As the most consequential Cincinnati Bengals offseason since 2003 continues apace, our understanding of the Bengals’ top needs heading into the 2020 NFL draft has further crystallized. Through multiple signings, the Bengals have reduced the primacy of their needs at interior defensive line and cornerback, but obvious needs remain. Using The Draft Networks predictive board and mock draft simulator, I set out to add to the Bengals young core and to address some of the remaining needs.
ROUND 1
Joseph Lee Burrow
Many pundits and outlets have described Burrow as the leader in the clubhouse for the first overall selection and I’m here to explain why they should stop doing that. Burrow should not be viewed as the presumptive number one overall pick as there’s nothing presumptive about this pick, this thing is immutable. This pick is about as presumptive as the laws of Thermodynamics. Bengals fans have endured an offseason of media opprobrium surrounding the state of the franchise and whether or not Burrow should power move his way out of this selection, but those criticisms will be resigned to the dustbin of history come April 23rd at approximately 8:13 pm EST.
In Burrow, the Bengals are getting the best QB prospect in this draft and one of the best QB prospects in the organization’s history. Burrow lacks the elite physical talent that Carson Palmer had coming out of USC in 2003, but Burrow outstrips Palmer in myriad ways that are fundamental to a qbs success in the NFL. Burrow as a prospect has far fewer questions regarding his pre and post-snap processing than Palmer did coming out, Burrow appears to be the more gifted out of structure quarterback, and no more an authority than Carson’s brother, Jordan Palmer has described Burrow as the most mature and confident quarterback he’s trained since the inception of his pre-draft training program (and yeah, he’s had DESHAUN FREAKING WATSON cycle through that program).
To narrow in on Burrow’s individual talent apart from any player-to-player comparison, Burrow has elite accuracy, touch and ball placement to most parts of the field (intermediate passes to the boundary stress him more than your typical 1-1 QB prospect, but those issues can be designed around by a competent play-caller ie the Saints and New England’s offensive systems), tremendous pocket awareness and maneuverability, demonstrated physical and mental toughness and some playmaking flair. In short, he’s a franchise quarterback prospect.
Other Options at #1: Patrick Mahomes. That’s not a realistic trade option you say? Then move along.
Round 2
Zack Baun
This was a difficult choice. As most of us noted during the season when the discussion of tanking began to proliferate, the additional benefit to finishing with the worst record in the league was that each subsequent pick after you grabbed your quarterback would likely be in range of a faller from the previous round. We saw that last season when Cody Ford and Jawaan Taylor slipped into the second round. In this iteration of the draft, the potential options available to the Bengals are abundant. Assuming they stick and pick, prospects like Jalen Reagor, the dynamic receiver out of TCU are available to them at 33. Grant Delpit slips to the top of the second as well as three viable tackle prospects in Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson and Ezra Cleveland. If this situation prevailed, I’d be inclined to go Baun at 33.
The Bengals have been bereft at talent at the linebacker spot since 2005 when speaking about the aggregate corps and have been without a standout at the position PLAYING at a high level since 2015. Baun is a versatile talent that is adept at rushing the passer and provides some coverage ability from the linebacker position. He’s had the Kyle Van Noy comp dropped on him by a few pundits, and as comparisons go, it’s not half bad. Baun is more fluid in space than you’d expect from a guy his size, and he flashes instinctiveness in coverage (he’ll improve in this area as he acclimates himself to off-ball linebacker on a full-time basis). He’ll add to what should be a solid pass rush as a rookie, and in a few seasons, he’ll be a very valuable full-time starter for the Bengals.
Other Options at #33: Grant Delpit, Jalen Reagor, Ezra Cleveland, Terrell Lewis, Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson.
