Playing in big games factors into the Cincinnati Bengals' NFL Draft scouting process. Joe Burrow, Tee Higgins, Ja'Marr Chase, and Amarius Mims all played in the College Football Playoff before being drafted early by the Bengals, and plenty of other picks in the Zac Taylor era can say the same. If Cincinnati can find late-round picks with similar experience, that's certainly on the table as well.
Playoff experience goes a long way, but you also have to account for the journey it takes to get there, and who the player is at heart. The Bengals love hard-working, high-character players who they believe can be foundational pieces in a strong locker room. There will likely be a reinforcement of this philosophy after Jermaine Burton singlehandedly proved how disastrous deviating from it can be.
Having both of these boxes checked typically gets you drafted early, but a few slip through the cracks every year. That's why we're continuing our series of identifying the best under-the-radar prospects at positions of need for the Bengals, and pass rush help off the edge might just take the cake for Cincinnati's biggest need.
For the next sleeper prospect we're putting in the spotlight, we'll have to go to the other side of the country, and another part of the world before that.
Boise State DE Ahmed Hassanein fits the mold of a Bengals edge defender in every way
How many NFL players can you name who grew up in Egypt? I bet the list is not very long. Hassanein moved to Cairo when he was six to live with his father and became the nation's top CrossFit athlete in his age group before moving back home in 2018 to live with his brother, a football coach, in Southern California. That's where his football career began and two years later, he was a three-star recruit out of Anaheim's Loara High School heading to Boise State.
Hassanein played immediately for the Broncos and his role increased until he became a full-time starter in 2023. He recorded at least a half-sack in nine consecutive games that season, the longest FBS streak in eight years, on his way to 12.5 on the year with 16.5 tackles for loss. His sack total dropped to 9.5 as a senior in 2024, but he saved one of his most productive games for last in the College Football Playoff opening round against Penn State in which he had three TFLs and one sack.
Throughout his time at Boise State, Hassanein exhibited commitment to growing his game and excellence in academics and leadership. He was a four-time Academic All-Mountain West honoree and a finalist for the 2024 Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year award, an honor that specifically highlights on and off-field leadership.
“One of the reasons he was voted a captain was not just because of his play on the field but because of how much he cares about this team,” Boise State head coach Spencer Danielson said. “I joke with people but he will look at me pregame and be like ‘coach I’ll die for you today if I have to.’ He really means it, like he will give everything to his team and that’s very uncommon.”
Hassanein attributed his move away from Egypt as a pivotal point in his life. He learned English and football within two years, and is a few months away from potentially getting drafted. As of this posting, his consensus board ranking (h/t to @nangleberger on X/Twitter) puts him at No. 228 in this class with some outlets ranking him near the range of a Day 3 selection.
Numbers to know for Ahmed Hassanein
Shrine Bowl Measurements:
Height: 6'3"
Weight: 273
Arm: 32.375"
Hand: 9"
Hassanein is officially right in the middle of 6'2" and 6'3" but we round up 'round these parts. He's got the frame of an edge who can move inside from time to time and let his natural leverage work with his power to win against interior linemen against the pass.
115 pressures on 863 pass rushing snaps since 2023: As previously mentioned, Hassanein's sack total dropped during his last season at BSU, but his efficiency in terms of winning as a pass rusher increased on every other account. Per Pro Football Focus, his pass rush win rate rose from 11.4% in '23 to 16.1% in '24 and 20.3% to 25%, respectively, against true pass sets. His 22 total sacks since 2023 ranks second among all FBS players, and his jump in win rate indicates his trajectory is pointing up. Two consecutive seasons of quality production—even at the Group of Five level—bodes well for his prospects at the next level.
Ahmed Hassanein film spark notes
Raw power and energy radiates from Hassanein's film. You can tell he's got plenty of technical refinement to gain as he develops, but the effort, hustle, and all the other intangibles coaches look for are crystal clear. He's tough to block for four straight quarters, and that should continue to be the case once he gets into an NFL weight room.
Needless to say, Hassanein's character is going to look great in the eyes of the Bengals. Will they draft an edge defender prior to when he's expected to go off the board? Probably. If they opt to go the value route after spending on the position in free agency, he'd make an ideal Day 3 pick pending on how he moves and tests at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Before the 2025 NFL Scouting Combine, we'll go over one sleeper player at each position of need for the Bengals. Read up on Kansas OT Logan Brown, Oregon NT Jamaree Caldwell, Texas Tech TE Jalin Conyers, and check back to A to Z Sports Cincinnati this week for the latest installments.
