The Cincinnati Bengals get their ‘guy’ with the first overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Joe Burrow goes first overall, but where do they go after that?
Speak for all of the Cincinnati Bengals fans: no one was high on the Bengals coming into last season. The Bengals finished (2-14) on the season as the worst team in the entire NFL last season. The Bengals are now focused on the 2020 NFL Draft and how can they improve their team for the upcoming future. Here is Bengals 7-round mock draft for you Cincy fans!
The Bengals have a few teams needs that they have to fill in either the NFL Draft or free agency that is coming up in the next few days. The Bengals are gonna move away from longtime quarterback Andy Dalton this offseason, which could up them up to draft a quarterback. The Bengals are gonna upgrade at the quarterback position. Everything begins with the quarterback when the coaching staff has their ‘guy’ it makes the team a whole lot better.
A position that should not go unnoticed this offseason is offensive weapons. The Bengals have a few players that might test free agency in wide receiver A.J. Green and tight end Tyler Eifert. The Bengals have came out and said they are expected to use their franchise tag on A.J. Green which would be huge for their future quarterbacks develop.
Another position that the Bengals need to improve this offseason is linebacker. Nick Vigil is the Bengals starting linebacker last season and they need to get an upgrade this offseason. If the Bengals can get a physical linebacker in the later rounds or even in free agency, you could see this Bengals defense give up fewer and fewer points in the future.
The last position that I think the Bengals need to address this offseason is the secondary but more specific is they need to address cornerback. Getting a stunt cornerback in the later rounds or even free agency would help this team out some much for the future.
Round 1, Pick 1: Joe Burrow |QB| LSU
With the first pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, the Cincinnati Bengals select Joe Burrow, quarterback, LSU. The Justin Hebert rumors have died out if you have not heard about the Herbert rumors than just do not worry about anything.
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I am sure the Bengals phones have been ringing a bunch recently wanting to trade up to get this generational talent. The Bengals should not and will not mess this pick-up. The Bengals front office needs to turn the card for Joe Burrow and be excited that you have your quarterback of the future.
The Bengals selected Joe Burrow than what are you gonna do with Andy Dalton? Teams have called the Bengals wondering what the value of Dalton is. I think the Bengals need to trade ANdy Dalton before the NFL Draft, so they could also gain another pick or two that could either help out on defense or give Joe Burrow another weapon on offense.
Round 2, Pick 33: Justin Jefferson |WR| LSU
When I was talking about offensive weapons, I was not thinking that the Bengals would out and go get Joe Burrow’s favorite wide receiver. But guess what, they do!
The Bengals need to get Burrow weapons if you want him to succeed. Getting the receiver that Burrow threw the ball to more than a hundred times last season is exactly what he needs.
Justin Jefferson is a polished route runner and something that shocked everyone that was watching the NFL Combine and I think it also surprised Jefferson as well, that he ran a 4.44 40-yard dash time. Jefferson is a natural catching the football, he has feather-like hands. A receiver that is 6’3 and runs a 4.44 40, I do not want to speak for the Bengals but I think they would want that receiver and what is even better is that they played with each other for a straight year and had tons and tons of success.
Justin Jefferson is the obvious pick for the Bengals if he is available with the 33rd overall pick.
Round 3, Pick 65: Bryce Hall |CB| Virginia
The Bengals are getting some secondary help with the first pick in the third round. The Bengals select Bryce Hall, cornerback, University of Virginia.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals really need another starting cornerback. The Bengals starting cornerback this season were Dre Kirkpatrick, William Jackson, and B.W. Webb. Kirkpatrick got injured halfway through the season. William Jackson is a younger player that is still developing but Kirkpatrick and Webb are a bit on the older side. Adding a player like Bryce Hall to your cornerback rotation, that can sub in and out with Kirkpatrick and Webb because Hall is injury prone.
What I like about Bryce Hall that I think would make him a good fit for the Bengals is that he is long and physical. Hall is a zone coverage cornerback, he reminds me of James Bradberry the Carolina Panthers cornerback. What makes Hall so appealing is his ability to be a game-changer, he will make big plays for you.
Round 4, Pick 104: Troy Dye |LB| Oregon
The Bengals are now just upgrading the needs that they need to fill. The Bengals select Troy Dye, linebacker, University of Oregon.
The Bengals need a better linebacker, so why not get one of the best coverage linebackers in this entire draft class.
Troy Dye is not much of a run stopper but that is when Nick Vigil comes in handy. The Bengals need a good coverage linebacker and that is exactly what Dye is gonna do for you. What I like about Dye and why Cincinnati should hop on him is his speed. Dye has such good closing speed on quarterbacks. Lamar Jackson is in the same division as the Bengals, having a player that could keep him with Jackson when he tries to break it outside would be huge.
The only thing that concerns me about Troy Dye is his strength. When you play linebacker you need to be bigger and you can not miss tackles. He has a tendency to miss tackles against bigger running backs, in the NFL most of the running backs are big. Dye needs to hit the weight room and needs to work on his tackling ability.
Round 5, Pick 147: Jason Strowbridge |IDL| North Carolina
The Bengals are going with a very versatile player in Jason Strowbridge, interior defensive lineman, University of North Carolina.
Jason Strowbridge is a very interesting prospect. Strowbridge was a 245-pound defensive end than by the end of his career, he is 270-pounds and is an interior defensive lineman. What I love about Strowbridge is that he still uses his defensive end skills inside now. Strowbridge has a really good bend and very flexible, he uses those traits inside which it is different. Even though Strowbridge used to rush the passer, now he is a big run stuffer. Strowbridge will work with Geno Atkins inside. They both have different skills but I believe they will complement each other really well.
The big thing that concerns me but should not happen when he works with Geno Atkins but Strowbridge is very bad against double teams. Atkins will take most of the double teams which will leave him one on one with a guard, which he should beat most of the time.
Round 6, Pick 180: Trey Adams |OT| Washington
The Bengals are going with a massive man out of the University of Washington that fell all the way to the 6th because of his NFL Combine interviews is an offensive tackle, Trey Adams.
Trey Adams is a player that actually fell during the NFL Combine, specifically his interviews is what made him drop. Trey Adams has had some problems over the last few years with injuries as well, that is another huge reason why he has dropped all the way into the 6th round.
When you watch Trey Adams’ tape, there are a few things that you like about him. The one thing that really stands out is his size, the man is 6’8 and weighs 330 pounds. Adams is also a good run blocker and what teams will like about his play is that he finishes plays. He goes from whistle to whistle, which is what I love in a play and I believe the Bengals will too. To grab a player like this in the 6th round is a steal but if he can stay on the field and not get hurt all the time, Adams will have a very nice and long career in the NFL and for the Bengals.
Round 7, Pick 215: Shyheim Carter |S| Alabama
When you are drafting in the seventh round, you are looking for backups and or steals that fell all the way to the seventh. That is why Cincinnati will draft Shyeim Carter with their last pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. Carter will be a depth guy that the Bengals will bring in and sit behind the young baller, Jessie Bates.
The thing that stands out for that Shyeim Carter brings to the table is that he is a linebacker stuck in a safety’s body. The man can people like it is nothing, his size is the issue why he never made the transition to linebacker. What I have also noticed from watching the film on Carter is that he can also play nickel/slot cornerback as well.
Cincinnati can move him around and see where he fits best with all the pieces around but Shyheim Carter could be a household name if he hits the weight room a bit more.