Most mock drafts send the Cincinnati Bengals a tight end or offensive tackle in the first round and call it a day.
Who could blame them? The arrival of Irv Smith Jr. doesn’t rule out tight end in the first round. Right tackle is still a massive question with La’el Collins rehabbing and the Jonah Williams trade saga.
The latest seven-round effort from ESPN’s Jordan Reid isn’t much different.
There, Reid has the Bengals grabbing one of the best tackles in the class with Ohio State’s Dawand Jones:
The makeover at offensive tackle for the Bengals continues. After they signed Orlando Brown Jr. in free agency to play on the left side, the hole at right tackle remains. La’el Collins battled injuries and was inconsistent during his first season in Cincinnati, and Jonah Williams has requested a trade. That leaves room for 6-8, 374-pound Jones, who is the sixth offensive tackle in this Round 1 projection. The Bengals like blockers with bigger bodies who can wall off the inside of the pocket and create elongated edges for pass-rushers. This fit makes a lot of sense for them.
The rest of the picks in the mock:
- Round 2: Sam LaPorta, TE, Iowa
- Round 3: Isaiah McGuire, Edge, Missouri
- Round 4: Riley Moss, CB, Iowa
- Round 5: Sean Tucker, RB, Syracuse
- Round 6: Dante Stills, IDL, West Virginia
- Round 7: Mohamoud Diabate, LB, Utah
Of major note is that even after the signing of Sidney Jones and possibly bringing back Eli Apple still, there’s merit to the idea the Bengals seek out a prospect who could be another long-term solution at a premium position.
They do that here in Round 4, plus add to the running back room where the Bengals remain in a holding pattern with Joe Mixon after losing Samaje Perine.
As a whole, getting possible instant starters over the first two rounds and rotational players who will contribute right away through Round 5 makes for a nice projection.
