Bengals Booth Podcast: My Name Is

draft on Saturday. The Bengals Booth Podcast is presented by Prime Sport, the official fan, travel and hospitality partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. And 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 the TV coverage of this draft, all things considered, it's been remarkably smooth,

and that's a miracle in my opinion. They've bounced around to hundreds of locations all over the country, between the commissioner's basement and the homes of players, coaches, and gms, and they've done it all with very few glitches. I learned very quickly in my days as a TV sports anchor that it is truly a team effort and everybody involved in putting on the coverage of this draft has done an incredible job. Now let's get to the newest Bengals.

With the first pick in the second round, the Bengals chose six foot four inch two hundred and fifteen pound Clemson wide receiver T Higgins, who left school after his junior year and had a first round grade on the Bengals board. He had twenty seven career touchdown catches to tie for the most in school history with Tigers legends DeAndre Hopkins and Sammy Watkins. And here's the first thing that T said when he did a zoom call with Cincinnati area reporters, quote in just getting the call from

my favorite team in the NFL, It's just surreal. Yep. Higgins is a Bengals fan because his favorite player is a j Green. To learn more about T Higgins, I spoke to the radio voice of the Clemson Tigers, Don Munson. First and foremost, they're getting a young man who is going to do a lot for the franchise there. He's not going to be a problem off the field. He

is very coachable. He likes to go and work. He's not afraid of going out there and work, and he's not afraid of going out there and earning, you know, his spot on the field. You know, he's he will step on the practice field once we get going again here and he'll go out there and try to compete for a starting job. And I think that he's a

guy that that can win it. Now. I think he needs to pick up a little bit more strength, to be real honest with you, Dan, I think that that's you know, when you draft a kid that's that hasn't gone through four years of school, and I think that you know, you're drafting a little bit of a younger guy. So people need to I think understand that a little bit. That he still has some maturing to do as far

as his body is concerned. But man, I'm telling you two three years from now, I think that te Higgins is going to be just an all world kind of player. We had the opportunity to visit with him on a zoom type conference a few minutes ago. The kids got a megawatt smile. He seemed like he had a very engaging personality. What was he like with his teammates. Oh, he was like that from the time that he set foot here on the on the Clemson campus. I mean

that was that's just who he is. And you know that that was the other thing was to watch his leadership ability grows as he went along here in his Clemson career. You know, there there are certain kids that you can just tell from the moment they sit on step foot on campus that they're going to be an impact in their group and then also in the locker room. And and T was certainly able to do all of that. We are visiting with the voice of the Clemson Tigers, Don Munson. T did not knock it out of the

park in his pre draft testing. Does he play faster than he ran? Yeah, I believe that that he does. I mean if he's a very good route runner. You know, you don't see that that often with guys that are big wide receivers. And that's what you're getting obviously. You know, he's got size to him, he's got length, he's um, he's got you know, really good hands that I think

that the basketball side of him also comes. You know, he was a he was an all star basketball player in high school and coach Sweeney and coach Scott at the time when he was here as wide receivers coach. They love those kind of guys, guys that are multiple sport athletes. And he is a guy that you know, he competes at high points for the ball, not afraid

to go out there and mix it up. Um. So you know, I think you look at all those variables, and you know, I think that if you're if you're a Bengals fan right now, you got a smile on your face. Yeah, and I do. I can tell you that I believe he has an eighty one inch wingspan. Catch radius, I guess is the hot phrase these days when it comes to wide receivers and tight ends, and

it looks like that's one of his biggest strengths. And he's a guy also yards after catch dan, I mean, he's he's a guy when you go back and you really watch what he did on film, you know a lot of times he may be catching something that's only six eight yards down the field, but then he's able to shed tacklers and then go get extra yards. And he's got enough speed where he can take at the distance. I mean, he really can. So those are things that

T is just going to continue to improve upon. Again, is he gets more physically mature than that part of his game, I think grows even more so. I don't know if this ever came up in one of your conversations with T, but he is apparently an AJ Green fanatic and a Cincinnati Bengals fan. Yeah, he was a huge Bengals fan growing up as a kid, Bengals or

his favorite as his favorite team as well. You know, he grew up right outside of Knoxville, so you can kind of understand that that you know, really not that far and probably in that market, got got some Bengals games, and also you know, go back to the days when the Bengals were successful. That's that's kind of in his youth era. So you know he's he's used to, you know, seeing some of those things. So, um, you know all

of that. I think, you know, Bodswell, whenever you draft a guy that all of a sudden that that was their favorite team as well, I think there's there's a little bit more from that fellow to go into the franchise and say, Okay, I'm you know, I'm not scared to be here. I'm not I'm not upset that you drafted me. I'm actually enthused that you drafted me. And you know, anytime that you can get that, then man, you lay hold of that and you run with it.

