2025 NFL Mock Draft: Browns take chance on QB in top 10; disappointing Bengals and Dolphins address key needs

The Cincinnati Bengals aren’t out of the 2024 AFC playoff race yet, but their defense will need to be addressed whenever they’re season is over. Now with Sam Hubbard out for the year after suffering an injury in Week 15’s win over the Titans, the Bengals have Trey Hendrickson and essentially nothing else in their outside pass rush, as former first-round pick Myles Murphy has failed to progress into a quality contributor. 

The Dolphins are essentially cooked after their eight-point loss in Houston on Sunday. And by now we know Tua Tagovailoa does not handle pressure particularly well. Terron Armstead is a steady option when healthy; it’s just at his age, with the rash of injuries he’s dealt with to date, he’s rarely if ever 100% and misses plenty of games. 

The Bengals should prioritize edge-rushing talent in Round 1, while the Dolphins should be thinking about the future of their offensive line with their first-round pick. That’s the direction both of these AFC teams go in this mock draft. 

The draft order below was determined using the current 2025 NFL Draft order. For more draft coverage, you can hear in-depth analysis twice a week on “With the First Pick” — our year-round NFL Draft podcast with NFL Draft analyst Ryan Wilson and former Vikings general manager Rick Spielman. You can find “With the First Pick” wherever you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, etc. Listen below!