Hi, get everybody. I'm Dan Hoard and thanks for downloading the Bengals Booth podcast. The Just Move On Up. Addition, as I discussed the Bengals offseason moves with Pro Football Focus salary cap and free agency expert Brad Spielberger. And after talking to Brad, I'll do a three round Bengals mock draft, detailing who is still on the board at the time and why I made each of my picks.
The Bengals Booth Podcast is brought to you by pay Core, proud to be the Bengals official hr software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business, and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. Now here's a quick reminder that you can have the latest edition of this podcast delivered write to your phone, tablet or computer
by subscribing wherever you get your podcasts. It's the greatest thing since Ballpark Peanuts. I can't go to the movies without getting popcorn, and now the baseball season is back. I rarely go to the ballpark without getting peanuts. I like the whole ritual, cracking them open, gobbling what's inside, and tossing the shell under your seat. It's not only a tasty snack, but a bag generally lasts for most of the game, and they go well with a cold
beer too. In nineteen oh eight, when Jack Norworth wrote the lyrics to take Me out to the ballgame, he didn't say buy me some sushi and cracker jack. He started with peanuts. Who am I to argue? Now, let's get to football. For the past few years, Brad Spielberger has been the lead salary cap analyst for Pro Football Focus. He's the guy responsible for PFF's free agency Top two hundred this year, and he's among the PFF experts who
publishes mock drafts. In short, he's well versed on just about any NFL topic, and he joined me this week to discuss the Bengals. Brad, you recently graded every team's free agent class. You gave the Bengals a B plus, and you don't dole out a's easily. Houston was the only team in the AFC that was worthy of an A in your opinion. What were the biggest reasons why you thought the Bengals class is worthy of a B plus.
Yeah. I think the way I approach it too, is trying to look back historically and not fall in love with which teams made the biggest splashes, because that's not really how you win free agency, right, we know that over the course of history. So look, the Bengals did lose some important players. I think DJ Reader has been an awesome Bengal but obviously has missed time over his Cincinnati tenure. And I was very high in Sheldon Rankins
watching his tape last year. A very good pass rusher on the interior, I think one of the most important positions the Bengals needed to address in free agency, and then a couple other spots as well, getting you know, a true deep third free safety a ball hawk did a ton of interceptions last year for the Baltimore Ravens like that. That was an important addition to this defense where you know, they've been great under Luannarumo, but last season they were I want to say, second worst in
the NFL and explosive pass play rate allowed. So I don't think I said Geno Stone's name. So Geno Stone, you know, look, he's not gonna be the greatest run defender in the world. But put him back there, have the versatility of a Jordan Battle of dax Hill these young corners, and let him sit back there. The pass rush gets home, he will flip the field, turn the ball over for you. So you know, on that side of the line or that's howe the team. I loved it.
And then you know, Trent Brown look gonna miss some time part of the equation there, but when he's healthy, he is still one of the better pass protecting tackles in the entire NFL, arguably the best pass protecting tackle besides Tyron Smith in the entire phraging class.
Was there something or someone that would have elevated the Bengals grade to an A.
It's a good question. Probably not, you know. I think just some of the losses were tough, you know, so, and that happens. It's part of being a good football team and making these big decisions and having to navigate the t Higgins and Jesse Bates of the world. You know, maybe more at tight end potentially, and they did make a little move for Mike Kasicki, who I think isn't very interesting component, even if it's just on third downs in red zone and he's not going to offer much
as a blocker. You still just get a big body target that, especially if Higgins is elsewhere, you know, in twenty twenty four or later. I'm not saying he's a T. Higgins replacement, but in those specific areas he is good. You know, didn't get a ton of usage with the Patriots, but I think they'll be more creative in a heavy eleven personnel offense in Cincinnati to just get him out there in obvious passing situations. His catch radius is ginormous.
I think guy has the longest arms maybe at the position. So no, I think it was just tough for where they were at to make a bunch of moves to kind of counterbalance some of the big losses they did have.
The Bengals tight ends during the Joe Burrow a have been c j Uzama, Hayden Hurst, dru Sample and Tanner Hudson. Who emerged this past season is Mikeasicki the best receiving threat at tight end that Joe Burrows had.
