The Cincinnati Bengals have attempted to hit home runs early in the draft recently by taking the approach of drafting high-ceiling players. The problem with many players who get these labels is that they also have low floors and need a ton of work to even get close to reaching their “potential.”
It is a high-risk strategy when a team like the Bengals relies on their first round picks to be major contributors fairly early, and they are potentially relied on to fill a need with little to no plan B.
Following that trend, ESPN’s Matt Miller has the Cincinnati Bengals selecting yet another defensive end who might not see his best football until a couple of seasons have passed:
Keldric Faulk, Edge, Auburn*
Hendrickson will become a free agent after the season, and his return to Cincinnati is hardly guaranteed considering the acrimonious nature of his preseason holdout. Joseph Ossai and Cam Sample will also be free agents, leaving the Bengals with needs up front despite drafting Shemar Stewart in the first round this year and Myles Murphy in 2023. Neither has had much of an impact, so perhaps Faulk could break through. At 6-6, 285 pounds, Faulk is built in the mold of Hendrickson with the power to lock out offensive tackles and the quickness to get to the quarterback. He has two sacks and 24 pressures this season and can rush from the inside and outside.
To be fair to Faulk, he had seven sacks last season. You just can’t blame Bengals’ fans for rolling their eyes at the thought of going through this yet again.
The Junior EDGE is still trying to prove he is more NFL-ready this season. What he puts on tape will be overanalyzed for months.
However, at this point, the defense probably needs some high-floor guys who are ready to step on the field and contribute. Most of their young guys have looked lackluster at best, so any production is needed.
Thrusting another guy out there who isn’t ready isn’t going to help anyone.
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