I’m pretty bored today, so I figured I’d give a way too early Draft projection/wishlist now that the dust seems to be settling on FA. There have been rumors of Ezekiel Elliott narrowing his list down to Eagles, Bengals, and Jets. If he can take a significant pay cut, I’m all for him filling Perine’s role as a backup. That being said, let’s get into the draft.
When it comes to the first round there’s a number of factors that need to play out for each position to be viable. IMO, if Bijan Robinson is available at 28, I think the Bengals draft him in a heartbeat and cut Mixon. If he’s not available, I think you take a RT. My top three in that range would be Anton Harrison, Broderick Jones, Dawand Jones, and Darnell Wright. I have to admit, the prospect of having two mammoth 6’8” tackles on the roster excites me quite a bit so I’m all aboard the Dawand hype train. If somehow none of those OTs are available, I think you take best TE available. Michael Mayers would be most ideal in that position. Not really interested in Dalton Kincaid, and am even less interested in Luke Musgrave. Musgrave gives me Jermaine Gresham vibes, and Kincaid just has too many injury concerns (Eifert comp) for my liking.
In the second, I think you take whatever you didn’t take in the first. If you found a solid OT, you take any of Darnell Washington (most preferred in this position), Sam LaPorta, or Tucker Kraft. I think Jahmyr Gibbs is also a great option at this position in the draft.
Third, if you’ve taken OT first, TE second, Tyjae Spears out of Tulane would be a solid grab to fill the RB group out. If you’ve taken Bijan first, TE second, best OT I see available here is Blake Freeland out of BYU. I also wouldn’t be upset at grabbing another TE here either. We are dangerously thin at TE. So if Tucker Kraft or Sam LaPorta is somehow still available, you grab one of those guys.
Fourth, I think you go DT here. Best guys I’ve seen potentially available here are Moro Ojomo out of Texas, Keondre Coburn out of Texas, Zacch Pickens out of S. Carolina, and Byron Young from Alabama. If you take a second TE anytime after the third, I think your best option is Zack Kuntz from ODU. If you take a RB anytime after the 3rd, your best options are probably Chase Brown from Illinois, Keaton Mitchell from ECU (fastest 40 time among RBs at 4.38), Eric Gray from OU, and Mo Ibrahim as a potential late draft option.
Fifth, Six, and Seventh are a bit of a wash because it’s hard telling who will be available, but some dark horse players to keep a look out for in these rounds would be OTs Wanya Morris from OU and Nick Saldiveri from ODU, CBs Riley Moss from Iowa, Mekhi Blackmon from USC, and Cory Trice from Purdue (who looks to me like someone who could slot in at Safety and fill a position of need), OGs Emil Ekiyor from Alabama, Jarrett Patterson from ND, and John Gaines II from UCLA, and Centers Ricky Stromberg from Arkansas and Alex Forsyth from Oregon.
The Bengals went very heavy on defense last draft, and outside of addressing two or three needs there, I expect this to be an offense heavy draft. Would love to feel comfortable about solid OL depth while also filling out needs at RB (assuming Mixon doesn’t take a pay cut and/or Zeke doesn’t sign) and TE.
