The Cincinnati Bengals won’t have to wait long to hit the podium at the 2020 NFL draft.
In all liklihood, they might have the pick decided well before the event even begins thanks to the need at quarterback and the talent of LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
As such, most mock drafts don’t figure to deviate at No. 1 in the coming weeks and months. What’s interesting is how the team might choose to draft at the top of the second and third rounds.
A new three-round mock hits on that topic, with Luke Easterling of Draft Wire explaining the Burrow pick:
“The Andy Dalton era needs to end, and the Bengals are in the perfect spot to take his successor. Burrow has not only been dominant all year long against top competition, he’s taken his game to another level on the game’s biggest stages at the SEC title game and the College Football Playoff.”
The next two rounds:
33. Cincinnati Bengals | Creed Humphrey | OL | Oklahoma
65. Cincinnati Bengals | Trey Smith | OT | Tennessee
Hard to hate doubling down on offensive line given the extent of the rebuild in the trenches and the need to make Burrow succeed, right? Humphrey is a big 6’5″ player who can start inside right away and Smith is a versatile guy who can help almost anywhere.
Granted, this position projection could change soon. The Bengals have Jonah Williams coming back and like what they’ve seen from rookie Fred Johnson, who could end up making a push at right tackle. If they’re all-in on his development, anything from wideout to defensive end to linebacker could take priority in the second and third rounds.
But right now? The Bengals get an “A” for this sort of mock.
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