Last season was a lost one for the Cincinnati Bengals. Capable of so much more, they disappointed across the board, finishing 6-9-1 and landing a Top 10 NFL Draft pick. That’s the bright side, at least. Two seasons ago the Bengals looked like a team on the verge of a title run. Now they look like a team just fighting to stay in the AFC North conversation.
It’s not going to get any easier for the Bengals, who spent another offseason hemorrhaging key free agents. They come into this draft with 11 picks, which is a lot, but most of them come in rounds 4-7. Here’s what they should do.
To see the perfect drafts for all 32 teams, click here.
Round 1, Pick 9: Reuben Foster, ILB, Alabama
2016: 115 tackles, 13 for a loss, five sacks, two passes defensed
The Bengals have had a huge hole at middle linebacker for years and they already addressed it this offseason by signing free agent Kevin Minter and jettisoning Rey Maualuga. Still, that shouldn’t keep them from grabbing Foster here at No. 9. Not only will he be the best player on the board at that point, he just might be the best defensive player in this entire draft.
Round 2, Pick 41: Carl Lawson, DE, Auburn
2016: 30 tackles, 14 for a loss, 9.5 sacks
If you’ve been following all my pre-draft rankings, you’ll already know I had Lawson as my No. 5 defensive end. That makes him a high value pick to get here at No. 40. The Bengals have one solid defensive end on the roster already in Carlos Dunlap, but Michael Johnson hasn’t produced more than five sacks in a season since 2012. Behind Johnson and Dunlap the depth consists of Will Clarke and that’s it. Clarke is a good contributor and actually outperformed Johnson in the sack department last season with four. Regardless, it’s time for an upgrade and Lawson is the guy.
Round 3, Pick 73: Roderick Johnson, OT, Florida State
Cincinnati lost two of their best offensive linemen to free agency, with Andrew Whitworth going to the Los Angeles Rams and Kevin Zettler moving across the state to Cleveland. They added Andre Smith back to the fold after a year in Minnesota, but they need to add some talent in the draft. Johnson is probably an NFL right tackle as a rookie, but the good news is, coming from Florida State’s pro-style offense, he can start from day one if called into service. He was one of the best left tackles in the ACC and won the Jacobs Blocking Trophy, so don’t expect him to stay on the right side long.
Round 4, Pick 116: Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
2016: 70 tackles, 3.5 for a loss, one sack, eight passes defended, one forced fumble, eight interceptions, one defensive touchdown
Darqueze Dennard is probably the heir apparent to Adam Jones’ corner spot in the Bengals defense. The truth is, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Cincinnati cut Jones and his $7.666 million cap number in the preseason if Dennard shows anything. But to do that, they need a guy like Douglas to add depth and step into the slot. The truth is, Douglas is an underrated prospect and a steal here in the fourth round. At 6-1, and 203 with his production, he could play corner or free safety at the NFL level.
Round 4, Pick 138: Dede Westbrook, WR, Oklahoma
2016: 80 catches, 1,524 yards, 17 touchdowns, 10 carries, 101 yards rushing
The Bengals got plenty of production from their new wideouts last season, Brandon LeFell and rookie second round pick Tyler Boyd. Boyd put down a solid effort, catching 54 passes for 603 yards and a touchdown. LeFell had the second best season of his life, catching 64 passes for 862 yards and six touchdowns. With the Bengals recently re-signing LeFell, wideout isn’t a pressing need, but Westrbook here in the fourth round is just too good and productive to pass up. At 6-0, 175 pounds, he’s a prototype west coast wideout that could probably press Boyd for his job before the season is up. With this many picks, it won’t hurt to just take the best guy on the board here.
Round 5, Pick 153: Xavier Woods, Safety, Louisiana Tech
2016: 84 tackles, 6.5 for a loss, three sacks, six passes defended, one forced fumble, five interceptions
Woods adds depth behind starting safeties Shawn Williams and George Iloka, with the ability to play corner in the slot if needed.
Round 5, Pick 176: Jeremy Sprinkle, TE, Arkansas
2016: 33 catches, 380 yards, four touchdowns
Tyler Eifert is a super star, but has spent most of his career in the training room with injuries. Adding Sprinkle gives the Bengals some insurance for Eifert and, at 6-6 and 256, another huge red zone target when both guys are healthy.
Round 6, Pick 193: Jerod Evans, QB, Virginia Tech
2016: 63.5 completion percentage, 3,552 yards, 29 touchdowns, eight interceptions, 204 rushes, 846 yards rushing, 12 rushing TDs
The Bengals may like A.J. McCarron as their back up quarterback, but they couldn’t possibly like him more than the teams that have to face him when he starts. Starter Andy Dalton is no where near close to the end of his career and he’s the best QB Cincy has had in 20 years and any thought of replacing him is just stupid. But that doesn’t mean you don’t draft and develop a guy that can come in and win football games for you. Evans is the kind of player the Bengals could take in the sixth round and turn into a first or second rounder in two years.
Round 6, Pick 217: Dylan Donahue, OLB, West Georgia
2016: 67 tackles, 20 for a loss, 13.5 sacks, one pass defensed, one fumble recovery, one blocked kick
Donahue dominated his NCAA Division II opponents like a man of his skills and size should have. He’s a natural pass rusher and can contribute on third downs as a rookie.
Round 7, Pick 227: Justin Senior, OT, Mississippi State
Senior started every game at right tackle for the Bulldogs over the last three years but one. He’s spent a career facing the best outside pass rushers in the SEC, many of whom he’ll see again in the NFL. Adding Senior here and Johnson in the third, gives the Bengals their two starting tackles in 2018.
Round 7, Pick 251: Jake Eldrenkamp, OG, Washington
Eldrenkamp is a strong, versatile interior offensive lineman that’s played at a high level for one of the best teams in the country for the last couple of seasons. He did well enough to get an All PAC-12 nod from the conference’s coaches in 2016.
To make a wager on any sport, go to the world famous Diamond Sportsbook by clicking here.