One more topic for Clemson broadcaster Don Munson. You called the National Championship game last year. Unfortunately that one didn't turn out well for the Tigers, largely because of Joe Burrow. Share with us what the Clemson coaches were talking about as they studied him going into the game, and then your impressions of what Joe did in that National Championship game. Well, i mean the talk of Joe Burrow going into the game certainly was one was his accuracy and two was

a way that he extended plays. And then those two actually actually melded to be perfect because he would extend plays and he would still make throws where he was you know, dropping the ball into a bucket. Well, we saw that obviously against Clemson there and they're in New Orleans. I mean, he came out and just absolutely put on

a show. Things did not go well for him, you know, first fifteen, seventeen, eighteen minutes of the game, but he was able to shake all of that stuff off, and you know, that's that's something that you know as a as a quarterback, you love, I mean just absolutely love. We saw some of that from our own quarterback. Obviously in the semifinal game against Ohio State. Things weren't going Clemson's way and still Trevor Lawrence stayed right in it. Well,

that's what that's what Joe Burrow did. And then you know the way they came out and finished off the second quarter, particularly scoring that that touchdown right before the end of the first half, and that was a little bit of a dagger that they were able to throw at Clemson. A lot of that was because of Joe Burrow and just the confidence that he had in that game. He's this is a guy with a lot of swag. He has a lot of confidence when he steps on

the field. I don't think that there's many throws that he does not feel like that he can make. I think he's got a better arm. Probably the most people expect h you know, for being the number one overall pick of the draft. He's he's got to come and perform because it is a game of performance. But I fully expect Joe Burrow to do exactly that. Burrow to Higgins could be interesting. Yes, I am. I'm looking forward to to that, to that combination. I think that that's

going to go very very well. You know, as long as everybody can stay healthy, then those things will go very very well for the Cincinnati Bengals. Don thanks for hopping on the phone on short notice. I appreciate the time absolutely, and good luck to all the Bengals fans up. There'll be a lot of fun and watching you. I'll

play here in the coming year. Te Higgins was ranked twenty fifth overall on the Pro Football Focus Draft board, and they wrote that he is probably the most complete big receiver to come into the NFL in some time. In the third round, the Bengals addressed their most pressing need by selecting linebacker Logan Wilson from Wyoming, a six to two hundred and fifty pounder who was a one

hundred ninety five pound defensive back in high school. He was a four year starter and a three time captain at Wyoming who was not only a tackling machine for the Cowboys, but finished with ten career interceptions. To learn more about Logan Wilson, I spoke to Wyoming's radio color commentator Kevin McKinney. Well, number one, we're really thrilled for him. Dan. He's a great, great guy. Of course, he's a Woming native, highest draft pick for a Woming nat ever to play

for Wyoming. So that's a piece of news in itself. Came one as a walk on from Casper, and you know it just worked so hard to make himself what he is. He's wounding through and through. In fact, the team calls him the governor and a very popular guy. Of course, a team captain and all those things that are intangible. But on the field, he is number one. He can run, he's about two forty and he can fly.

That was a sideline, the sideline guy that we were always impressed by, and I think from the very beginning it was his speed that caught everybody's attention. He worked hard to get himself to the size he is, but he could always run, and obviously that was a big attribute for him through his career. We're visiting with Woming broadcaster Kevin McKinney. The Bengals saw him at the Senior Bowl.

Cincinnati coached the South team and Logan played for the North team and the observation that we've heard is that he was all business while he was there, immobile. Is that a good description of his personality? It totally is. He Uh, he comes to play, He's always ready to play, and if you're not playing at his level, he's not happy with you. So he's one of those guys that just motivates everybody and he raises your level of play.

