The Cincinnati Bengals selected a former Miami offensive lineman for the second consecutive year, with Jalen Rivers being drafted 153rd overall in the fifth round. Cincinnati selected Matt Lee 237th overall in the seventh round of the 2024 NFL Draft.
Rivers played in 40 games with 31 starts over five seasons with Miami. The ACC named Rivers second team all-conference after the 2023 season and honorable mention in 2024. Rivers often was hindered by injuries during his Miami career.
Rivers was lost for the season after three games in 2021, played in nine out of 12 games during the 2022 season and missed five games in 2024. In 2023 Rivers started all 13 games, which was his only collegiate season that he played in every game for an entire campaign.
Rivers has been a versatile player throughout his Miami career. Pro Football Focus logged Rivers playing 1,242 snaps at left tackle in 2023 and 2024 combined and 850 at left guard in 2022 and 2024, with none at that position in 2023. The Bengals' website lists Rivers as a tackle.
The call of a lifetime for @JalenRivers01!
— Miami Hurricanes Football (@CanesFootball) April 26, 2025
Best of luck in Cincinnati! pic.twitter.com/XobdMYVlb4
ESPN has Rivers listed as the backup right guard on their Cincinnati depth chart behind Cody Ford. Ford is entering his seventh season overall and third with Cincinnati. After playing in 17 games with one start in 2023, Ford played in 16 games with nine starts for Cincinnati during the 2024 season.
After being a second-round pick in the 2019 NFL Draft by Buffalo in 2019, Ford played in 16 games with 15 starts as a rookie. Ford has played in 82 games with 42 starts throughout his NFL career. Ford is 6'5 and 345 pounds. Rivers is listed at 6'6 and 319 pounds and he should have a chance to challenge Ford to be the 2025 starting right guard.