The Cincinnati Bengals came into the 2020 season as one of the teams to watch. After selecting Joe Burrow with the top selection in the draft, all eyes were on Cincinnati and the young quarterback. Unfortunately, things turned south as they were looking up.
Burrow suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and other ligament damage in Week 11 against the Washington Football Team. Maybe the Bengals should’ve addressed their offensive line earlier in the 2020 draft, just a thought. After seeing their franchise signal-caller go down with a horrific injury, maybe the Cincinnati front office finally builds up the offensive line, which happens in this seven-round mock.
To help with this mock draft, I used The Draft Network’s mock draft simulator.
Make sure to check out all of our other NFL Team Mock Drafts.
Round 1, Pick 5: Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
Sewell or bust. The Bengals need to address their offensive line, or else Burrow will be running for his life once again during the 2021 season. Jonah Williams is potentially the only viable offensive lineman the Bengals have. If Sewell is on the board, Cincinnati needs to take him. The Dolphins may take him with the third pick, but if he falls to the Bengals and they don’t take Sewell, Bengals fans have every right to be upset.
Round 2, Pick 38: Landon Dickerson, IOL, Alabama
The whole offensive line needs upgrading. Trey Hopkins or Billy Price shouldn’t be the starting center next season. Dickerson has injury concerns, but when he is healthy, he’s one of the best centers in the country. Dickerson is one of the toughest players out there. He took the final snap in the College Football Playoff Championship win against Ohio State with a torn ACL. Don’t overthink this. The offensive line needs help in any way possible.
Round 3, Pick 69: D’Wayne Eskridge, WR, Western Michigan
After addressing two positions on the offensive line, Cincinnati continues to build around Burrow. The Bengals have Tyler Boyd and Tee Higgins for the long run but are set to lose A.J. Green, John Ross, Alex Erickson, and Mike Thomas to free agency. Eskridge would give Burrow a great option out of the slot, and Cincinnati would have one of the best receiving cores in the league as a result. Eskridge is a favorite of many in the draft community and could be taken much higher than this.
For more on Eskridge, read our scouting report on him here.
Round 4, Pick 111: Benjamin St-Juste, CB, Minnesota
Cincinnati could potentially lose all of William Jackson III, Mackensie Alexander, and LeShaun Sims to free agency. If any one of those three should be re-signed, it’s Alexander, but he plays in the slot. Jackson leaving opens up a big hole at one of the boundary cornerback spots. After an impressive Senior Bowl, St-Juste is more than worthy of this selection. He is an intriguing prospect that still has a lot of room to grow.
Round 5, Pick 150: Chauncey Golston, EDGE, Iowa
With Carl Lawson an impending free agent, the Bengals desperately need pass-rush help. Like St-Juste, Golston’s stock rose from a strong Senior Bowl week. He is a versatile player who can play on the edge as well as on the interior of the defensive line. He is a better run defender and needs some development in his pass-rush moves. Unfortunately for the Bengals, they have a lot of needs and not enough picks to fill them, so this may be addressed in free agency instead.
Round 6, Pick 192: Bobby Brown, IDL, Texas A&M
Taking Brown this late is a steal. Based on his run-clogging ability, he should maybe be taken as high as the third round. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to offer much in the pass-rush segment, and his effort seems hot and cold. The Bengals need to take a chance on him here if he’s available as Geno Atkins could be a cap casualty, and Christian Covington and Mike Daniels are both impending free agents.
Round 7, Pick 227: Christian Uphoff, SAF, Illinois State
Brandon Wilson and Shawn Williams are impending free agents. Jessie Bates has shown he is one of the best young safeties in the league, and Vonn Bell is a solid counterpart. If neither Williams nor Wilson is back, that leaves Trayvon Henderson as the only other safety on the roster. Uphoff is an intriguing option that played well at the FCS level. He would provide depth along with special teams value during his rookie season.
Round 7, Pick 229: Austin Watkins, WR, UAB
With Watkins still available this late, this had to be the choice. The receiver class is so good this year, and the Bengals dip their toes for a second time. Watkins is a height-weight-speed prospect that can make a big play happen out of nothing. Like many on this list, he had a great showing at the Senior Bowl and would be a massive steal at this point in the draft.
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