An “A” grade draft for the Cincinnati Bengals looks different for everyone.
But a new effort from The Athletic’s Dane Brugler? It hits on almost everything the Bengals need and at good value.
Case in point, the mock starting the Bengals off with Northwestern defensive tackle Adetomiwa Adebawore at No. 28:
From his standout performance at the Senior Bowl to elite testing numbers at the combine, no player has aced the pre-draft process quite like Adebawore. Like most teams, the Bengals are searching for explosive defensive linemen on the interior, and the Northwestern three-technique could fill that role.
Adebawore is a perfect fit for a Bengals team looking to add more pass-rush to the interior of the defensive line. He’s also the perfect example of a best-player-available approach that also hits a need.
And the proof is in the rest of the mock for the Bengals:
2 (60): Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
3 (92): Tyler Steen, T/G, Alabama
4 (131): Zack Kuntz, TE, Old Dominion
5 (163): Darrell Luter Jr., CB, South Alabama
6 (206): Dorian Thompson-Robinson, QB, UCLA
7 (246): Rakim Jarrett, WR, Maryland
The Bengals grab an instant-starting, productive running back in the second round, a versatile immediate and long-term insurance policy on the offensive line in the third and a tight end who can compete for the starting job in the fourth round.
Heck, the Bengals even grab a quarterback they’ve been visiting with and think about life after Tyle Boyd in the late rounds.
This is probably a more unique take on what the Bengals could do, but it’s very realistic and would easily earn rave reviews while improving the team.
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