Could the Cincinnati Bengals finally make a move to secure a franchise quarterback?
In a recent mock draft by Draft Wire’s Luke Easterling, the Bengals trade up to the No. 9 pick in the draft, up two from their current No. 11 spot. With that pick, they select Drew Lock, a senior quarterback from Missouri.
With two quarterbacks already off the board and the Broncos lurking at No. 10 overall, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the Bengals use a fourth-round pick to flip spots with the Bills and snag Lock. Andy Dalton has hit his ceiling, and while Lock isn’t a finished product, his physical tools give him far more upside.
They’d be trading with the Buffalo Bills.
In a similar trade up in the 2017 draft, the Texans traded for the No. 12 pick (selecting Deshaun Watson), moving up 13 slots and also relinquishing their 2018 first-round pick. I’d anticipate a trade like this costing Cincinnati their pick plus potentially a third-or-fourth-round pick as well.
This is a move that’d do two things.
It’d excite Cincinnati football. With FC Cincinnati and the Cincinnati Reds both making moves to bring in the fans, it’s time the Bengals do something similar in order to ignite their frustrated fanbase.
Secondly, it’ll set forth a new future for the Zac Taylor-led team. It’ll allow Taylor, who was a quarterback coach, to pick and groom someone he chose.
While a move like this is unprecedented for Cincinnati, it’d certainly be welcomed by the Queen City. Or, the Bengals could one up this move and go all-out for either Josh Rosen or Dwayne Haskins.
Either way, let’s hope Cincinnati does something outside of just drafting linebackers on April 25.
