Bengals president Mike Brown made sure to meet with NFL Draft prospect from Cincinnati

Briggs was not only a local college athlete who played three years for the Bearcats, he was born and raised in the Queen City as well. The position he plays also bodes well for him staying in Cincinnati during next week's NFL Draft.

Jowon Briggs NFL Draft Profile

Briggs played high school ball at Walnut Hills (four miles outside downtown Cincinnati) and was the #2 recruit in the state of Ohio in 2019. He chose Virginia as his college destination, but then transferred to Cincinnati after two years. 

Following a year where he mainly came off the bench, Briggs became a full-time starter in 2022 and earned First-Team All-AAC honors. He posted 60 tackles, 4.5 tackles for loss, and three sacks. 

2022 was the highlight of Briggs' career, while 2023 was slightly underwhelming under a new coaching staff. He posted 27 tackles, six tackles for loss, and two sacks as an Honorable Mention All-Big 12 player. He was also a team captain.

Versatility stands out in a big way for Briggs. He's logged major snaps at three different defensive line positions as a 3-technique, nose tackle, and 4i. He's listed at 6-2 and 313 pounds, which gives him the size to play inside or outside the guard at the next level.

When will Briggs be drafted   

The Athletic's Dane Brugler grades Briggs as a seventh round/priority free agent prospect. A to Z Sports' James Foster grades Briggs as an undrafted free agent. 

In all likelihood, Briggs won't hear his name called within the first six rounds of the NFL Draft. The Bengals wouldn't mind that as they hold two picks in the seventh round.

Cincinnati has a glaring need at defensive tackle and have a total of 10 picks to spare. There's a good chance at least two of their picks will be used to fortify this weakness. Briggs has a good profile to be one of them.