It's a fair question, you know, and I think also just real quick it speaks to you know, you have to make those tough decisions not paying Uzama, who I know was a Bengals favorite, and you know he is a good player, but goes to the Jets and obviously got cut this past season. I want to say still is not a roster and that tough decision they made to save that money and not keep that player. It has aged well, so as a pure pass catcher, maybe yeah,
he really could be. You know, Hurst was a good all round player and certainly wasn't a bad pass catcher, but more of a kind of underneath checkdown outlet that can pick up some yards after the catch. Kasiki can be like a vertical threat out of the slot.
You know.
He calls himself a big slot receiver, you know, and he is, so yeah, you could probably make that argument.
Let's talk about Zach Moss. He got a two year, eight million dollar deal, He's twenty six years old for the Bengals. Are is he a better fit than Joe Mixon?
I think the beauty here is that his skill set compliments Chase Brown so well. And we saw the last what six weeks of last season where you're starting to see more usage for Chase Brown. Was that the Jaguars game where he had a bunch of catches and a bunch of yards, and so Moss is your your early down you know, between the tackles runner he can get to the edge and obviously had a lot of great
games for the Colts. So I think that's the big thing, is you save some money, and you also you'll use guys. You'll use both more right, Mixon is a three down player. That's who he is. He wants the volume, he wants to touches, he wants to be out there, and he has that skill set. So I like how they navigated that.
You get a trade for a player you probably were going to cut, you know, Mixing is a good player, and honestly, I think it got to a point where maybe the narrative of going too far and like, oh they got to make make him take a pay cut. Again, I don't think his earnings were that bad, but obviously, or you know, his pending earnings were that bad. But obviously he wanted a new contract and he got that elsewhere. So I like how they navigated it. Overall.
Is there anybody out there still that makes sense for the Bengals.
It's an interesting thought. I mean, I guess you could continue to add me some depth on the interior of the offensive line. There are some players out there. I mean, Dalton Risner is a starter in this league. I don't really know why he's not on a roster at this point. And Cordella Olsen, you know, I know, he got there with the second most extra money performance based pay from the pool, and I think he's shown growth. I think he has gotten better over his time in Cincinnati. But look,
Risner would be an upgrade. There's no doubt about that in my mind, and so he's probably not signing a backup deal, although you know, eventually the game musical chairs runs out for you in this league in free agency, so maybe that's one spot you could look into a little bit, prepare for the future a bit if you want to, and then beyond that, not really, I mean,
they're gonna trust these young corners. Maybe a veteran corner There are a bunch of those names out there, but I think at this point there are more names than than high level talents. You know, once once you've hit April, that's kind of how it goes.
Well, let me ask you about one of those cornerbacks in particular, Xavier Howard from the Dolphins, four time Pro Bowler when he was younger. Obviously there's a lot of tread that's worn off those tires, but he played for lou Anarumo early in his career with Miami. He recently said I already got paid. I want to win a Super Bowl, which is music to any team's ears when it comes to free agency. Is there anything left in the tank with Xavier and Howard?
Yeah, I really think there is. Howard's a guy that has been playing a lot of man coverage in Miami. Brian Flores obviously way up there in the league over his tenure with the Dolphins. You know, Vic Fango not quite the same, but he's a guy that played up in press coverage, was battling number one receivers and he did it at a high level for a very very
long time. And we've seen some of the corners as they age, they go to systems that play more zone, protect them a little bit more, don't ask them to take on a one on one assignments against the premier players at wide receiver. And obviously there's one hundred new ones every year, looks like, but you know, go to an Anarrumo defense that's more zone based that has the good pass rush and then lets those guys sit back kind of close, come forward a little bit more as
opposed the trail technique and chasing these dudes around. So I do I think Zavin Howard could still have a couple more good years in his tank, all right.
You also graded the other teams in the AFC North. In addition to the Bengals getting a B plush, he gave the Steelers a B plush. He gave the Ravens and Browns bees. So everybody seemed to do okay. Which teams do you think got better? Which teams may have gotten worse?
