Of all the offseason moves the Cincinnati Bengals could make, retaining head coach Marvin Lewis on a two-year deal was the Cincinnati Bengal-iest. The only thing worse than that would be for owner Mike Brown to retain general manager Mike Brown.
So, yeah, the dumpster fire rages on. In spite of all this, Lewis claims he’s aiming for a rebuild, even though this team is just a few years away from a playoff appearance and is still relatively young. It’s almost as if the roster isn’t the problem. Somebody should really tell owner Mike Brown how shitty a job GM Mike Brown is doing.
Here’s what I think the Bengals should do with another wasted draft board.
Round 1, Pick 21: Lamar Jackson, QB, Louisville
2017: 59.1 completion percentage, 3,660 yards, 27 touchdowns, 10 interceptions, 232 carries, 1,601 rushing yards, 18 rushing touchdowns (6-3, 211 pounds)
When you hear draft “experts” talk about “ceiling,” know that they’re full of shit. No quarterback in this draft class has a higher ceiling than Lamar Jackson and that should be obvious to even the most casual fan. That being said, I wouldn’t draft him in the first round. That doesn’t mean a team won’t and I really think that team plays in Cincinnati.
Round 2, Pick 46: Dallas Goedert, TE, South Dakota State
2017: 72 catches, 1,111 yards, seven touchdowns (6-5, 255 pounds)
The Bengals matched the Los Angeles Rams’ offer for starting (and oft-injured) tight end Tyler Eifert and he took the one-year deal, but you better believe if he so much as bangs his toe on an ottoman, he won’t be back. His back up, Tyler Kroft, is solid too, but Goedert has eventual big-play potential. He reminds me a lot of Gerald Everett, who the Rams drafted last year. He’ll need some work to become a complete TE, but can contribute in the passing game immediately.
Round 3, Pick 77: Malik Jefferson, OLB, Texas
2017: 110 tackles, 10 for a loss, four sacks (6-3, 240 pounds)
With Vontaze Burfect on a four-game suspension and likely on thin ice with the team, they must start looking hard in the draft for an eventual replacement. Jefferson is one of my favorite linebackers in the draft and brings a lot of Burfect’s skillset to the table with considerably less drama.
Round 4, Pick 112: Nathan Shepherd, DT, Fort Hays State
2017: 38 tackles, 12.5 for a loss, four sacks (6-5, 300 pounds)
Shepherd adds solid depth and potential down the road to a nice defensive tackle rotation. Cincy has continually gotten value in the fourth round in defensive tackles. Both their starters, Geno Atkins and Andrew Billings, along with their primary back up Ryan Glasgow, were picked in the fourth.
Round 5, Pick 151: Matthew Thomas, OLB, Florida State
2017: 85 tackles, 10 for a loss, two sacks, one interceptions, two passes defended, one fumble recovery, one returned for a touchdown (6-4, 227 pounds)
Even if Burfect can stay on the field, the Bengals need to add depth and talent at the outside linebacker position. Thomas is an underrated player who should be a natural on the strong side.
Round 5, Pick 158: Mike Love, DE, South Florida
2017: 28 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, five sacks, three passes defended (6-4, 266 pounds)
As of draft day, the Bengals have just three defensive ends on the roster. They have to add at least one in this draft and Love is the highest rated here in the fifth.
Round 5, Pick 170: Davontae Harris, CB, Illinois State
2017: 57 tackles, 4.5 for a loss, two sacks, two interceptions, 12 passes defended (6-0, 205 pounds)
Cincinnati has invested a lot of high picks in corners and, when everyone’s healthy, they have a solid enough group. Harris is a project, but one that dominated at the FCS level.
Round 7, Pick 249: Ryan Carter, CB, Clemson
2017: 33 tackles, two for a loss, three interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, 10 passes defended, one forced fumble (5-9, 180 pounds)
The knock on Carter is his size, but he’s withstood every test against some of the NCAA’s best. He could fit in as a slot corner and special teamer.
Round 7, Pick 252: Tony Adams, OG, N.C. State
6-2, 322
The addition of Cordy Glenn from the Buffalo Bills stopped the bleeding on the Bengals’ offensive line. Now it’s time to build depth for the future.
Round 7, Pick 253: Brandon Parker, OT, North Carolina A&T
6-7, 314
Like Adams, Parker is a project, but one the Bengals can afford to take on. He has the prototype NFL size and many of the skills needed to play at either side of the line.