And I think that's always impressive for a guy. But he's uh, he's kind of a quiet guy, but uh just really does such a great job of leading by example. Looking at his career statistics, I see ten interceptions. What does that say about his ability and pass coverage? Well, I think Dan number one. He's a great student of the game, and so nobody was any more prepared to take the field than Logan, and so he always seemed to be in the right place at the right time,

you know, that coach on the field type thing. And a lot of it really was his experience. I mean, he played four years and he told me one day, he says, sometimes I feel like I know what's going to happen before it happens, and that's just because I've played a lot and have been around so he has seen a lot of football and studying as he does and being prepared as he is. He always seemed to be in the right place fifty two consecutive starts, which speaks to his durability. Did he play through a lot

of stuff? Is he one of those guys that just no matter what bumps and bruises he might have had, he wouldn't come off the field. Yeah, And that's exactly what it was Dan. He had. He didn't have any major injuries knock on wood. He was very fortunate there. But you know he had a hand injury and he at this injury and he had that injury, but nothing serious. Um, you know, he's he's very sturdy, but he is durable. He would not miss a start. He would play no

matter why. I think he played with a brace on his hand in a couple of games. But um, you know, he wasn't gonna he wasn't gonna come out of the lineup, that's for sure. And and just a great team leader because of that, Because of that kind of mentality. First picking the third round, what was your anticipation for where he might go, not in terms of team, but where

in the draft he might go. Going in. Well, I think we honestly felt Dan that he would be a third round guy, maybe late second round if things fell right, But we were gonna be I think a little bit disappointed if he didn't go in in the third round, and uh, you know it was. It was one of those deals that got it out of the way right away, and I think that was good for him. You can enjoy the evening, but we felt like from what we had heard and from what teams were saying, that he

would be a high third round pick. The Governor is coming to Cincinnati and we're excited about it. Kevin, I appreciate the information. Thanks your time, you bet, Dan my pleasure, and we're gonna be Bengal fans in Wyoming. Now. Now time for a Day two recap and we'll look ahead to the final day of the draft with my broadcast

partner Dave lapham Lap. When we spoke last night after the first round of the draft, I asked you for your prediction for the Bengals at the top of round two and your answer was the top wide receiver on their board. Well, we learned who that was a little bit after seven pm. Clemson's t Haggins a long time Cincinnati Bengals fan, AJ Green fanatic, and a guy with an AJ Green physique, six four long arms, good leaping ability, and obvious lee. Somebody that the Bengals hope to pair

with Joe Burrow for a long time. Yeah, and I think he's the type of guy that's likes to utilize the middle of the football field. You know, they raved about the coaches raved about it as did. He kind of not brag about it, but listed it as one of his strengths as his toughness and ability to catch the football sacrifice his body over the middle of the football field. You know, he's one of He averaged over

eighteen yards per per reception. He's only twenty one years old as well, So I mean, here's another guy that from a culture standpoint in in the free agency, every single player they signed, all eight players came from playoff programs, playoff teams. So this kid, he's been in the College Football Championship Series every year, playing for national championships at Clemson, so he's he knows what it's supposed to look like.

And I think they're looking for him to have some energy and in stet a temple for the receiver physician, even though he's on the younger end of things. I mean, he seems to be a very competitive guy, and uh, you know, he plays for championships, so he plays for keeps. Nothing wrong with that. Bring as many of those guys into the culture of the locker room as you possibly can. The kids got a mega watt smile. I don't know who his dentist is, but he's done a wonderful job,

but a very engaging personality, much like Joe Burrow. Last night, I thought he showed himself extremely well in his zoom call with Cincinnati area reporters. I agree with you, Dan, And it's interesting that you know, Aj Green is the guy that that he kind of has looked up to

and became a Bengal fan because of Aj Green. AJ Green was the number one basketball player in the state of South Carolina, and this young man, he Higgins, was an accomplished basketball player as well, and his junior year he decided to special and just football and gave up the basketball dreams and hopes he had some basketball opportunities. I mean, it was probably a tough decision for him to make. So there's a commonality there, you know, of the athleticism, and um, I'm a g I think I

think a J. Green ish. I think he's definitely faster, um but you know, as AJ ages, maybe not a whole lot faster. But I do think that everybody, everybody in the wide receiver corps has got their niche John Royers unhealthy take the top off the T Higgins can work the middle of the football field. AJ Green can do everything. You can line him up anywhere and let him do anything. And I think the thing they liked about te Higgins is he's got some position versatility as well,

