The Cincinnati Bengals are currently 4-8 and have a wide variance of where that first-round pick can end up. They are presently picking in the top 10 and looking to add an instant impact starter. Who should they add that can make the most significant difference? What can they do in the middle rounds to help them next season? PFSN’s Ian Cummings tells us in his newest mock draft.
Who Did the Bengals Take in the First Round?
Cummings had the Bengals making a pick that would make many fans happy in the first round, selecting safety Caleb Downs from Ohio State. Downs’ stats may not blow anyone away, having 52 tackles and two interceptions on the year, but Downs is one of, if not the best, defensive players in college football.
Downs has been a stud since his freshman season with Alabama. He brings brilliant, tough-nosed football every time he steps on the field. He’s an instinctual player who can play both deep safety and in the box. His ability to do all of the little things on the field can’t be overlooked, and he would step on the field day one and be one of the Bengals’ best defenders.
Day 2 Picks
On Day 2 in his mock, he had the Bengals taking Julian Neal, a cornerback from Kansas, and Brian Parker II, an interior offensive lineman from Duke. Neither are bad picks by any means, but taking another defensive back and an interior offensive lineman before taking any kind of pass rush help would be an interesting choice.
Neal is a cornerback with good size and athletic ability who could plug in at the cornerback two spot across from DJ Turner. This would allow Dax Hill to slide to the slot and give the Bengals a really strong defensive backfield, especially if they add Downs as well. Neal could help cover bigger receivers that Turner may struggle with a little more.
Parker has center and guard versatility and could be the successor to Ted Karras if the Bengals don’t believe in Matt Lee or Seth McLaughlin. He could also battle with Jalen Rivers at right guard if the Bengals decide not to bring back Dalton Risner. It isn’t the Bengals’ most significant need, but it makes a lot of sense.
Day 3 Picks
On day 3, the Bengals added Malachi Lawrence, an edge from UCF, Zane Durant, a defensive tackle from Penn State, Kage Casey, an offensive tackle from Boise State, Malachi Fields, a receiver from Notre Dame, and Josh Cuevas, a tight end from Alabama.
Lawrence and Durant are players who could add depth to the Bengals’ defensive line, which is in need of it. Two of the Bengals’ top four edge rushers are free agents this offseason in Trey Hendrickson and Joseph Ossai, and waiting until the fourth round to take an edge would be risky. Durant was a player who was looked at as a potential day two pick, so getting him in the sixth would be a reasonable risk to take.
The Bengals’ failure to take a pass rusher early and not selecting a linebacker at all, given how their rookie linebackers have performed this year, would be risky decisions. This draft has some solid Day 2 options at the edge that could step in immediately and at least help on pass-rushing downs. Caleb Downs is a homerun pick, but unless the Bengals add some impact players in free agency, days two and three of this draft could be an issue for next year.