Yeah, so I think, you know, and the Bengals probably neutral. I'd say the Ravens are going to get a little bit worse. They can replace it, They've done it time and time again. But I mean, Jadevian Clowney had a career year last season. He was phenomenal for them. His most pressures I want to say maybe most or second most pressures he's ever had in a season for US at PFF. The top three sacks season for him as well, and he's always been a very very good run defender
on the edge. So him and Kyle van Noy, who was an important role player for them too. We just talked about Geno Stone, Patrick Queen. Yes, they trade for Roquan Smith and he's an all worldline but Patrick Queen's maybe the best blitzing linebacker in the NFL. Now. I know, we'll get to him the Steelers in a second, but they lost some important pieces there and then the offensive line. You trade Morgan Moses, you get a pick cup from Ronnie Stanley, which reflects that he was rotating some serieses
in Baltimore. Unfortunately, that ACL tear I think has slowed him down a bit. So they got worse. Kevin Zeitler, the left guard goes to a right guard, goes to Detroit Lions. They're still a good organization. They'll they'll find their way through, but they did get worse. In my opinion. The Browns I think kind of got better. You know, they got to actually show up and have the results. I'm sure AFC North fans are sick of hearing about
the Browns winning in March. But you know, I think Jerry Judy is still a talented player that can produce. We tether do his draft stock and yeah, maybe he's not a top fifteen pick talent, but he's a seven hundred, eight hundred yard guy that can still separate a very high level and is a good football player. And they made a couple other small moves as well. I like adding some linebacker help some veterans there is always key for them. They didn't have a lot of talent there last years.
The Steelers editions of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. How much does that elevate Pittsburgh if at all?
So it is an upgrader what they had last year. Like those guys are better than Kenny Pikett, Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph. They are. But the thing for me that I'm curious how it goes is just kind of the oil and water nature of what Arthur Smith wants to do, which is get the ball up quickly, attack the middle of the field. I mean those quarterbacks do that. Frankly, I think Justin Fields might actually benefit from, Hey, let's just start over, clean the slate, change your footwork, tie
your play to under center play action. It's not what he's ever done, but I think he does kind of just need a hard reset. So the talent is better in a vacuum, they are better quarterbacks. How they work with the offensive coordinator that I think is kind of a mystery.
Rad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus is our guest. All indications are the T Higgins will be back in Cincinnati for at least more year. On the franchise tag figure of twenty one point eight mil. We all assume that ultimately they're going to pay Jamar Chase whatever it takes more than thirty million dollars a year when it comes time for his second contract. With that in mind, you're a salary cap expert, what could they pay T Higgins if they were really determined to keep them?
Yeah, I think at this point the floor is like the Michael Pittman contract. I think that's probably the biggest. You know, everyone talks about overall value, average per year, all those things. The receiver trend recently where all these deals are now three year extensions. I have to imagine the Bengals are balking at that as much as any other element of this contract. And you can't really push
back on these league wide trends. Everyone's doing it. Pittman's represented by the same agency as T Higgins, So but yeah, so right in that range of twenty four twenty five million dollars a year. And I just wonder if they think it's worth it to do on a three year deal if they can't get that fourth year of control, that's that's the number, that's the floor if anything. And I'm I'm with you. I think he plays twenty twenty four in Cincinnati, but probably just on that tag.
He's not thrilled with a tag. No player ever seems to be thrilled with the tag. They have the ability to tag them again conceivably. Now he obviously would not react well to that happening. But that would be for about twenty six million dollars, so two years at forty seven million dollars whatever it would be total. Does that make sense?
The interesting thing is it never looks great and you want to get the extra years of control because of course in theory it works out and then you have more flexibility and you have kind of more leverage as
the team side. But like those numbers are what all those guys that have talked about, you know, DK Metcalf, Deebo, Samuel Terry McLaurin, Michael Pittman, they're all going to make that amount over the first two years of their deal, and as we also know in the NFL, playing through the end of a contract isn't all that common now. Of course, for a three year deal, it's more likely than a four or five year extension. So I wouldn't say it's crazy. It's certainly not going to go over well.
You know, we know that for sure, and you know the Baits corollary also same agent. Obviously they didn't go the second tag route there. It's interesting because Higgins is coming off, you know, probably his worst season, and let's say he goes crazy and pounces back and stays healthy the whole season. Joe Burrow says, healthy the whole season. He has better protection now and they have a great year,
and he in particular has a great year. I wouldn't be surprised if they tag him again, especially because in this market, Yeah, there's gonna be I think there's gonna be three guys making thirty plus mil this offseason in a new player. So the market's going to continue to go crazy.
So Tyler Boyd is still out there. There reports out there today suggesting that a deal with the Pittsburgh Steelers homecoming for Tyler is not likely. Should the Bengals consider bringing him back.
