem lies in the lack of production in college. He only recorded 2 sacks in each of his three seasons in college ball.
The film on Stewart was not good. He can win a pass rush rep, but he rarely finishes. The lack of production is a huge concern for all parties involved. He did, however, score a perfect 10/10 on the RAS athleticism chart. Many believe that if you have the traits to play in the NFL, you will succeed. I tend to disagree.
When making an important first round pick, it’s crucial to take a player that has elite statistics all across the board. It’s hard to draft someone off of athleticism alone and that’s exactly what you would be doing with Stewart. I say no thank you at 17, but he has all the upside in the world to be an all-pro player. I would not consider him one of the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals, but he is a possibility, so I decided to add him to the article.
Kelvin Banks | OL | Texas
Kelvin Banks is one of the best lineman in the draft and would be a pick that instantly solves the Bengals guard problem. Banks played exclusively left tackle for the Longhorns, but he projects as a guard in the NFL due to his arm length. An elite tackle for Texas pair with elite athleticism, I think the move to left guard would be easy.
Kelvin Banks is a freak on film. He is constantly locking studs down left and right. Banks was a big reason the Longhorns were only a few plays away from a national championship berth. He has an 89.9 pass block grade coming into the draft with a 81.0 run block grade. I think he’d be another pro bowl player in the NFL.
Like all prospects, everyone has a weakness. Banks’ weakness is out of his controll. His length was the reason for a lot of his losses in the season. That’s why many project him as a left guard in the league. But that’s perfect news for the Bengals. He is definitely one of the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tate Ratledge | OG | Georgia
Tate Ratledge went under the radar for a lot of the 2024 season. He battled an MCL strain and sprained ankle in his senior season. He still managed to play 10 games and I wouldn’t be concerned. Another stud athlete, Ratledge was an anchor at the right guard spot for the Bulldogs.
Ratledge isn’t the most dominant on film, and for that reason, he’ll comfortably fall to pick 49. But that isn’t to say he wont be a stud. He is another one of the prospects in the “safest” pool. Not only was he a good blocker in both the run and pass game, he also is a freak athlete. He also scored a 9.86/10 on the RAS score.
Much like Schwesinger, it’s hard to find many weaknesses for Ratledge. He can lose some power after his first punch, but I think he did a nice job at finishing blocks. He would be the best guard in the Joe Burrow era, and I think that’s enough for me to draft him at 49.
Logan Brown | OT | Kansas
Another one of the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals is Logan Brown. Logan Brown is a day 3 prospect that I’ve just recently fallen in love with. He was an anchor for Kansas in 2024. The thing he lacks is versatility, as he strictly played right tackle for Kansas. He had solid grades in both run and pass blocking, and was another prospect with elite athleticism testing and size.
Brown did a really good job on the few games I saw of him on film. He doesn’t get beat often and holds his own against the Big 12 competition. He does a nice job at pulling on blocks and can go against anyone and find success. PFF graded him with an 82.2 run blocking grade and a 78.0 pass blocking grade. He only allowed 6 hurries, 0 sacks, and 0 hits in 2024.
Being projected in the 4th round, Brown has his share of concerns. He only started 14 career games over 3 seasons, 11 of which came in 2024. Brown was also dismissed from Wisconsin in 2022 for reasons unknown. He had four holding penalties and is grabby on film. I’d take the chance on him day 3, it’ll be interesting to see where he falls.
Andrew Mukuba | S | Texas
Andrew Mukuba is another Longhorn I’d take a long look at. He isn’t projected to go until the 3rd round, and I’d be more than comfortable taking him at 81. His run defense needs some improvement, but I think his elite coverage lacks up for it. I think he has all the potential in the world to finally replace the Jessie Bates role.
Mukuba stands out the most in coverage on film. PFF credited him with an 89.7 coverage grade in 2024. He is fast and explosive, and takes all of the right angles. He can play center field and bait QBs into creating turnovers, collecting 5 interceptions in 2024. Andrew Mukuba had a forced incompletion rate of 26.1%, one of the best in his class.
