The 2025 season has taken a hard left turn for the Cincinnati Bengals - and not the kind that leads to playoff football. With just four wins through 15 weeks, and only one since Joe Burrow returned from a two-month injury absence, the Bengals have officially been eliminated from postseason contention. That marks three straight seasons without a playoff berth - a jarring fall for a team that was in the Super Bowl not long ago and knocking on the door again the very next year.
Now, instead of gearing up for a playoff push, Cincinnati is staring down a top-10 draft pick. Sunday’s 24-0 shutout loss to the Ravens sealed the deal, both in terms of playoff hopes and the reality of where this franchise stands.
Let’s be clear: when you have a quarterback like Joe Burrow, a three-year playoff drought isn’t just disappointing - it’s alarming. This is a team that was built to contend, not collapse.
Injuries have played their part, no question. But the roster construction hasn’t held up its end of the bargain either.
A string of underwhelming draft classes has left the Bengals thin in key areas, and the depth just hasn’t been there when the starters go down.
The silver lining? With a poor record comes a premium draft slot.
If the season ended today, Cincinnati would be picking ninth overall in the 2026 NFL Draft. That’s not where anyone expected this team to land when the season kicked off with Super Bowl dreams, but it’s the reality they’re facing now.
Here’s a look at the current top of the draft order:
- New York Giants (2-12)
- Las Vegas Raiders (2-12)
- Tennessee Titans (2-12)
- Cleveland Browns (3-11)
- New York Jets (3-11)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-11)
- New Orleans Saints (4-10)
- Washington Commanders (4-10)
- Cincinnati Bengals (4-10)
- Los Angeles Rams (via Atlanta Falcons) (5-9)
It’s a sobering spot for a franchise that was supposed to be in its championship window. But if there’s a silver lining here, it’s that the Bengals have been in this position before - and made it count.
The last time they picked in the top 10 was in 2021, when they selected Ja’Marr Chase fifth overall. That pick raised some eyebrows at the time, especially with offensive tackle Penei Sewell still on the board, but Chase has more than justified the decision.
He became an instant star and a cornerstone of the offense.
Now, Cincinnati needs to hit on another pick like that - maybe not a wide receiver this time, but someone who can make an immediate impact. Whether it’s help along the offensive line, a difference-maker on defense, or a versatile weapon to complement Burrow and Chase, this draft pick needs to be a building block.
This season hasn’t gone the way anyone in Cincinnati hoped. But if the Bengals can use this top-10 pick to reload - not rebuild - they’ve still got the core pieces in place to bounce back quickly.
Joe Burrow is still the guy. Ja’Marr Chase is still a game-changer.
And if the front office nails this offseason, the Bengals could be right back in the playoff mix next year.
The margin for error is thin. But the opportunity is there.