The price point at this point is probably pretty low. You know, I thought last season when I watched his tape for the free agent work that I do, I was sitting there saying, like, is this guy playing through something? Is he hurt because he looked so much less explosive and elusive than he has in years past, or like, when it's to that extreme in that level, I know he's been aging, he's played a lot of football, he's
taking place. It hits, sure, but when it's that drastic for me, I almost like have to ask that question. I know we haven't heard anything, but obviously we know guys are playing through stuff all the time. So if it's now like, you know, four or five million dollars because I have it at eight and that's gonna be too high, then yeah, I mean, I don't see why not. He's been been in Cincinnati forever, obviously loves Joe Burrow and vice versa, the receiver room. They're obviously super close.
If he circles back around, he's open to taking a deal that is way cheaper than probably even they expected coming into this offseason. I don't see why he closed the door.
All right, let's turn to the draft. He came out with a mock draft about a week ago. You have the Bengals selecting the people's choice Georgia tight end Rock Bowers. What's the likelihood that he's there at eighteen.
I think it's higher than people might expect. I do. I don't think he's gonna be a top ten pick. I know everyone loves mocking into the Jets, and maybe the Jets now that they've added Mike Williams at receiver and they've added both starting tackles and you know, Moses and Tyron Smith, like, maybe they do just take that swim. It's kind of a pick they didn't expect to have.
They obviously were hoping to be sending the Packers, you know, the sixty fourth overall pick, and instead they send, you know, or I guess you should say, the thirty second overall pick and instead because the whole Rodgers condition all that they get to keep their own first and it's a top ten pick. So I just I don't know if I see it though, because it's not actually a short term move. I mean, tight ends, even the great ones they get taken super early. They generally take a year or two
to get going. Like, let's not get Samuel Porta, you know, confused, that's not the norm. Mean TJ. Howkinson is kind of the most recent. I guess Kyle Pitts had a thousand year od rookie season. But anyway, I think the thing is after that eleven through fifteen, I don't really see it. I see them mock to the Colts a bunch. I don't really know why they have a bunch of tight ends on their roster. None of them are Brock Powers. But anyway, long answer short, I think it's more feasible
than some people realize. That Maybe they're on the clock at eighteen and Bowers is still available, so.
You have six offensive tackles going before the Bengals go select at number eighteen. If say the third best tackle or fourth best tackle we're still on the board, would you choose that guy over Brock Bowers, Or if Brock Bowers is there, should the Bengals pounce.
I'd probably go to tackle in that scenario. For me, the third or fourth guy you're talking about, like Troy u Fatanu at a Washington, maybe JC Latham at Alabama. They're all ranked differently and fit each scheme differently. But you know Tyren Smith is a temporar. Uh, It's not Tyrn Smith Brown. Trent Brown is a temporary solution and again a guy that you really can't expect to play
a thousand snaps in a season. And then even if he does, you can again and one of these guys could be rotating in at guard or maybe even overtaking the left guard spot, like Troy Fatan, who I think probably comes in just starts at left guard, and you make volsin your interior swing guy out of the gate.
So if those guys are available, I do it. I think it's more a question of like if a Marius Mims, who's super talented but has played like eight hundred college snaps his entire career, Like, if those guys are there, it becomes more of a tough question. Or you know, the interior defensive lineman as well.
So let's say Powers is gone and tackle six, seven, eight, whatever number you know you want to guess at, is still available at number eighteen. Do you think that's more likely than a defensive tackle, which is obviously still an area of need.
See that's where it gets intering to me is that I think the drop off from the top two guys you know, in Byron Murphy at Texas and Johnny Newton Gerson Newton at Illinois is pretty steep to the next players. There's some guys I like, but I'm not sure I would take any in the second round. They'll go in the second round, but I think it's really a pretty steep drop off. And so if the Bengals look at it from that perspective and just say we can get a talent that is well above the next tier of
players at this position, I'd probably go that round. I think Byron Murphy's a special talent. I think he is an incredibly shifty, bursty, quick interior defensive lineman. Yeah, he's a little bit undersized, but look in today's NFL, they're all under side. We probably stop saying that the league is different. And he's also he's still a good run defender for his size, Like it's not an issue. It's such a strong base and anchor that he doesn't get
blown off the ball against the run. And then Johnny Newton too, love him. I probably haven't marked a little bit below, but go watch the the Wisconsin tape or the Penn State tape of Johnny Newton. He's the best player in the football field. I mean, he is undoubtedly the best player on the field in both of those games. And Penn State's gonna have multiple first round picks, so I personally probably go that route.