Mukuba will have to improve in his run defense, although it wasn’t the worst. He is a tad undersized for the safety position, but like others I’ve mentioned, he is an elite athlete. Per The Beast via the Athletic, Mukuba perfers to be a true safety and not play in the slot. I think he would add good value to the poor defense, and add some wins for the Bengals.
Xavier Watts | S | Notre Dame
Xavier Watts has to be my favorite safety in this year’s draft class for the Bengals. Not only did he have elite level play, he did it under new defensive coordinator Al Golden. He recorded 6 interceptions in 2024 and was a huge contributer in Notre Dame’s playoff run.
Al Golden should be pounding the table for Watts to come back to his defense. He had an 89.5 coverage grade paired with an 79.5 run defense grade. He isn’t the strongest tackler, but he is serviceable. Watts brings has a 15.6% forced incompletion rate, which is well above average for a safety. He can also line up in both the box and the slot comfortably.
Xavier Watts isn’t the most impressive athlete, but I think his play speaks for himself. He missed 12.6% of his tackles, which is an area that needs improvement. However, if he came into the Bengals organization, he would immediately start. Another player that can fill that Jessie Bates void.
Sai’vion Jones | Edge | LSU
Sai’Vion Jones is another under the radar type prospect in this years draft. Not slated to be selected until day three, I imagine he’s a backup plan for the Bengals if they fail to address edge early. He is a solid pass rusher and a decent run defender. However, he brings a big frame to the table. He stands 6’6″ tall and 280lbs.
Sai’Vion Jones is a player that shouldn’t see every down, but could come in in obvious passsing downs. He won 15% of his pass rush snaps, which is above average. Jones recorded 13 sacks over his three collegiate seasons. He had an astonishing 32 hurries and 6 additional QB hits in 2024.
Jones isn’t the best ahtlete and certainly won’t impress much with his speed. He lacks the true speed to bend the corner at the NFL level, but has a solid list of moves to win blocks. I think he would be a solid rotational piece next to guys like Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai. The Bengals can also plug him in the 3-tech spot on passing downs. He deserves, however, to be on the list of the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Tahj Brooks | RB | Texas Tech
Tahj Brooks would be the only running back on my board. After re-working Zack Moss’s contract and adding Samaje Perine, the Bengals should only focus on running back if the opportunity posseses itself. Brooks fits every mold they’re looking for in that running back room.
Tahj Brooks was voted a team captain in 2024, which is something the Bengals use as influence. He is Texas Tech’s leading rusher in yards and 4th in Big 12 history. He accumulated over 3,000 yards in his final 2 seasons, earning a 90.1 grade in 2023. Brooks can run all over and in-between the field. He is willing to catch the ball and does a decent job. He is a willing pass blocker and had success in college with his 230lb frame.
Where Brooks falls off is his speed. He isn’t the slowest back, but he will get tracked down time to time in the field. He fumbled 5 times in his three seasons, which isn’t terrible, but could be cleaned up. Tahj Brooks would be a fun pick at 193, and I would imagine that’s where his draft slot is.
Ty Robinson | DT | Nebraska
Ty Robinson is the final player I’ll be covering in this article. He is a player I would expect them to take if they fail to address defensive tackle in the first 3 rounds. Adding him in the fourth would be ideal, but grabbing him in the fifth round would be a luxury.
Robinson played in college for 6 seasons and finally broke out in his final year. He recorded 6 sacks, doubling his total from 2023. He had a 10.4% pass rush win rate, which is well above average for a defensive tackle. Robinson never faded when it came to playing real competition. He battled 4 balls in 2023 and 2024, which the Bengals know can change a game.
The Nebraska product could do a better job with his hand placement and, like most later prospects, isn’t the best athlete. He’ll turn 24 on May 3rd, and is one of the older prospects to be taken. He would compete for playing time right away and be a big rotational piece for the Bengals.
What to Look for Heading into Thursday
The Bengals need to nail all six draft selections if they want a chance at a Super Bowl in 2025. They should trade down at one of their spots to gain more picks, but it’s still possible to have an A+ draft with six selections. Adding a few of the top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals specifically would help.
