The Bengals hopefully have an answer at one of their guard positions going forward.
The Cincinnati Bengals took some pretty high risks in their draft this year. Nothing about it was particularly sexy.
Then again, there is nothing sexy about finding a starting left guard in the third round like Daniel Flick from Sports Illustrated thinks Cincinnati did when they drafted Dylan Fairchild:
“For as much was–rightfully–made of the Bengals’ defensive holes, Cincinnati also desperately needed help on the interior of its offensive line. Fairchild, a two-year starter at left guard for Georgia, projects to fill the same role on the Bengals’ line. He’s athletic and pro-ready as a run blocker and pass protector, and should give Cincinnati quality play early.”
You never know how a player will actually fit until they get out there on the field, but it is hard to be worse than having the worst duo of guards in the NFL like the Bengals did last season.
Fairchild has the inside track to the starting left guard position, but there are quite a few names gunning for either guard position. The incumbent left guard Cordell Volson has long been one of the weakest links on the offensive line. Fellow veteran players Cody Ford and recent free agent acquisition Lucas Patrick will also have their names in the hat. Then you have young players like Jaxson Kirkland and fellow draft pick Jalen Rivers.
It is easy to project Fairchild as an impactful player. He should easily slate in as a starter since the competition isn’t much to write home about. It will be useful if he can hit the ground running and even just be an average-level player at a position where the Bengals have routinely started someone who has been near the bottom of the league (at least in pass protection).
Now, we just have to worry about the reality that one of those names will be starting at right guard.
