It’s going to be hard for the Cincinnati Bengals to botch their premium picks in the 2020 NFL draft.
The Bengals hold the first pick in every round, which sets them up to grab Joe Burrow first and a likely first-round talent that falls to the top of Round 2.
But what would the worst-case scenario look like? Let’s find out using The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
1. Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon
This is about as bad as it gets. The Bengals stand pat instead of selling off the top pick and instead of grabbing the best quarterback prospect since Andrew Luck, settle for Herbert and the questions around his game.
While the Bengals do like Herbert and had him at the Senior Bowl, he’s just not at Burrow’s level right now. He’s only 22, but the worry is the Bengals pass on massively high upside with the other top passers and go with the steady option here in Andy Dalton-ish fashion, which they’ll then be stuck with for a long time.
33. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
Aiyuk isn’t a bad prospect, but a Bengals fans’ greatest fear here should be passing on a much better player so the team can hit a need.
That’s the case here with three notable offensive linemen on the board (including Ezra Cleveland), as well as a player like edge presence Zack Baun.
65. Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
At the top of the third round the Bengals probably aren’t going to find a lineman who can come in and fight for a job right away.
Prince Tega Wanogho isn’t even a terrible pick in some cases, but he was late to the sport and is still developing. In this scenario, the Bengals passed on a linebacker like Malik Harrison and edge prospects like Curtis Weaver.
107. Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
The Bengals can’t really afford to wait until the mid-rounds to hit linebacker if the plan is to find an instant-impact player next to Germaine Pratt.
Wilson here will already be 24 years old over the summer but he checks some boxes as a three-year captain.
147. James Lynch, DL, Baylor
James Lynch was a three-year player at Baylor and he has some interesting traits that might help him move around and even play some 5-tech.
But again, this isn’t an overly major need and makes a crowded room busier while items like interior offensive line and the secondary go ignored.
180. Derrek Tuszka, EDGE, North Dakota State
Waiting this long to add to the edge probably isn’t the best idea and this is the result.
Tuszka played at a smaller program and isn’t the most explosive, so he’ll be lucky if he can make a living on the edge and carve out a role on special teams.
215. Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
Jackson isn’t a bad get in the seventh round and the Bengals will like that he was a three-year starter at a bigger program.
But the cornerback room got a makeover already and the end-of-roster guys are going to be tough to overcome.