So I think in your mock draft you had alt Waga, Batanu Latham as the top four. If those guys are gone and your next two were Fashu and Barton, do you go Murphy and Newton over those guys.
I go Fashu at that point. I like Barton a lot. But to me, and it's I guess, I don't know my opinion is relevant. Everyone in the NFL is telling us he's a guard center, so I'll take their word for it, you know. And he's a good player, great player. I think he's gonna go earlier than a lot of
people expect. But fash to me, is fascinating where I mean, there are people saying last year or if you think he wasn't eligible to declare, but if he did declare, he would have been the first tackle taking was like the consensus opinion. He had some rough outings, No question the Ohio State game for him was not a good game. But he is probably still the cleanest path protector in this class at tackle, and he's a clear left tackle, has great footwork, can handle it, can absorb power for
the most part. That was not on display against Ohio State. So I would still take him. I would say, you know what, he's fallen too far. He could have been a top ten to seven pick last year as a twenty year old. Now he's twenty one, he's gonna fall to US eighteen. I probably take it. But if it becomes the Bartons and the other, you know, the other kind of flex inside outside guys, then I would go detackle.
So you still had Mims Geiden and Sue Matia Matia from BYU going in the first round. So it seem like you concur with the many people who seem to think this is a historically good offensive tackle draft.
I really do. I really do like Mims. The talent is insane. Like you watch some of the games, he's clearly just the best athlete on the field, and like his technique is even super sound, but it doesn't really matter, and some of the best players get away with that, and obviously you want to refine that and get better there, but you do have question marks, but not only missing time during the seasons. You then go to the combine. He pulls up lame after I want to say a
forty and doesn't finish the combine that day. I don't think anything's been a severe injury, if I'm not mistaken. I don't think he's had like a ligament tear. But you do want to see, you know, availability is the best ability and all those things, especially at offensive line, you need to be a durable player. So the talent is truly undeniable. He looks like his build, he's a freak like he's six foot eight and there's not a
bad pound of weight on his body. And there are some games where you're like chuckling as you watch him play. But it's certainly scary there to me guidance a total project. My mocks are not my opinion. They're what I'm hearing and what I'm seeing elsewhere from people I respect and trust. I get why people like the tools. I don't think he's a guy you want to start really out of the gate. And then so I'm Tella, I think is a guy that I am way high. He's probably not
going to the first round. But I just love him. Smooth mover for his size byu tackles a little bit scary though too. It's a system that protects their offensive line. They don't play a lot of great pass rushers in the Mountain West, and you know, they've had some guys come out and not really be as good as they were in college. But but he's awesome to me.
The Bengals had ten picks, including two third round picks. Should they be wheeling and dealing and try to move up in this draft, they.
Are one of the teams that Stan pat more than anybody else. They rarely ever moved up or down. They rarely move. But I don't know. I mean, maybe if a guy that you think is just like can't miss one hundred and ten percent at either tackle or detackle, and I guess maybe Bowers. But I probably would move up for Bowers personally. But yeah, let's say if it's a small move up. For example, the Steelers trade last year is probably the perfect analogy, right, They were from
seventeen to fourteen to get Broderick Jones. They also viewed the you know, the tackle drop off from your Darnell Wrights and those guys and Broderick Jones down to the next tier, you know, not as a pretty steep drop, and I would I agree with him. Last year, that wasn't that expensive a trade. I want to say they give a third to the Patriots for that move up. It may have been a fourth if I'm not mistaken.
So I would do that. I'm not trying to catapult in like the top ten or anything like that, but yeah, you have the ability to maybe be a little bit aggressive because you have ten total picks and he probably don't have ten roster spots you know, available right now.
What other tight ends do you like other than Brock Bowers.
You know, the one I would say is probably Ben Sonata Kansas State. Who is is? He set himself at the Senior Bowl the most versatile tight end in the class. I would agree with him. He can be an h back in the backfield, it can be a legit just true fullback, can play in line, he lined up out wide, sometimes in the slot. He's a fun, versatile weapon that you can move all over the formation do different things with. But I still probably wouldn't take one of the first
two rounds. And then you know THEO Johnson a Penn State. I think you didn't see a lot of him because it's not a pass heavy offense. But his testing was insane, and maybe he's a guy who's a developmental player. We don't hear about him for two years and then he kind of is that classic like third year breakout tight end. But yeah, outside of brock Bowers, I'm probably not using a Day two pick on any ted end in his class.