I think they’ll attack defense often and early, but they need to add a guard in the first 3 rounds. Kelvin Banks and Tate Ratledge would be elite selections. Adding defense everywhere else needs to be a priority.
Let’s hope they nail the weekend and come out on top as winners. I want to see them in the postseason. Nailing this event will be the make or break to doing so. Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think about my top draft prospects for the Cincinnati Bengals.
Welcome to another Bengals mock draft Monday. It’s the Monday before the NFL draft, which means it’s time for my final mock draft of the 2025 season. Happy NFL Draft week everybody! Let’s hope the Bengals use their 6 picks to their advantage and fill all the holes we have in the roster. I think I did that today using PFF’s mock draft simulator, so let’s dive into it.
R1-P17 | DT Walter Nolen | Ole Miss
Walter Nolen is my prediction for the Bengals to draft on Thursday. They absolutely love what he’s about. But what all can he bring to the table? The answer is simple and the answer is everything. He is a phenomenal pass rusher, which the Bengals have lacked at the tackle spot since Geno Atkins departed. Not only is he an elite pass rusher, he’s an even better run defender. He registered a solid 11.9% run stop rate with a 91.6 run defense grade.
In this scenario WR Tet McMillan was also still on the board. While unrealistic, it is possible he falls in the draft. If he makes it to pick 17, the Bengals need to listen to all offers and trade down to gain more capital. Instead, I chose Nolen, but don’t be surprised if they make a trade on day one.
R2-P49 | G Tate Ratledge | Georiga
Tate Ratledge at pick 49 is a slam dunk pick for me. He is the best guard in the draft and would immediately start at right guard for the Bengals. He played amongst a great offensive line in Georgia. However, he will get a very solid staff with the Bengals playing next to Ted Karras and Amarius Mims. I think it’s very realistic that he’s there at 49, and they should sprint to the podium with his name.
R3-P81 | S Andrew Mukuba | Texas
Andrew Mukaba is again another player that would come in right away and play meaningful snaps for the Bengals. The Bengals wouldn’t start him over Geno Stone, it would allow them to play a 3 safety package which they like. For a stoubt Texas defense, he registered a 89.7 coverage grade and was PFF’s highest graded safety in 2024. He paired his coverage grade with a 75.8 run defense grade. Missed tackles were an issue with a 14.4% miss-tackle rate, but he’s still has pro bowl upside in the NFL.
R4-P119 | Edge Sai’vion Jones | LSU
Sai’Vion Jones is one of the bigger edge rushers in the class. He stands 6’6″ 280lbs and registered a 15.5% pass rush win rate. Jones had a career high of 5 sacks in 2024 and had an 81.6 pass rush grade out of true pass rush sets. He has multiple pass rush moves already developed and should be a great rotational piece for the Bengals. While it doesn’t solve the edge problem completely, he doesn’t hurt the room.
R5-P153 | OT Logan Brown | Kansas
I mock Logan Brown to the Bengals yet again this week. He is too solid of an athlete to pass up if he falls to pick 153. He is both a solid pass blocker and run blocker. Brown has great height and length for the position and a lot of his issues can easily be fixed at the NFL level. He only played right tackle for Kansas, but with his athletisim I think he would be fine transitioning anywhere on the line. Still, he would be a very solid backup to Mims and a fantastic 6th lineman on the team.
R6-P193 | RB Tahj Brooks | Texas Tech
Tahj Brooks rounds out my final Bengals mock draft Monday of 2025. He would be a fun compliment to Chase Brown with his 230lb frame. He also showed he is a good pass blocker at Texas Tech, which would be a great element to have to play meaningful snaps for the Bengals. Adding Brooks to a room with Brown and Perine shuld have the Bengals feeling pretty good about their running back room.
Recapand Misses
As the draft approaches, I find it harder and harder to add a linebacker to this 2025 class. They only have 6 picks and it’s crucial to nail all 6. I won’t be happy if Pratt was still on the team come training camp, but it’s looking more and more likely that they won’t have a choice. The Bengals could also take Iowa LB Jay Higgins instead of Tahj Brooks at 193, but it’s a tossup right now.
