Round 2
Zack Baun
This was a difficult choice. As most of us noted during the season when the discussion of tanking began to proliferate, the additional benefit to finishing with the worst record in the league was that each subsequent pick after you grabbed your quarterback would likely be in range of a faller from the previous round. We saw that last season when Cody Ford and Jawaan Taylor slipped into the second round. In this iteration of the draft, the potential options available to the Bengals are abundant. Assuming they stick and pick, prospects like Jalen Reagor, the dynamic receiver out of TCU are available to them at 33. Grant Delpit slips to the top of the second as well as three viable tackle prospects in Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson and Ezra Cleveland. If this situation prevailed, I’d be inclined to go Baun at 33.
The Bengals have been bereft at talent at the linebacker spot since 2005 when speaking about the aggregate corps and have been without a standout at the position PLAYING at a high level since 2015. Baun is a versatile talent that is adept at rushing the passer and provides some coverage ability from the linebacker position. He’s had the Kyle Van Noy comp dropped on him by a few pundits, and as comparisons go, it’s not half bad. Baun is more fluid in space than you’d expect from a guy his size, and he flashes instinctiveness in coverage (he’ll improve in this area as he acclimates himself to off-ball linebacker on a full-time basis). He’ll add to what should be a solid pass rush as a rookie, and in a few seasons, he’ll be a very valuable full-time starter for the Bengals.
Other Options at #33: Grant Delpit, Jalen Reagor, Ezra Cleveland, Terrell Lewis, Lucas Niang, Austin Jackson.