NFL Mock Draft 2025: Georgia Bulldogs’ Mykel Williams to Bengals in new projection

A big part of why the Cincinnati Bengals are watching NFL playoffs away from home this year is their defense. Cincinnati fielded one of the worst defensive units in the NFL this season, and even a five-game winning streak to end the season couldn’t overcome the early season struggles.

Trey Hendrickson was the bright spot of the defense, leading the NFL in sacks with 17.5 in 2024. Outside of Hendrickson, however, the Bengals struggled to get any consistent pass rush from the rest of their defensive ends.

Athletics’ Dane Brugler has a potential solution to that in his latest NFL mock draft.

Brugler has the Bengals’ selection Georgia Bulldogs pass rusher Mykel Williams with their 17th overall pick.

“Last year, the Bengals drafted a tool-rich offensive lineman out of Georgia in the first round (Amarius Mims),” Brugler wrote. “They turn to the other side of the ball and do it again in this mock. Williams looked like a future top-10 pick as a freshman, but he didn’t quite reach dominant status over his three seasons in Athens. But the talent is there to he can grow into a game-wrecker off the rim.”

A project at pass rusher might not be what Bengals fans want to hear as they’re still waiting to see a return on the Bengals’ investment in former first-rounder Myles Murphy, but Williams has plenty of potential.

With the right hiring of defensive coordinators, the selection of Williams could be the boost the Bengals need. Of course, they still need to figure out Hendrickson’s contract.