A couple more questions for Brad Spielberger from Pro Football Focus. You did a story recently where you talked about a team's best move in free agency or the movie you like the most, and then the move that you liked the least, and where the Bengals were concerned. You didn't really criticize any of their moves, and you had a sentence that kind of implied that that's generally how you think the Bengals do in free agency. Is this a team that you feel consistently does a good job in that area.
At least in recent history, Right the last four or five years, I think they've been great in that regard. We'll be talking to j reader Trey Hendrickson, probably one of the better free agent signings of the for any team in the NFL the last five years. You know, like you know, Nick Scott didn't totally work out, but it's obviously a you know, one year ended up being like four million dollars, not a huge deal. So they don't take those swings all the time. When they do,
they've hit a lot recently. Obviously, Shelby Woozier was a great istion Mike Hilton's been a phenomenal player still is you know. Yeah, They've been really really good how they navigate free agency the last couple of years, balancing kind of the short term needs with the young, foundational draft pick core they have. They've been great.
All right, final question for you. I reached out to see if you were available for this podcast. You said yes, and then shortly after that you shared the news on social media that you are leaving Pro Football Focus. What is next?
Yeah, yeah, so glad we can squeeze this in. I will not be doing a whole lot of media going forward. I'm going to work at an agency to be a contract negotiator called Grand Central Sports Management, So I'll be negotiating the deals for all of our clients in the NFL at least and I'm very excited for it. I appreciate the question and looking forward to finally, you know, getting directly involved and entering the arena, so to speak.
Is this something that you've always had a desire to do or did it just kind of fall into your lap?
Yeah, you know, I think I always knew that I wanted to be directly involved in some capacity. Obviously I do all the contract projections and so much work in that space at PFF, and you know, being able to actually apply that to the real world and also just kind of you know, use my latter you a little bit more for my parents are happy, I'll actually be you know, using that a little bit more, and you know, reading the fine print of language and truly you know,
putting those skills to work. Yeah, it's something I've always wanted to do. I wasn't trying to leave PFF, but but the opportunity has been phenomenal or is phenomenal, and I just couldn't say no.
Well, you will be missed at PFF. Your salary cap analysis and free agent rankings have always been very valuable to those of us who love reading about the NFL, So thank you for your hard work and best of luck and you're a new endeavor going forward.
Thank you so much. I appreciate it.
More on the draft in a moment, but first, here's a quick reminder that the Bengals Booth podcast is brought to you by pay Corps, Proud to be the Bengals official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof Fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health the best Care for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider of the Bengals. This year, the Bengals have ten draft picks, two in the top fifty and four in
the top one hundred. Since they have an extra pick in the third round, I thought it would be fun to get on a mock draft simulator this week and take a stab at those first four picks, sharing my options at the time, and then the rationale for each of my selections. We start in round one with the eighteenth overall pick going in. I'm on the lookout for offensive tackles, defensive tackles, and tight end brock Bowers, although there are wide receivers, cornerbacks, and edge rushers that I
would consider if they somehow fell to number eighteen. When I started the simulator, four quarterbacks went in the top six picks.
Hooray.
Since the Bengals aren't the market for a QB, that means I'm going to get one of my top fourteen players. Four tackles were off the board before I selected Joe Alt from Notre Dame, Olufashanu from Penn State, Talisa Fuaga from Oregon State, and JC Latham from Alabama. And the four picks immediately before the Bengals were on the clock
were all guys worthy of consideration. Brock Bowers went fourteenth, cornerback quin Yon Mitchell from Toledo, fifteenth, wide receiver Brian Thomas from LSU sixteenth, and cornerback Terry and Arnold from Alabama seventeenth. That left me and the Bengals with plenty of great options, including offensive lineman Troy fought Utanu from Washington and Amarius Mims from Georgia. My top defensive tackles, Byron Murphy and Johnny Newton are still there, along with
edge rusher Leatu Latu from UCLA. It came down to two guys for me, the offensive tackle faugh Utanu and the defensive tackle, Murphy. Now you might be asking why fought Utanu instead of Mims at offensive tackle. After all, Amarius Mims looks like he was made in a right tackle lab. He's six' eight three forty with gigantic arms and hands. He definitely has star potential, but there's risk involved. He missed most of last year with an ankle injury and made a total of eight starts in his career
at Georgia. I favored Troy faugh Utanu because he's more of a sure thing. He's big enough at six four three seventeen and is an excellent athlete who plays.
