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Is Tyler Linderbaum the Pick to Make at 31?

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For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

Protect the Franchise

One hundred and two. 1-0-2. That’s how many sacks Joe Burrow has taken in just 30 career games in Cincinnati. After the horrendous knee injury in 2020, and the obvious impact a poor offensive line had on the entire offense in 2021, upgrading that position group is a no brainer. Thankfully, the Bengals addressed a few of those questions via free agency, signing Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, and La’el Collins. All three of those players represent significant improvements over the incumbents, and immediately make the 2022 version of the offensive line much more serviceable. Is it enough, however?

First, you have to define ‘enough.’ Will the line be better as currently constructed? Of course. Both Joe Burrow and Joe Mixon should benefit greatly from those improvements with Burrow showing just how lethal he can be when given a clean pocket.

But let’s not overlook that additional work could be needed to shore up the line long term. At left tackle, Jonah Williams has a team option for 2023 and would need a new deal if the Bengals hope to keep him locked into protecting Burrow’s blind side. Left guard remains a major question mark, with Quinton Spain unsigned and Jackson Carman set to compete for the starting role. Karras is slated to start at center, where he played predominantly in 2019 and 2020 before sliding over to LG last season. Cappa and Collins anchor the right side for the next few seasons, with both signed to multi-year deals.

With LG being the only obvious question mark entering 2022, the Bengals could choose to give their second round pick from last season an entire year to earn a long term role in that spot. Drafting for depth then becomes the other glaring need at that time, with current backups Isaiah Prince, Hakeem Adeneniji, D’Ante Smith, and Lamont Gaillard all being unproven as dependable options. While drafting for ‘depth’ at pick 31 isn’t necessarily ideal, there are some intriguing options that could immediately push for a starter role. What Bengals fans should avoid though is assuming offensive line is no longer a need simply because of the moves made this offseason.

The Possible Options

One popular pick amongst fans is the center from Iowa, Tyler Linderbaum. Linderbaum is the consensus top center in the draft, and his play at Iowa was elite. Additionally, his testing numbers from his pro day were absurd.

Linderbaum profiles as a ‘can’t miss’ prospect with a very high floor and Pro Bowl ceiling. Selecting him at 31 would slide Karras to LG and guarantee that the offensive line would be improved at 4/5 positions (Jonah Williams notwithstanding). So then why is Linderbaum starting to fall into the 2nd round of some mock drafts? For one, the center position is not a premier position in football. Generally speaking, the tackle position is the most important, and guards are likely of greater value than centers. Secondly, Linderbaum lacks versatility. The beauty of players like Ted Karras is their ability to move around the offensive line as needs emerge or other situations dictate. Linderbaum is a center now, and likely solely a center going forward. 

If the Bengals still want to address the offensive line and Linderbaum is not an option, Kenyon Green is a possibility. Green provides versatility, having played at multiple positions along the offensive line at Texas A&M, as well as stellar performance. While Green is usually off the board by pick 31, if he were to slide just a bit, the Bengals would have to strongly consider selecting the former Aggie.

If you missed the previous installments of the series, check out the arguments to be made for the Bengals drafting a defensive back or defensive lineman at pick 31. You can follow Taylor on Twitter, @_taylorcornell.

The Bengals Need Pass Rushers in the 2022 NFL Draft

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For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Pressure is On

Cincinnati struck gold along the defensive line last season, with newcomers making an impact week in and week out. Free agent addition Trey Hendrickson led the team in nearly every pressure metric, including 14 sacks. Larry Ogunjobi was third on the team with seven sacks, and tied for the team lead with 12 tackles for loss. Preseason addition B.J. Hill notched 5.5 sacks, and added a key interception against the Kansas Chiefs in the AFC Championship. Sam Hubbard and D.J. Reader rounded out the Bengals defensive line that for the most part showed to be a strength of the team, especially when it came to stopping the run. However, the defensive front was not the most consistent unit on a weekly basis.

Cincinnati ranked 14th in pressure rate, and were fortunate to win five of their six games last season when sacking the opposing quarterback one or fewer times. That .833 winning percentage was tops in the league, and only four other teams had a winning percentage over .500 in those scenarios. While Joseph Ossai is slated to return in 2022 coming off knee surgery which ended his rookie season before it began, expecting him to be a star in Year 1 is dangerous (even if his 2021 preseason was superb). Ogunjobi is currently not in the fold for 2022, so defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo will be looking to add playmakers to the line in the draft.

Potential Options

Edge appears to be a rather deep position group in the 2022 NFL Draft, so the Bengals may elect to wait until the middle rounds to add another pass rusher. However, pass rushers like Arnold Ebikete (Penn State) and Boye Mafe (Minnesota) could be good value at pick 31, especially since neither will likely be on the board in the second round at pick 62. If Cincinnati prefers to focus on beefing up the interior of the line, Travis Jones (Connecticut) could be in play. The real value would be in rounds two and onward, unless one of the top pass-rushers free fall into Cincinnati’s lap.

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Should the Bengals Select a Cornerback in Round 1 of the 2022 NFL Draft?

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For the first time in three seasons, the Cincinnati Bengals’ first round selection is not set in stone as the NFL Draft approaches. In 2020, Joe Burrow was the sure-fire number one pick, and while there was some lively debate around the fifth overall selection last season, Ja’Marr Chase became the betting favorite as draft day grew closer. Thanks to a Super Bowl run in 2021 followed by a busy offseason of key free agent signings, there are a few different directions the team could go at pick 31. In this series, we will make a case for the Bengals attacking specific position groups with their first round pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.

