While the Cincinnati Bengals have made several notable moves this offseason, there are still a few questions that need to be answered.
Much of the focus on what the Bengals will do in the first round of this year’s NFL Draft has centered on finding the right tackle of the future.
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The Bengals have been much more active with draft-day trades recently, but moving up has never worked out well for the team. When it comes to NFL Draft trades, much of the debate centers on which teams could be coming up and which are willing to move back in the first round.
Bengals Need a Tackle, But Which Ones Are the Best Fit With Guard Versatility?
On this week’s episode of the PFN Bengals Podcast, Pro Football Network lead draft analyst Ian Cummings talked about several topics including who Cincinnati could target and when.
On the topic of finding a right tackle with guard versatility in the first round, Cummings pointed to a pair of options, with Washington’s Troy Fautanu, who recently made a 30 visit to Cincinnati, as his top choice.
“Fautanu is probably the best one if you’re looking for a tackle who can play guard right off the bat because he actually has pre-existing experience at guard, and he was very good there,” Cummings said.
“I think his natural leverage at 6’4” plays really well. One thing I look for with guards is, ‘Do you have that natural leverage and knee bend to acquire leverage and also the proportional length to get inside your opponent’s frame while playing with proper pad level?’”
Another tackle/guard option is Oregon State’s Taliese Fuaga, who is scheduled to visit with the Bengals.
READ MORE: Best Guard-Tackle Versatile Options for Bengals in 2024 NFL Draft
Who Could Be Some Mid-Round Tight End Targets?
The Cincinnati Bengals haven’t drafted a tight end in five years, but getting one or two in the middle rounds of this year’s draft could be a smart way to go.
Pro Football Network’s Jay Morrison broke down some mid-round tight end targets for the Bengals.
Theo Johnson, Jaheim Bell, Dallin Holker, Tanner McLachlan, and Erick All were among the options Morrison named as potential targets.
SEE MORE: Mid-Round TE Targets for the Bengals
Have the Cincinnati Bengals Won a Draft-Day Trade?
Morrison also examined the Bengals’ history of NFL Draft trades.
During the last seven drafts, the Bengals have made 10 trades. Half of them involved second-round picks, and four of those five second-round deals involved the team moving back to acquire an extra pick.
The Bengals’ go-to move is trading back in Round 2, with the lone exception being in 2022 when Duke Tobin sent a sixth-round pick to the Buffalo Bills to move up three spots to draft cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt.
“Given that the Bengals have made at least one trade in each of the last six drafts and a total of 10, you can expect some sort of movement from the team again this year,” Morrison wrote.
KEEP READING: When, if Ever, Have the Cincinnati Bengals Won a Draft-Day Trade?
Joe Burrow Joining Jason, Travis Kelce’s Cincinnati Live Show
The Kelce brothers’ podcast announced Joe Burrow as the special guest for their “New Heights Live: We Gotta Talk About It” show at Nippert Stadium on April 11.
“Couldn’t do a show in Cincinnati without some special guests,” New Heights said on X, formerly Twitter.
In addition to a live show, the event will also feature the first annual Great Lombaby Games, a friendly competition series between UC athletes and academics, overseen by Jason and Travis Kelce, who will act as commentators and referees for each event.
ORIGINAL SOURCE: New Heights on X (Formerly Twitter)