um Donald Clemson. They felt that they could line him up anywhere and try and strive to find the best match out that he wasn't limited. You know, it's just the split end position only, or the flank position only, or the slot received for position only. So having as many guys you possibly can being able to line up anywhere puts a lot of pressure on defenses and in

trying to match up properly. So T Higgins did not knock it out of the park when it came to testing in the run up to the draft, ran a four or five four forty at the combine, just a thirty one inch vertical leap. His one point six six ten yards split was especially poor. Now, apparently he was dealing with a groin issue at the time, so that may have influenced those numbers. It probably did. But then I look at his career statistics average twenty yards. It

catches a freshman sixteen yards. It catches a sophomore twenty yards to catch as a junior, So his big playability was there even though his testing numbers were a bit of a head scratcher. Yeah, he's he's got a big catch radius, you though. He's he's a big kid, tall, excellent hands, probably too good size hands, and any presents himself as a you know, as a viable target for sure.

He's I think he's going to find that, um, you know, contested catch is going to be a big deal and for him, and I think he'll probably win his share of those. So it's it's gonna be interesting to see how, in fact, everybody's roll of balls because the wide receiver position, I guess. You know, you draft a guy like Joe Burrow with the first pick in the draft, the first thing you want to do is give him as many weapons,

as many opportunities as possible. I don't know. Maybe the way that you know they spread the football field down there at LSU, maybe the Bengals should um see if they can get a rule change in the NFL and allow the Canadian Football League and twelve players use as

many receivers as possible and spread the stield even more. Uh, you know, I do think that that's Joe Borrow strength, you know, is uh just you know, spread it out and just rip you apart, and as many many quality people as you can't get that done, I mean, act this is John Ross top ten pick, AJ Green top five pick. Now T Higgins first round draft choice, basically first pick of the second round. So you know it's

they've they've got they've got some talent. You know, you get tylert Boyd second round pick, not just high it second round pick as T Higgins, but you've got you got some pretty darn good, pretty darn good talent going there. And the wide receivers kept flying off the board in

the second round of the draft. T Higgins first pick of the second round, Michael Pittman out of USC second pick of the second round, then in order, Leviscus Channault, kJ Hammler, Chase Claypool, Van Jefferson, and eventually, close to the end of the second round, Denzel Mims, a player that had frequently been mocked draft, is a possibility to the Bengals at the top of round two. Well, and you look at him, U he led the country with twenty contested catches. He had the best three cone times

six point six six of any wide receiver. So obviously you can go up and fight for the contested ball, the fifty fifty ball, and you know he can change direction, sink his hips, get in and out of cuts with that three cone drill. So I mean, he tested extremely well. And he's a good size, good sized guy as well.

So honestly, I think too. That's why you know, a lot of a lot of general managers and scouts around the league would say with the wide receiver position, you may get the same guy at sixty four as you got at thirty two. There's very little difference between those guys because it's so deep wide receiver position. I mean, six were taken in the first round and at least the HACO doesn't hear it sounds like in the second round, and you know, I know there's at least forty that

people feel are going to be draftable. In thirty three of those forty may go in the first four rounds to the draft, So it's only just one. Yeah, it was seven in the second round. To be specific, Why do you think Josh Jones and Zach Bond were not taken in the first two rounds. I think Josh Jones um his length of his arms, it's it's not proportionate to his to his body. I mean, he's a he's a big man. He's six six sixty seven, three hundred and ten pounds, thirty thirty two and eighth inch arm.

So I think people thought Jee might have to play him at guard, you know, I don't know. I don't know. That's That's something that Billy Price is struggling with a little bit, I think is the arm length. And in the NFL you can lock arms out. And if somebody's got a thirty two and eighth innch arm and then the other guy's a thirty five inch arm, he's getting to the back cannle leaver your shoulder pad pretty durn quickly.