With a mean streak.
Greg Cosel from NFL Films said the following about fa Utanu. I wouldn't be surprised if he develops into one of the better offensive linemen in the NFL relatively soon. That's high praise from Greg. Fautanu played tackle and guarded Washington and could conceivably compete with Cordell Vohlsen for the left guard spot as a rookie before eventually kicking out to tack. So then it comes down to him or my top
defensive tackle on the board. Byron Murphy from Texas According to Coseel, Murphy's twitchy, almost freaky, and plays low to the ground, maximizing his power. He's often compared to Falcons, Pro Bowl or Grady Jarrett because he's similarly sized at six feet tall two hundred ninety seven pounds Alas that means he's not a three hundred and thirty pounder like DJ Reader. So forced to choose between offensive tackle and
defensive tackle, I went with fa Utanu. This is a historically good offensive tackle draft, and free agent right tackle Trent Brown only signed for one year. Protecting Joe Burrow and giving him weapons is always the number one priority, and the Bengals can't go wrong with the offensive lineman out of Washington. So I made that pick on the simulator and get this. The next three picks were offensive tackles mim at nineteen, Tyler Geiden out of Oklahoma at twenty,
and Graham Barton from Duke at twenty one. And before the first round was over, Jordan Morgan from Arizona went thirty first and Kingsley Sua Mattia from BYU went thirty second. In short ten offensive tackles were selected in the first round. If the Bengals want one of those guys, they'll probably have to select him at number eighteen. Now, let's move
to the second round and pick number forty nine. There are a couple of good slot receivers on the board in Roman Wilson from Michigan and Ricky pearsall from Florida, along with my number two tight end in the draft, Jatavian Sanders from Texas. But my pick came down to a pair of defensive tackles, Bryden Fisk of Florida State and Chris Jenkins of Michigan. I went with Fisk, one of the stars of the NFL Combine this year, placing first among defensive tackles in the forty the broad jump
and the vertical jump. Daniel Jeremiah from the NFL Network ranks Fisk thirty seventh overall in this year's class, making him a good value at pick number forty nine, and he said the following about the six four, two hundred ninety two pound lineman. He's disruptive in every game I've studied. Fisk is a competitive, athletic and impactful defensive lineman capable of starting right away. So in the first two rounds, I stayed in the trenches, going O line in round
one and D line in round two. The Bengals first third round pick is number eighty overall. Sanders, the tight end from Texas, went late in the second round, and his college teammate Mammoth three hundred and sixty six pound defensive tackle to Andre Sweat went five picks before the Bengals round the clock at number seventy five. My best options are offensive weapons like speedy Florida State running back Trey Benson, our wide receivers Devontes Walker, Javon Baker, or
Malachi Corley. I went with Walker, who finished his college career at North Carolina after starting out at Kent State. We know the Bengals are looking to be more explosive on offense, and Walker can fly. He ran a four to three six forty at the Combine, and his nineteen touchdown catches in college averaged more than thirty yards. He's got decent size at six one and a half and is one of the smoothest, most fluid receivers in this class.
With a likely departure of Tyler Boyd this year and perhaps te Higgins next year, it's important to add another receiver to the mix. Finally we get to the Bengals second pick in the third round, number ninety seven overall. I thought there was a chance that Benson might still be there, but he went ninety third. Fortunately, there are some good cornerbacks on the board and the Bengals need
one after losing chitabey O Wouje in free agent. They have Cam Taylor, Britt and DJ Turner as the likely starters on the outside, but they need to add depth and I see two good options, Ronardo Green from Florida State and Chris Abrams Drain from Missouri. I chose Green, who has decent height and length, ran a four four nine forty and, according to Pro Football Focus, graded number one in Manda man coverage of any corner in this year's draft.
So how did I do? Overall?
My first two picks, fa Utanu and Fisk got A plus grades from PFF, my third rounder Walker got a B plus, and my second third rounder, Green earned a B. My overall grade was an A. So if Duke Tobin and his staff are looking for volunteer help, they know how to reach me.
That's going to do it.
For this episode of the Bengals Booth podcast brought to you by pay Corp Out to be the Bengals Official HR software provider, by Alta Fiber future proof fiber Internet designed to elevate your home, business and community to a new level, and by Kettering Health the best care for the best fans. Kettering Health is the official healthcare provider
of the Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe to this podcast and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find us. I'm Dan Horde and thanks for listening to the Bengals Booth podcast.