I didn’t decide to make any trades this draft as I don’t honestly see the Bengals trading out of their projected picks in 2025. All in all however, these are 6 solid players for the Bengals and I won’t at all be mad at this draft come Saturday night. Let me know what you think down below! Thanks for tuning into another Bengals Mock draft Monday!
Happy Mock Draft Monday, everyone. I am releasing my first official mock draft of the year, as the draft is now less than two weeks away! It took me some time to understand all the prospects available. After many weeks of research, I am comfortable enough to make a prediction. Almost all positions are on the big board for the Bengals, and they only have 6 picks headed into the draft. They’ll need to hit big on all 6 or trade back and acquire more. Using PFF’s mock draft simulator, let’s see how this mock draft Monday shakes out.
R1-P23 | OT Kelvin Banks Jr. | Texas
The Bengals originally held the 17th pick in the NFL draft. I decided to trade back with the hometown Green Bay Packers. For pick 17, the Packers gave picks 23, 87, and 124. The Packers move up 6 spots and take WR Matthew Golden.
I decided to go with tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. out of Texas, who the Bengals have met with. The plan for him would be to kick immediately into that left guard spot and be the backup tackle in case Orlando Brown Jr. goes down to injury. His arms are shorter than average for the NFL level, and I envision him as a franchise-changing guard prospect. Athletically, he tested at a 9.54/10 when changing his position to guard.
R2-P49 | Edge Bradyn Swinson | LSU
For my next selection, I decided to beef up the pass rush and select Bradyn Swinson out of LSU. In 2024, he recorded a 20% pass rush win rate, which was one of the best in college football. He would be a fun rotation piece to add to the mix and a guy who would receive a ton of snaps in 2025. With Trey Hendrickson’s future in doubt, he could become the replacement if all goes smoothly.
R3-P81| S Kevin Winston| Penn State
Kevin Winston is coming off a torn ACL in 2024. Before that, he was a top safety in the draft after a stellar 2023 campaign. The Bengals are looking to add to the back half of their secondary, and adding Kevin Winston at pick 81 is a low-risk, high-reward situation. He could even compete for that starting safety role if he has a strong start to camp in July.
R3-P87 | RB Damien Martinez | Miami (FL)
Damien Martinez would be a bit of a surprise pick for the Bengals, but with the extra 3rd round pick in their pockets, I think it makes sense. They have invited many running-back prospects on visits, so they are definitely in the market. I don’t foresee them attacking a physical back until late day 3, but Martinez provides them a great compliment to Chase Brown.
R4-P119 | DT Jamaree Caldwell | Oregon
Jamaree Caldwell had an outstanding season on that Oregon defensive front. He registered an 81.6 run defensive grade on PFF and had a 9.3% pass rush win rate. He would need to develop his finishing rate, but he would be a solid rotation to that defensive tackle room.
R4-P124 | TE Gunnar Helm | Texas
Adding my second Texas player to the Bengals, Gunnar Helm would likely be that impact player that Erick All was for the Bengals in 2024. He has the ideal inline tight end size and was an elite aspect of that Texas offense. He would be a great compliment to Mike Gesicki and would be a fun prospect to watch.
R5-P153 | OT Logan Brown | Kansas
Logan Brown would be a solid backup tackle in the Bengals’ offensive line room. He brings the ideal tackle size and strength to be a great OL6 piece. He was also a great athlete at the combine and had a RAS score of 9.5/10.
R6-P193 | DT Ty Robinson | Nebraska
For the Bengals’ final pick, I selected Ty Robinson out of Nebraska. He was a solid pass rusher throughout the entire season and should bring some juice to take advantage of as the season progresses. He played a ton of offensive line talent in the Big 10 and only graded higher as the season went on. A solid addition to round out the 2025 class.
Recap and Misses
All in all, this would be a solid draft for the Bengals. They add 3 or 4 starters and some high-quality backups, which is what this draft is about. A trade down is likely unrealistic but not improbable until day 2. I think it’ll all depend on what the board looks like and if the Bengals are comfortable at 17.
