Bengals continue to reunite college teammates in way-too-early 2025 NFL mock draft

If the Cincinnati Bengals add you to their roster, chances are you've played with one of your new teammates before.

Joe Burrow and Ja'Marr Chase, Dax Hill and DJ Turner, Cedric Johnson and Daijahn Anthony , and Ted Karras and Trent Brown are just a few examples of former teammates from college and the NFL who are back on the same roster in Cincinnati.

It's a trend that doesn't appear to be going away any time soon, and it could easily continue in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft.

ESPN NFL Draft analyst Matt Miller revealed a way-too-early 2025 mock draft this week that had the Bengals picking 25th overall. With their first-round pick, the Bengals selected Texas wide receiver Isaiah Bond, the fifth receiver off the board.

Only Bond hasn't played a snap for the Longhorns yet. He's a transfer addition who played at Alabama the two last years; the same two years Bengals rookie wideout Jermaine Burton was catching passes for the Crimson Tide.

Burton and Bond played 24 games together for Alabama and combined for 2,366 receiving yards. Burton led the offense in receiving both years while Bond finished second behind him for the 2023 season.

Now that Bond's in Texas with quarterback Quinn Ewers, expectations are much higher for the speedster. Miller says Bond has "huge potential" in the Longhorns' offense this season.

"Bond, a transfer from Alabama, will fill the Xavier Worthy role in the Texas offense with his elite downfield speed. He averaged 13.9 yards per catch with four touchdowns last season, even as the Alabama offense struggled to find consistency in the pass game. And in Steve Sarkisian's system, Bond has huge potential." - ESPN's Matt Miller

The Bengals wouldn't draft Bond solely because his former teammate is now on the roster, but if they need receiver help, it's a possibility. Tee Higgins is set to be a free agent once his franchise tag expires next March, and there's no guarantee Cincinnati would tag him again even if he has a great season.

Receiver talent has been a constant for the Bengals since Chase entered the picture three years ago. Bond would be an exciting piece to keep the talent level stable after Higgins leaves.

And Burton could help integrate his former teammate to the Queen City.

Related: Bengals' recent NFL Draft tradition stays alive and well in way-too-early 2025 mock draft