The Cincinnati Bengals have spent too many recent drafts trying to patch holes with the wrong answers. That’s why a first-round swing on defense in 2027 feels less like a luxury and more like overdue business.
If Connor Rogers’ first 2027 mock draft turns out to be anywhere close to reality, Cincinnati could finally land a linebacker who changes the complexion of the whole unit. Rogers has the Bengals taking Notre Dame star Kyngstonn Viliamu-Asa at No. 23 overall, and the fit is easy to see.
“Viliamu-Asa’s size, range and overall nose for the ball pops on tape. He’s an incredibly effective blitzer for passing downs and his ability against the run helps his defense get to those situations. The Bengals could use more from their linebackers and he’d give a big boost to their front seven.”
That’s the kind of profile Cincinnati has been missing. The Bengals are set to lean on Demetrius Knight Jr. and Barrett Carter in 2026, but the idea here is simple: if a true difference-maker is sitting there in Round 1, why keep settling?
Viliamu-Asa brings more than just upside. He’s been productive in every phase. PFF has him at an elite 90.9 grade this season, and the site’s big board breakdown from his 2025 work was even more emphatic:
“Viliamu-Asa led college football in PFF run-defense grade (94.0) last season. He also tallied 23 pressures and four sacks as a pass-rusher.
In coverage, he allowed a passer rating of 55.0. The sample size may be small (435 snaps), but when he’s on the field, he plays like the very best linebacker in the nation.”
That’s a linebacker who can handle the run, pressure the quarterback and hold up in coverage. In other words, he checks just about every box the Bengals would want from a modern defender.
There is one obvious concern: Viliamu-Asa has torn his left ACL twice, once early in high school and again last November. Even so, he didn’t look compromised this year, got back to the top of the season ready to roll and has also played through a left thumb/wrist injury with a cast while still producing at a ridiculous level.
Rogers has Cincinnati picking 23rd, though a deeper playoff run could push them further back. If that happens, the Bengals may have to decide whether to get aggressive to make sure they don’t miss out on him.
Normally, trading up for a linebacker would be a tough sell. This might be the exception.
The bigger picture is pretty clear: if Cincinnati wants to stop gambling on the wrong first-round answers, Viliamu-Asa looks like the kind of player worth going after. And if the Bengals had listened earlier, they could have had Sexy Dexy and Sonny Styles at the mere cost of Cashius Howell, a third-round pick next year they have Trey Hendrickson’s comp pick to somewhat offset, and only an additional 2027 second-rounder.
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Joe Burrow Has Bengals Fans Arguing About The Franchise Again
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