Round 3
Brandon Aiyuk
Again, the options present are CO-PI-OUS. Seriously, this was not a terrible year to have a terrible season. Have a need at safety at 65, there’s potential starting talent available at the top of the third in the form of Kyle Dugger and Jeremy Chinn. Want to bring a competent TE talent into the fold, how does Cole Kmet sound? Want to continue bolstering the LB position, Willie Gay, Jordyn Brooks and Malik Harrison are on the board. Project tackles Prince Tega Wanogho and Isaiah Wilson remain available as well. And I bypassed each and every one of those players. That’s because Aiyuk fell to me here. I don’t know if I expect a fall of this magnitude from Aiyuk come the 24th, but if he does slide and the Bengals haven’t taken a WR in the second round, you’d have to think that he’d be a strong consideration at 65. The Bengals’ current receiving stable is replete with recognizable names and intriguing talent, but discerning followers of the team might recognize the degree of uncertainty that permeates the group. AJ Green, erstwhile perennial pro bowler, is currently tagged and operating with one year of team control. He’s also missed twenty-three games over the past two seasons and turns 32 prior to the start of the season. John Ross has abundant talent, but Elijah Prince was overheard chirping him from the stands last season about his frequency on the injury report. He’s also on the precipice of a fateful team decision in regard to his fifth-year option, and given the available evidence the Bengals have at their disposal, you’d have to think that they’re leaning no in terms of picking up that option. Tyler Boyd has been a very solid receiver for the Bengals over the past two seasons, but he’s not a lead receiver talent and can be taken out of games when he becomes the primary focus of a defense. Auden Tate can also be a contributing receiver on a good team but he’s not a game-breaker by any stretch of the imagination.
Into that morass steps Aiyuk. Aiyuk adds explosive athleticism to one of the outside receiver positions, and although raw in terms of the technical aspects of the position, he does show the requisite body control and quickness to develop into a competent route runner. As a first-year contributor he’d add depth behind Green and Ross while contributing to the vertical explosiveness of the offense in a circumscribed package of plays. An Aiyuk pick would also allow the Bengals to move on from Ross if they deem him too unreliable in the near or medium term.
Other Options at #65: Kyle Dugger, Jeremy Chinn, Cole Kmet, Willie Gay, Malik Harrison, Isaiah Wilson
Round 4
Akeem Davis-Gaither
Do you like Ice Cream? Well how ‘bout this ice cream? Yeah, that doesn’t work as well as apples (shout out to the GOAT Will Hunting nonetheless). Anyway, WE’RE DOUBLE DIPPING HERE LADIES AND GENTS. I was VERY tempted to add one of the interior offensive linemen here, but solving our long-standing linebacker issues for good was too tempting. A triumvirate of Baun, Pratt and Davis-Gaither would constitute our most physically gifted LB group since the Spikes/Simmons/Foley trio, and would help put a stop to debacles like the ones we were subjected to against the Saints and Chiefs over the past few seasons (games that saw our LBs relentlessly exploited in space). We’d also be better positioned to wrangle Lamar Jackson going forward because…wow.
Other Options at #107: Hunter Bryant, Bradlee Anae, Tyler Biadasz, Damien Lewis.
Round 5
Josiah Deguara
Bengals add a local product in the fifth. Deguara is a quality add this late in the draft and helps supplement a lean tight end room assuming Eifert walks. Deguara is a high effort blocker that plays with an edge and he possesses reasonable receiving talent. Should help form a decent tight end trio along with Uzomah and Sample.
Other Options at #147: Antonio Gandy-Golden, Colby Parkinson, Devin Duvernay, J.R. Reed.
Round 6
Antonio Gandy-Golden
A consideration in the fifth, Golden is too tempting to pass on in the sixth. Golden has starter upside, albeit with quite a bit of burnishing to do if he intends to reach it. Most importantly, Golden is additional depth this season should the unit continue to be injury-riddled.
Other Options at #180: Lamar Jackson, Trey Adams.
Round 7
Jalen Elliott
Physical strong safety type that projects to be a special teams ace. Continually praised by Brian Kelly for his toughness and leadership over the past two seasons, he should add depth to the back end, provide sufficient thump in run defense and will contribute to the overall culture of the organization.
Other Options at #215: Jon Runyan, AJ Green, Dane Jackson
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