And if you bend over trying to lengthen your candle lever a little bit more by leaning, so worsting him do it now you're exposing in your shoulders. So I think I think he probably you know, he did get drafted in the second round, but a lot of people, almost every Monk drafts had him as a first round guy. But he went, you know, in the back third of the second round. And I think it was probably because

of the length of his arms, because everything else. When I watched him at the senior ball, I mean, he had good feet from himself in great position to block, but it wasn't noticeable. You know, I'm not saying it was t routs noticeable, but it was you know, he did he did definitely have short arms. He went to the in the third round. Josh Jones, Okay, third round, yeap, about the eighth pick of the third round of the Cardinals. So he lasted until the third. Yeah, I think that

was to me, that's gotta be. The biggest thing is that arm length. I think people are a little apprehensive about because the rest of his game, you know, I thought it was pretty good. One more thought on t Higgins before we turned to the Bengals third round draft pick. The Bengals have drafted seven wide receivers in their history in the second round. Ready for this list, Yeah, Tyler Boyd,

Jerome Simpson, Chad Johnson, Darnay Scott, Carl Pickens, Chris Collinsworth. Honestly, around the league, teams seem to put their bat on the ball a little bit better in the second and third round in a lot of positions than the first round for another reason. I don't know exactly why, but and it really really doesn't seem like it, honestly. I mean a lot of Bill Belichick trades out of the

first round whenever he can. I mean a lot of people around the league think that rubber hits the road second, third, and fourth round of the second round draft, and they try to load up as much as they possibly can with multiple second, third and fourth round picks, almost unilaterally.

It's crazy. So I think, now, you know, with with tonight's action ending here second and third round, you're you're in the meet and heart of the draft, and you know tomorrow's important fourth round, fifth round as well, and then you know, then the odds I think changed dramatically. But it is remarkable. They've had a heck of a run and uh, you know, look at the running backs.

They could Corey Dillon and Joe Mixon the last two number twenty eights, both second rounders, you know, and there's reasons for that, you know, it's it's not a lot of it's not physical. A lot of it can be you know, intangibles or problems or troubles that guys had in various way shapes or formed. But telling you, the Bengals have put their bat on the ball in the second round regularly. Let's hope that te Higgins is another

one that they hit out of the park. Let's turn to the Bengals third round draft pick, linebacker Logan Wilson out of Wyoming. When we did our podcast prior to the draft, you mentioned him as at least a possibility to be taken by the Bengals at the top of the second round to fill that critical linebacker need and they need a stack backer and Logan Wilson kind of fit that. You know, Zach Bond went shortly after Logan

Wilson did in the draft. But Zach Bond is more of a you know, outside linebacker round in the line of scrimmags, you know, rush guy from you know, he was number two in the in the Big ten in terms of sacks and taker for loss too, and a guy that went number two in the draft. So I mean, obviously he's got some ability. But you know, Locan Wilson is an off the line of scrimmage stack linebacker and I think he can play three downs in that area.

And it's because he started out as one hundred and ninety five pound wide receiver defensive back that understands, you know, route concepts and reading the quarterback's eyes. And his ball skills are good as a result of that. Ten interceptions, you know, reading and reacting to what he sees out in the football field. A couple of them he took

back to the house pick sixes. So I think I think that the guy that you know goes at one hundred and ninety five pounds and now he's between two forty five and two fifty and was there for five years with the Retchard. He's twenty three years old, you know, so both the first and the third round pick for the Cincinnati Bengals. There are not kids, you know, they're they're twenty three years old. They've they've they've seen a little bit, played a lot of football. Um, So I

think I think it's a it's a tremendous pick. It went down to the Senior Bowl and I did notice this kid, and I just noticed. I mean when I don't know what you're feeling, is when I when I met when I saw him down there, shook his hand, looked at him, and I said, this is a Norman Rockwell portrait of a linebacker with the square job. He reminded me of Brian Bosworth. And looking at him tonight, you know again, I'm like teeth that guy. He kind of looks a little bit like bos you know, or

he looks like cho and laukee Field. He's one of these square jobs, you know. He definitely he definitely looks the part. And uh he's he's really worked hard, changed his body obviously tremendously and he's, um. I think he's going to surprise a lot of people. I think when all of a sudden done, when a year or two down the road and you reflect back and you say, oh boy, how how have they doing this draft? What

picks panned out? I have a feeling this kid's going to pan out, and he's going to pan out a big time. Just watching really hitting his business down at the Senior Bowl. He wasn't down there to have fun. He wasn't down there messing out with people trying to make friends. He was early, never, never even worrying about trying to be their own time. He was, you know, his watch was ten minutes early all the time, and he was he was very very serious about the whole thing.

