18 potential Bengal targets
With two days and three rounds in the books, here’s a look at the best available players for the Cincinnati Bengals on Day 3 of the NFL Draft.
Interior Pass Rushers
The Bengals started Day 2 by taking a South Carolina defender, why not start Day 3 the same way with Tonka Hemingway? This Tonka has a motor! He is an explosive, strong, power rusher who had 4 sacks last season.
Aeneas Peebles is a relentless penetrator who knows how to compete. He had 3 sacks for Virginia Tech last season and 5 for Duke in the previous season. He has a quick first step and the agility to execute stunts effectively.
A former Nebraska Cornhusker, Ty Robinson plays hungry. He is not a crazy athlete but has some nice moves and plays with violence in his hands. Robinson spent 6 years at Nebraska and finally broke out with 7 sacks this season.
They have to get one of Al Golden’s Notre Dame guys at some point, don’t they? Rylie Mills had 7.5 sacks for Golden’s defense this season before his final sack ended his season with a knee injury. He was a team captain for the Irish and can win with both speed and power.
Safety
Billy Bowman is a smart player. He has quick breaks and the speed and hustle to make plays all over the field. He also has good ball skills and has snatched eight interceptions over the last two years.
Clemson’s R.J. Mickens has the range and reads that the Bengals need at the safety position. He has good speed and well-timed blitzes.
Malachi Moore was a two-time captain and a four-year starter at Alabama. He is well respected and extremely competitive. Could Jordan Battle’s former teammate be his next partner?
How About Another Guard?
Dylan Fairchild played primarily left guard in college, and it sounds like that’s where he will be for the Bengals, but who will replace Alex Cappa?
LSU’s Miles Frazier has played primarily right guard and, like Fairchild, is renowned for his pass protection.
The Bengals hammered home the idea of versatility on the offensive line throughout the draft process. Marcus Mbow can play right guard but has primarily played right tackle at Purdue.
Ohio State’s Seth McLaughlin exclusively played, but I think he could convert to guard and give them a different kind of versatility. He is an excellent athlete who makes great blocks in space.
Running Back
The media has talked a lot about the running back renaissance, with players like Saquan Barkley convincing GMs to revalue the position. If that is true, it is hard to see why Arizona State’s Cam Skattebo is still available. He is a mean runner with speed and pass-catching ability.
Kansas State’s DJ Giddens, Kansas’ Devin Neal, and Oklahoma State’s Ollie Gordon Jr. all have playmaking ability that would make them excellent complements to Chase Brown in the Bengals backfield.
Cornerback
Three cornerbacks stand out to me for very different reasons. I think Ohio State’s Denzel Burke is really well-coached. He plays with fantastic technique and is remarkably consistent.
Virginia Tech’s Dorian Strong is an extremely talented man corner, which fits Al Golden’s scheme like a glove.
Kansas’s Cobee Bryant is skinny but super swaggy. He just flies around and makes plays.
Let’s Get Weird
No one is expecting the Bengals to take a wide receiver, but I no one was expecting Jalen Royals to be sitting there on Day 3 either. The Bengals don’t have anyone like the Utah State star. While he played on the outside in college, I believe he could be a quick slot receiver who could complement Andrei Iosivas and Mike Gesicki inside. He needs a lot of work on his routes, but receivers coach Troy Walters is up to the challenge.