I failed to add a linebacker in this draft, which likely means they will keep Germaine Pratt for another season, which would not be ideal. Hopefully, with the addition of pass rushers, he will have a solid rebound season. I also did not add a top DT in a strong DT class, but the guys I selected should be serviceable.
I’ll have my 2nd mock draft Monday out next week, so be on the lookout!
Might be a shock to some, but for the most of us that have watched each game so far, it comes as no surprise. The Cincinnati Reds possess two of the most valuable starting pitchers in the game, in fact, they’ve been so good, they’re two of the most valuable players in ALL of baseball, pitching & position.
Hunter Greene & Nick Lodolo share the reigns of most valuable starting pitchers so far through two weeks of MLB’s 2025 season. Greene is the highest (1.1 bWAR) and Nick Lodolo is just behind him at (0.9 bWAR). You can view the whole list of players here.
Both guys came into 2025 a new version of themselves, especially Nick Lodolo. Catcher Jose Trevino has spoke on numerous occasions about the shape of his new changeup and how it’s helping him set guys up and leading to more success. Hunter Greene has been more efficient through 3 starts of the year, as well, helping his success. He was one out away from a complete game shutout in San Francisco this week.
Lodolo’s ‘New’ Changeup
Nick Lodolo only has 8 Ks this year through 3 starts, which, in previous years would alarm some. He’s actually trying to pitch to contact now. After hitting a substantial amount of batters throughout the last few years, Lodolo knew he had to add something to his arsenal, alas here comes the changeup.
In 2024, Lodolo gave up 13 HRs to RHB, most of them off his fastball/sinker and in 2 strike counts. It was time for him to polish a 4th pitch, and that’s exactly what he did, and so far…it’s working. His GB% is up almost 6% in the early going and his offspeed pitch run value is in the 100th percentile, and even more impressive is his pitching run value, which is in the 96th percentile per Baseball Savant.
The next step for Lodolo is figuring out how to incorporate his repotoire even further and shooting to get more whiffs and up that K%, but for the most part, the contact off Lodolo so far has been very mild as his 67th percentile hardhit% suggests. The Reds have played some nice defense behind him, too, helping his case and his overall numbers.
Nick Lodolo pitch usage/landing zones
The Greene Machine
Hunter Greene came into the year with a goal to pitch deeper into games. Through 3 starts, he’s averaging 6.7 IP way up from his 2024 totals, and you can argue he could’ve gone longer on Opening Day. Not to mention, it’s been pretty cold so far this season and that is always a factor for the shaping of his pitches.
There’s been quite a bit of hard hits off Hunter so far, but that’s to be expected from someone pumping 98+ MPH over 60 times a game. He has been over .1 closer to the plate this year so far (extension) which has helped his heat as well. He’s in the 98th percentile or higher per Baseball Reference in everything besides offspeed run value, so..folks at home, he’s been ELITE. Check it out for yourself.
Fresh off the press: MLB Network Insider Jon Heyman is reporting that the Cincinnati Reds have extended one of their players that they sought a trade for. The Reds are agreeing to a 3 year extension with catcher Jose Trevino. Subscribe to our Newsletter using the popup or the form below to be the first to get the NEWS!
Jose Trevino Signs Extension
Heyman is reporting that the Reds catcher will be signing an extension worth up to $15,000,000 for 3 years, and includes a team option. Trevino was acquired for Fernando Cruz which sparked a bunch of upset Reds fans, myself included, but that looks a lot better now that he’s extended.
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Trevino is a glove first catcher and is commended by many of the pitchers he works with for his ability to lead and guide. I know we’re all hoping that Tyler Stephenson would be the one getting extended, but this ensures the Reds have a catcher under contract for the next few years.
Jose Trevino has been pretty terrible at the plate, especially after a scare and getting checked out after being hit by a ball. He’s slashing a mere .148/.207/.429 in 27 ABs which is pretty consistent with his offensive production for his career. He’s not a bat first guy. Nor is he ever going to be balanced.
The new, now consistent “bad” habit of the Cincinnati Reds new regime…signing aging IF/DH assets with only one or two years of consistent production. A rope not even the bravest seeking thrill would walk, yet the Reds continue to do just that. Subscribe to our Newsletter using the popup or the form below, we want to provide you the news!
