5 Bengals Targets To Keep Your Eye On At The Senior Bowl
The Enquirer
February will begin with one of the most hyped days prior to the NFL Combine for NFL stars: the Senior Bowl. NFL scouts will march on down to the University of South Alabama as pro prospects get their last chance to impress organizations via in-game action.
After a disappointing season, the Bengals will use that opportunity to get their first look at players they could bring in to fill positions of need. In a game full of NFL-level talent, who are five players that Bengals fans should keep their eyes on?
Xavier Watts, S, Notre Dame
Assuming the Bengals give Al Golden his hiring papers, bringing some of his Notre Dame players with him would be fully expected, to say the least. With the Bengals needing severe help in the secondary, Watts, the second highest rated player from Notre Dame in this year’s draft, is everything you could ask for in a safety.
Xavier Watts is a true ball hawk.
He has 13 interceptions, 7 PBUs, and 0 TDs allowed across the last two seasons and has just one penalty in that span.
He’s also a weapon as a blitzer and has excellent instincts coming downhill against the run.
Top 50 player. pic.twitter.com/nOsfHn19RX
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 21, 2025
Geno Stone is entering the final year of his two year deal this upcoming season. His up and down performance may necessitate the Bengals bringing in competition. Watts, who is more than familiar with Al Golden’s system, has an opportunity to make an immediate impact in a secondary that needs it. Among safeties, he led the NCAA in snaps (970) and had the third highest overall PFF grade (89.7) among players who played at least 750 snaps.
Watts led the NCAA in interceptions in 2023 (7) and took home the Bronko Nagurski Trophy as a result. With his balanced ability as a solid pass and run defender, he will be highly sought after in the NFL Draft. He currently projects as a round two selection with potential to rise up draft boards.
Princely Umanmielen, EDGE, Ole Miss
For the majority of the season, the Bengals’ pass rush was a one-man show, as Trey Hendrickson accounted for nearly 50% (17.5) of the 36 total sacks the team had in the regular season.
While Joseph Ossai had an uptick in production once he was given the starting role near the end of 2024, the Bengals are still likely to bring in pass rushing help. Given the fact that Trey Hendrickson is not getting any younger, Bengals fans should keep their eye on 2024 sixth round pick Cedric Johnson’s college teammate.
Can’t wait to see Princely Umanmielen in the Senior Bowl pass rush 1 on 1s. His speed around the corner terrorized UGA.
Not the most enthusiastic run defender, but definitely not a liability. I expect him to rise through the draft process. #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/EIUcKAGQCu
— Unnecessary Bluntness Owner/Coach/QB (@DuncOnDemand) January 15, 2025
Umanmielen is a pure pass rush specialist who was tied for the Ole Miss team lead in sacks in 2024, with 11. Scouts have lauded his burst, his motor, and per NFLDraftScout.com, his “devastating spin move that would make Dwight Freeney proud”. Currently, he’s 39th on PFF’s 2025 NFL Draft big board and was the fifth highest graded edge rusher in the NCAA in 2024 (91.0).
Tate Ratledge, OG, Georgia
While instinct may tell the Bengals to spend the entire draft on defense, needs still exist on offense, particularly at guard. Cordell Volson is entering the final year of his rookie deal, Alex Cappa is a likely candidate to be released this upcoming offseason, and both players struggled mightily in 2024. An upgrade is needed.
RG: Tate Ratledge (R2 pick)
Rateledge is one of the best IOL available in this class, having only given up 12 pressures over his last two seasons at Georgia. With his technique and physical ability, he should be a positive day 1 starter at the NFL level pic.twitter.com/FP51lwJXVr
— StroudTroii 🥭🦉 (@CJMyGoat) January 19, 2025
Tate Ratledge, who was teammates with Amarius Mims for three seasons, is a three year starter, two time First-team All SEC member and was a First-team All American in 2024. Despite missing time due to a sprained ankle in 2024, he is still a rock solid pass blocker, as he only allowed two sacks in his entire collegiate career. Assuming the Bengals are able to pick him up, he would almost automatically start on day one.
Jayden Higgins, WR, Iowa State
If the Bengals need a convenient way to keep their Higgins jerseys if Tee signs elsewhere, they may have found it. It also helps that the two are strikingly similar players.
Jayden Higgins is an incredibly smooth route runner at 6’4 215lbs with excellent hands, physicality, and contested catch ability.
Has a little Nico Collins to his game 👀 pic.twitter.com/jliz8K5H1r
— NFL Draft Files (@NFL_DF) January 11, 2025
The two players are almost identical in size (they are the same height, but Jayden is five pounds lighter). They are both excellent contested catch weapons with above average body control ability, and they both have excellent hands and spatial awareness. Higgins, the highest graded wide receiver in college football among receivers with at least 85 targets (90.0), is projected to be a mid-to-late day two selection.
Azareye’h Thomas, CB, Florida State
You didn’t think we were going to ignore the cornerback position, did you?
Surprise, surprise. FSU (Pat Surtain Sr.) has another press man specialist: Azareye’h Thomas
Patient, physical CB who suffocates WRs on the boundary with his size and has the length to be a pest at the catch point.
Just 17 catches allowed in 2024…Still just 20-years old… pic.twitter.com/P1ybdWHBQk
— Derrick (@Steelers_DB) January 19, 2025
One of the knocks on Thomas is that he lacked turnover production, but that is more of a product of quarterbacks hardly throwing the ball in his direction. In 2024, opposing QBs targeted receivers covered by him on less than ten percent of his coverage snaps (33 targets in 353 coverage snaps), and only completed 17 of those passes, amounting to a 50.2 passer rating and a mere 8.3 yards per catch. Perhaps even more impressive: he did not allow a single touchdown in 2024.
Full rosters and game information can be found here.
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