The Cincinnati Bengals have a few options at No. 18 in this year’s NFL Draft.
Should they decide to select an offensive lineman to protect Joe Burrow, another pass catcher to boost the talent around him, or a defender? Pro Football Network’s Jay Morrison took a stance in his latest piece — solidifying the offensive line.
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Taliese Fuaga Is a Potential Draft Target
On the OL, the Bengals could opt for Oregon State offensive tackle Taliese Fuaga. Pro Football Network draft analyst Ian Cummings believes that there are some pros and cons to Fuaga’s game but that the pros far outweigh the cons.
“On tape, there aren’t too many glaring questions with Fuaga,” Cummings wrote. “His length, while exceptional, isn’t quite elite, and neither is his hip flexibility. But the biggest question will be whether or not he can switch to left tackle at the NFL level.
“My take is that, while he lacks experience, Fuaga has the coordination, balance, athleticism, and natural leverage acquisition to move to the left side if needed. At either spot, he can be a scheme-versatile impact starter with Pro Bowl and All-Pro upside.”
With the Bengals signing Trent Brown to play right tackle in the offseason, Fuaga wouldn’t need to be immediately ready at the right tackle position. He would be someone who could potentially slide inside to assist the offensive line at the guard positions.
Jay Morrison Completes 7-Round Mock Draft
Morrison did some tinkering with the free Pro Football Network Mock Draft Simulator. He accepted a trade with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to trade back from No. 49 to No. 57, acquired the No. 89 pick, and gave up the No. 149 selection.
With his first-round selection, Morrison took Illinois defensive tackle Johnny Newton. Here’s what Morrison had to say about the standout defensive lineman:
“Newton is a 3-technique in line with Sheldon Rankins and B.J. Hill, not a run-stopper such as [DJ] Reader,” he wrote. “But PFN lead draft analyst Ian Cummings is high on Johnny Newton’s upside in defending the run as well as being a menace as a pass rusher…
“The leap from college to the NFL is immense when it involves players in the trenches, but Newton has a strong base to work with as a run defender. And even if his pass rush skills far outweigh what he does against the run, the Bengals still need longer-term answers at 3-tech with Hill set to be a free agent after this season and Rankins after 2025.”
Here is the rest of Morrison’s latest mock draft.
Malik Nabers on Team’s Draft Wishlist
The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. looked at a number of players that the Bengals may have on their wishlist in the first round. Among them were LSU wide receiver Malik Nabers, Ohio State wideout Marvin Harrison Jr., Washington receiver Rome Odunze, the aforementioned Fuaga, Washington offensive tackle Troy Fautanu, Texas defensive tackle Byron Murphy II, and others.
“You know who would be the perfect complement to Ja’Marr Chase? Another Ja’Marr Chase. If playing the comp game with Nabers, it’s hard not to see the former No. 1 at LSU,” Dehner wrote.
Nabers, if he were to fall to the Bengals, would fit the team’s LSU continuity. Both Burrow and Chase were standouts with the Bayou Bengals. It seems that it would make sense for Cincinnati to carry the tradition to the professional ranks.
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