He realized the importance of it, and he was going to take full advantage of it. And I really I admired the way he carried himself down there, and I asked him about that, and he said, you know, that's just it, just the way I do it. You know, it wasn't any different than way I carried myself at Wyoming. And it was interesting too, he said. The biggest honor he received in his football career so far as being elected a three time captain. That's that is pretty impressive,

you know, a bunch of different players. Um was a three year time frame. I'm just gonna be some some coming and going amongst your teammates and to continue to lect you to that that type of position and speaks volumes to what you are. He has certainly seen a lot on the football field. Fifty two consecutive starts, three thousand six hundred and eighteen defensive snaps in his college career.

That's a lot of football. First time All Americans since nineteen ninety seven, first time they've had an All Americans since then at one moment. A tackling machine, you know, over four hundred career tackles. He's a you know, he'll come downhill, he'll he'll go sideline to sideline when you watch him. You want linebackers to impact the game. You want there to be a contact ratio that is that is you know, a big plus, and his is and you know it's not just okay, first and second down,

maybe just first down, only the second and long. He hank that guy out of the game. That's all he can do is come down hill and smoke the run. This guy's a three down guy, you know, and he's obviously like we talked about earlier with is, why did you see your defensive back skill set? Let's stay on the football field and play. He'll probably be nickel the din backers he'll be he'll be a whole thing. Um. You know, Nick Vigil was killing that role and then

it's open. Now it's charger. So this guy, I think he's going to play a lot of football right away. And you know, if he doesn't play as enough football as anticipated, Darren Simmons is gonna love to have him on special teams. But I don't think he's gonna be able to play many special teams if he's done the football field for lou and UMU. Three staffs, three downs, every single series of the season. All right, let's look ahead, final work day of the draft coming up on Saturday

beginning at noon. What spots are the Bengals likely to address? And do you anticipate a trade down to begin the fourth round since teams will again reorganize their board at the end of the night. And see, guys, boy, we'd love to have him. I mean, the Bengals have been trading up in recent years at this point, is this

the year they trade down? Well? You know, za Zach has he said to end today's pressor that the draft has worked out perfectly because they had the first pick of the draft obviously, and they knew what they were going to do there with Joe Brow. The second pick of the draft was basically like a late first round pick. It's like when the first round ended. Okay, who was the who was the guy that said, who's the guy on your board that gave the most value? Te Higgins Boom.

Now I know that that they got phone calls and they initiated phone calls. I mean they were proactive, not just reactive. And honestly, you know, if the Bengals had five guys, they felt comfortable with a thirty three. So did a lot of other people. And it's probably like, why should I move up to give you draft capital for somebody that you know, I can wait to sit tight here and I've got one of five options. I feel good about two. And you know, everybody's board is different, Dan.

You know people will say, oh, they just list of best players. The best players are always influenced by your need if you have if you have a needed offensive tackle, your seventeenth player on your board is going to be an offensive tackle instead of a cornerback that other people who have a needed cornerback on their board, they're gonna have that cornerback at number seventeen. So I mean it's kind of a you know, let's let's be honest. There's

always need, and it's the needs the tiebreaker. So there's not any board in the NFL that is similar that it is identical to two teams. You know, just don't have twin boards anywhere for that, for the reason of need, and for the reason of difference in scheme and uh and what type of players need to execute those schemes. So um, you know it's the draft fell perfectly in terms of Zach saying, you know, having that first pick, we had Wilson, uh, you know, greater than the high

high in the second round. We got them with the first pick in the third round. Had team rated as a first round wide receiver, gonna with the first pick of the second round. So that's the advantage of having that first pick of every round because you get first DIBs. When you take a look at your board and somebody, whoever it is on your board, that's a boy. What

is he still doing there? If you can't work out a trade, if nobody's going to give you anything of enough value, just pluck it, you know, And in so far it's working out for him. The other thing that was encouraging with the selection of Wilson is dividends for the Senior Bowl already paying off. I mean, we talked about the fact that a great year to be involved with the Senior Bowl, Detroit coaching staff in the Bengals coaching staff, and with the sixty fifth pick in the draft,

that's you know, that's pretty early in the draft. It was the time spent at the Senior Bowl that turned the tide on Logan Wilson, not just the tape, but having meetings with them and spending time with them during the course of the week. So the Senior Bowl already paid and I think the Senior Bowl is going to pay dividends and may be every single pick from this point on. I mean, I could see the Senior Bowl being a factor if the Bengals decide they want to

go linebacker again. To me, a team, a Gaither Davis is the is a guy that you know, he's every bit worthy of a fourth round pick, Davis Gaither. Davis gaitheror a Keen Davis Gaither. Yeah, from Appalachia, steady six to two, can really run. His dad's a wide receiver coach at Western Michigan. So he's a you know, he's a football lifer. He's a will linebacker, you know, on the line of Scrimmons kind of guy. Special teams guy.

