Cincinnati Bengals: 'Expert' mock drafts have team targeting defense, offensive line help
Apr. 12—With the NFL Draft less than two weeks away, analysts are all over the board predicting what direction the Cincinnati Bengals will go with their first-round pick. The Bengals have the flexibility to go with the best player available at No.
10, and that seems to be reflected in various mock drafts circulating online. Regardless of the approach, Cincinnati should place a high priority on defense and offensive line depth, especially in the interior where there currently is no backup center. Here is a look at some of the first-round options that mock draft "experts" are suggesting at No.
10, why they make sense and what they say about them. Caleb Downs, S, Ohio StateBengals director of player personnel Duke Tobin said at the NFL Combine that positions addressed in free agency wouldn't be off the board in the draft. Otherwise, Downs wouldn't still be linked to Cincinnati at this point.
The Bengals added two safeties in free agency with Bryan Cook and Kyle Dugger signing, but that will not prevent them from taking the best one in this draft class if he's still there at No. 10. PFF analyst Jordan Plocher predicts that selection in his mock draft published this past week, noting the Bengals would be picking a "defensive difference-maker.
" "Downs is a smart player who started for three seasons, and his lowest season-long PFF overall grade was an excellent 85. 6 mark as a freshman," Plocher wrote. "Downs will be a welcome addition to the back end of the Bengals' defense, as he can impact the game in multiple ways.