The Case for Drafting a Cornerback

The Bengals defense was a strength overall last season, even if they finished middle of the pack in points allowed per game, and allowed the 7th most passing yards in the league. Chidobe Awuzie was exceptional replacing William Jackson, scoring the third-highest coverage grade according to PFF (among cornerbacks that played at least 300 snaps). Eli Apple was a lightning rod for criticism throughout the season, but was solid starting opposite Awuzie. Mike Hilton was steady in the slot, per usual, and contributed some exciting moments throughout the season. 

With all three starting corners returning in 2022, why is cornerback a potential option at pick 31? For one, Eli Apple signed just a one-year deal this offseason at replacement-level salary. If he plays as well as he did last season, that’s great, but it’s unlikely that the 7th year pro is a key part of the defense for years to come. Secondly, while Awuzie was excellent last year, it did represent a career-year for him from a coverage grade perspective. Chido is unlikely to further progress into a lock-down corner in his sixth season, but more likely remains a good to sometimes great defender for the remainder of his contract. Mike Hilton has never played more than 28 snaps at outside corner in his career. A need exists for another reliable outside corner to at worst challenge Apple this season, and hopefully claim the starting role sooner rather than later.

The Possible Options

With top cornerbacks Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner and Derek Stingley certain to be off the board long before 31, the most likely considerations at that position are Andrew Booth Jr. (Clemson), Kaiir Elam (Florida), Roger McCreary (Auburn), and Kyler Gordon (Washington) among others. Snagging one of those players would set up the defense nicely for a CB2 camp battle with the hopes of a long-term solution emerging.

Why Cincinnati Needs to Extend Vontaze Burfict’s Contract – Like, Now

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It’s fitting that Vontaze Burfict wears tiger stripes while he plays, rather than wings or a halo. Because, with almost $800,000 in fines in five years of play, no one would ever consider the 26-year-old Cincinnati Bengals linebacker to be an angel.

That’s good when you want a linebacker who sets the tone for the rest of the defense. It’s bad when a penalty swaps the 5-yard loss he just gave the other team for 15 free yards and a first down. And another fine.

But Cincinnati needs Vontaze Burfict. He’s in the final year of his contract and the Cincy brass needs to ink him to a new deal. Yes, he must work on his decision-making on the field. But when he’s on, it’s on. He has produced at every level of the game – first as a five-star recruit and perhaps the highest-ranked prospect to ever sign with Arizona State, then as a 2010 All-American, and as a Pro Bowler who led the National Football League with 171 tackles in 2013.

What probably lit the latest fire under Burfict was his exclusion from being drafted in the 2012 NFL draft. He was not selected after there were questions about his discipline and conditioning. Oh, and the failed drug test at that year’s NFL combine probably didn’t help.

No one batted an eye when Cincinnati signed him as an undrafted free agent. But those same eyes were as big as dinner plates when Vontaze Burfict started 14 games and notched 127 tackles in his first year. Two years later, he signed a $20 million contract extension.

He hasn’t played a full season since 2013 because of injuries and suspensions – including last year, when he was forced to sit out the first three games for violation of player safety rules stemming from a head-to-head shot on Pittsburgh’s Antonio Brown in January 2016. Even with that, he still made 101 tackles in 11 games during the 2016 season.

Now, thankfully, all the pieces look like they’re falling into place. Burfict fully participated in OTAs for the first time in three years. He is reportedly in much better shape than last offseason and this is his contract year. He also won’t turn 27 until Week 3, so he has a good amount of gas left in the tank. Cincinnati needs to lock him into a long-term deal before other teams come calling.

Because unlike the 2012 draft, no one is going to overlook Burfict now.

 

 

Which Undrafted Free Agent Should the Bengals Be Watching?

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The undrafted free agent doesn’t get much attention from anyone but his mama. While he watches the NFL Draft come and go, and hopes that he’ll sign a contract afterward, the first-rounders are giving interviews and lining up endorsements. Heck, we expect them to blow us away once they hit the field.

But even with all the one-handed touchdown catches and goal-line stands that make us leap to our feet, there’s nothing like an undrafted free agent who surprises everyone with above-his-pay-grade play. Do the Cincinnati Bengals have someone like that in the works? A rookie whose name wasn’t called on draft day, but should be hearing it often in the next few years?

Don’t be surprised if it’s one of these guys.

3 Undrafted Free Agents to Keep an Eye On

1. Brandon Bell (LB – Penn State): Linebacker was definitely a need for Cincinnati. The team inked a capable prospect with Bell, who was all over the field for Penn State last season. He finished with 89 tackles, four sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions. NFL scouts say he’s a student of the game with good straight-line speed (4.7 in the 40). They also mentioned kick coverage as a launching pad for bigger roles. We agree.

2. Hardy Nickerson Jr (LB – Illinois): Anyone who was a fan of football in the 90s remembers five-time Pro-Bowl LB Hardy Nickerson. That includes Bengals coach Marvin Lewis, who coached Nickerson Sr during his final year with Pittsburgh in 1992. Nick Jr certainly has the brand name to be a baller. He gives great effort and has made more than 100 tackles during each of the last two seasons. But there’s lots to work on. To make the team, he needs to react quicker, improve his play strength and pursuit angles, and not run himself out of position.

3. Karel Hamilton (WR – Samford): The biggest knock on Hamilton is that he played against FCS competition. When facing said opponents, he was sensational (111 catches – 1,389 yards – 14 TDs). He stands 6’1″ and can run the 40 in 4.6 seconds, so he’s no pushover. Hamilton also plays at a spot that ranked 18th in the NFL last year in completions. He’s probably the undrafted free agent we’re most excited about on this list. Between Hamilton’s potential, John Ross’ speed and AJ Green’s AJ-ness, the passing game’s future looks bright.