Cincinnati Bengals NFL Draft Recap – NFL Preview & Prediction
The Bengals were the worst team in the NFL last year and really needed to fill some needs and a lot of those needs were ones that the Bengals created on their own. One of the major needs was the replacement of quarterback Andy Dalton who the Bengals fans and coaches had increasingly grown frustrated with. The other issue that the Bengals had was the lack of a good quality healthy wideout and a blocker to protect the quarterback. The defense has the defensive end and outside linebacker position that needed filled.
Round 1 (1) Joe Burrow, QB, 6’4” 221 pounds
The Bengals picked up Joe Burrow in the first round and with the first pick in the draft. However, it was a position that filled a need that the Bengals created on their own. To make matters worse the Bengals have a very poor track history of picking a quarterback in the first round. Now, the Bengals will be banking on Burrow who did decent last year in leading LSU to the title, but also managed to prove that his extra years in college helped to improve his mindset and allowed him to get quite a bit more experience.
Round 2 (1) Tee Higgins, WR, 6’4” 216 pounds
Higgins comes from Clemson and definitely has some of the sure hands that will make it easier for the Bengals to provide a decent alternative to A.J. Green. At the same time, this allows the tandem of Burrow and Higgins to get started off together and that should make it quite a bit easier for the tandem to get on the same page for what would hopefully for the Bengals fans be their entire career. Not to mention Higgins is able to stretch the field and can run the defenders off and jump over the defenders in the corners.
Round 3 (1) Logan Wilson, ILB, 6’2” 241 pounds
Wilson is coming out of Wyoming where he was a captain for some of the games. Now, Wilson will be one player that could take over in a strong backup role or even as a potential starter. Logan is able to run down the backs and has decent skills chasing down the receiver as well. To make it even better Wilson is not that bad with his hands and can pick off the ball if needed.
Round 4 (1) Akeem Davis-Gaither, OLB, 6’2” 224 pounds
While he may not have the best size for a linebacker in the NFL Davis-Gaither does have great speed and is able to run the sidelines good. What Is very good is Akeem realizes that his size will not dominate in the NFL and he has ended up learning how to tackle and fight off the blocks with his size and getting the leverage that he needs. That definitely helps to lend his hand to being a Steve Tasker type of player on the special teams.
Round 5 (1) Khalid Kareem, DE, 6’4” 268 pounds
Speed is going to be a key factor along with quick location of the ball for Kareem to be a success in the NFL. Granted, he is a good player and is coming out of Notre Dame, which is a team that tends to face a lot of big name teams year in and year out. However, even with that type of play the speed of the NFL can really keep some of the good players down, which could be the case here.
Round 6 (1) Hakeem Adeniji, OT, 6’4” 302 pounds
Adeniji may not be a starter for a couple of years to come, but for Hakeem he does have a great advantage. That is the fact he started in both of the tackle positions for Kansas and started all 4 years. Look for Adeniji to be one of the tackles that can actually go out and play great in the games and really have a chance to develop more as the season goes on.
Round 7 (1) Markus Bailey, ILB, 6’0” 235 pounds
Now, the pick of Bailey may be one that could potentially help the Bengals, but Bailey is not the strongest linebacker and even with his good read ability the fact that his size could get him sealed off on the blocks quickly definitely makes it a challenge for Bailey to be seen as a good pick. However, in the 7th round it is hard to go wrong in picking a player who has good skills and can make a difference in the games in the future.