I know the Bengals are very impressed with his learning ability, how he absorbed things, how he could retain and recite it back, and um felt like, uh, you know, he was he was a leader amongst teammates. He wasn't a follower during the course of the week, so they liked a lot of things about him. If he's there, you know, I think for a fourth round? Is it Richard? Fifth round? But that's another senior Bowl guy that you say, well, you know, and that that could pay some dividends. Logan Stenberg.

You know an offensive lineman from Kentucky, Ben Bartch, This kid from Saint John's. He just located his kneecap. I don't know what his physical status is. Obviously with the coronavirus problems, you don't even get a chance to have your doctor's put your hands on him and take a look at MRIs and all that things. So I mean, he may be, uh, you know, he may be in

limbo at this point in time. But you know, some of the offensive lineman that I think the Bengals are going to be contemplating, not just the ones that they coach, the ones that they that they played against as well. You know, I think, you know, I think the reason that Josh Jones. They saw Josh Jones, they saw him up close and personal, and maybe they didn't like what they saw with in terms of the length of his arms.

And so you know, it's it's good. I think the Senior Bowl is going to pay serious dividends to this football team down the stretch and almost every round left. Last thing, the fact that they did not take an offensive lineman in the second or third round suggests that they feel better about that group than others. Is do you think that's fair to say? I think it is. I do think that you know that they've they've they addressed it with uh, with free agency a little bit.

You know, even last year, um taking picking up Fred Johnson. Um. You know when from the Pittsburgh Steelers off off the wave wire and Fred Johnson he made himself some money. I mean he went out there and he played his tail off down the stretch of the season and uh and you know, really really put himself in position to to, uh, you know, have some success in the league. You know, there's there's no question about it. You know, I think that at this point in time, you just let him

go compete. He and Bobby Hard I think you're you know, it's like, okay, who who's the best man? And I do think they'll they'll draft somebody. I still think they'll they'll draft to tackle at some point in time. Jonah Williams will be lining up with you know, Isaiah Prince probably behind him. Bobby Harden will be lining up with Fred Johnson behind him. Zaia Sua Flow will be starting, you know, lining up as a starter right guard, but

Alex Redmond will be pushing them. And you know, Michael Jordan will probably line up as a starter left guard. But Alex Redmond, you know, is a factor at the guard position. Trey Hopkins graded out the best of all the centers. UH. Now it's an interesting dynamic, Dan. Overall, there's there's three pots or three you know doors to the personnel. Uh. With respect to this football team, there's

the injured veterans returning, Jonah Williams, um Drew sample. They lost a lot of Drew sample's time, you know, to to injury uh from John Ross once again, Jay Green didn't take a snap, you know, Jonah Williams didn't take a snap. So you have these injured players that are going to be returning to the mix. Then you have your your free agents, you know, Xavier Sua flow like like we said, Trey Wayne's McKenzie, Alexander von Bell, Josh Bines, DJ Reader. I mean a lot of these guys that

are projected starters. Drew Sample throwing that injury mix as well. They lost him, you know, early, pretty early in the season. And then the draft Joe Burrow, you know, to start starter at quarterback, te Higgins, depending on what kind of a package you have, he could be a starting wide receiver out there and taking the looks right here at Wilson, you know, he's going to be a three down linebacker. And I'm very important for this defensive football team. So

then there they're overhauling this bad boy. It's going to be more than half of the starting lineup that started that started the season last year, never mind finished the season. It's going to be flipped over. There's going to be a lot of new look to this football team next season. I think Round four starts in about five minutes, more like twelve hours, but we look forward to it and we will talk again after the draft is finished. Sounds like a plan, sir. Get a good night's sleep, you two.

That's going to do it for this episode of the Bengals Booth Podcast, brought to you by Prime Sport, the official fan, travel and hospitality partner of the Cincinnati Bengals. If you haven't done so already, please subscribe, and if you have a minute, give it a rating or share a comment that helps more Bengals fans find this podcast. I'm Dan Horde, and thanks for listening to The Bengals Booth Podcast.