Historical Slow Starter
It’s no secret, first things first – it’s spring training, so how much can you really read into somebody like Candy until the seasons going? The more data that piles up, though, the more you CAN start to read into Candelario. As this article is being wrote on 3/18/2025, he is slashing .200/.294/.661 in 30 ABs in spring training.
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What’s unfortunate this year, is that he’s supposedly “healthy” and that’s what’s been the biggest talking point for Candelario thus far, how much better shape he showed up in. You can be in good shape and still suck, of course, and unfortunately that’s where he’s been thus far. He has 6 hits in 30 ABs. One was a homer that barely left the ballpark.
Now, while all of that was kind of bad news, he isn’t striking out much, which puts a little bit of confidence in you if you’re an avid baseball fan with general understanding of the game. He hasn’t looked overmatched. He just simply has not looked like a guy that he was brought into be for a 2nd year straight, at least not yet, and that guy is an anchor.
What Do The Reds Do If He Sucks Again?
I think for me, it’s pretty simple, but for them maybe not so much. Might they cut ties? They might phantom-IL him. They might hide him on the bench and use him to pinch hit to shake a dominant LHP or RHP late in a game. For me, though, I’d use him alongside a prospect and trade him and his cash remaining ($32,000,000) and get out of another monetary mistake. They do still have a former All Star that has pretty high contact rates and the ability to play mutliple positions in Santiago Espinal, too.
Nick Krall has said repeatedly he won’t use prospect capital to shake money mistakes, and quite frankly, Jeimer Candelario would be his own regime’s mistake, so those words probably run even deeper than they may have before, but look…there’s no competitive gain for your club when you have someone like Sal Stewart or Edwin Arroyo waiting in the wings, and I think a lot of us would rather see one of those two than a 31 year old struggle in the field and in the box, me especially. Mike Moustakas gave me PTSD. Jeimer Candelario started to do the same to me last year.
Jeimer was worth -0.7 bWAR in 2024, and if you take out his June where he posted an .894 OPS, it would’ve been more along the lines of -1.5 bWAR, so he didn’t earn a single dollar on his fresh 4 year $64,000,000 deal the Reds rarely hand out. He, himself, even felt the disappointment there going as far as paying a video production company to come film his offseason workouts in the Dominican Republic to send to the Reds brass trying to prove to them he’s trying his best and that he’s coming back to the USA in great shape.
What Does It Look Like?
Considering neither are on the 40 man, it’d be a little different, but aggressive, too, which I think Nick Krall’s brass needs to have more of. Sal Stewart can hit Major League pitching at a good clip TODAY. In the showcase game on Sunday night, he started the Reds win off with a bases clearing triple against the Brewers. Edwin Arroyo will give you +6-7 OAA immediately at any level. Both these guys have tremendous upside for opposite sides of the spectrum, and to me, that’s more valuable than a 31 year old struggling to be consistent.
Who do you ask to move? The good news is, Sal AND Edwin can play 2B & 3B, and Sal has got time at 1B, too, should it open the door to CES playing a little bit of 3B, though I feel that unlikely. With Steer down for the moment, this scenario could actually take place with it making a little bit of sense, but it’s highly unlikely that the Reds will start Sal Stewart’s service clock with him slated to start in AA.
Let’s Hope He Picks It Up.
None of us are rooting against Jeimer Candelario, and we all know what he’s capable of, his June run was incredible, especially while he was pushing through multiple injuries. I feel like we need to see some consistency out of him for once, the hot and cold spells can’t continue as a vet making $15m+ to anchor the lineup.
But, as this article brings up, if he DOES NOT perform, the Reds have shown that they aren’t scared to cut bait early, as they’ve already ate $22M from Mike Poopstakas, and I don’t think, with the prospect capital they possess in the infield, that they’ll be scared to do it again. Sal Stewart and Edwin Arroyo are both knocking on the door at the big league level with Sal able to hit MLB pitching today, and Edwin able to field the diamond at gold glove caliber levels and a great ceiling offensively. I wouldn’t take a single AB for granted if I were Jeimer! There’s kids behind him.
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