Comment your drafts here and give reasoning behind a few selections.
My draft assumes Tee Higgins is extended to a 2-3 yr $25M/year deal, along with resigning DJ Reader to a 1yr/$10M deal and Chido Awuzie to a 1yr/$5M deal. Bengals cut Joe Mixon and Jackson Carman freeing up $8M cap space and let a few free agents walk such as Jonah Williams and Drew Sample.
1st Round – Amarius Mims is 6-7 340 lbs. and has better tape than any other OT that will be available at this spot. His tape in 2022 was great and with a follow up performance he probably would be closer to a top 10 pick but was limited from a minor injury. He has better foot movement than JC Latham and he can’t really be bull rushed. He would be a viable day 1 starter at LT or RT.
2nd Round – Brian Murphy is a 3 technique defensive tackle that can start day 1 as well. He can limit DJ Reader’s reps and learn from him during the season. Murphy is 6-1 308 lbs. and probably can add another 10 lbs., but he is explosive and moved the line this year. He was always in the backfield applying pressure. Along with BJ Hill and Reader, we can shore up depth and plan for the future.
3rd Round – Payton Wilson is a 6-4 240lb. linebacker and was a BPA pick here who might not be available draft day. Coming out of NC State which is the same college that produced Germaine Pratt, Wilson graded as a 90.4 coverage LB that played most of his snaps doing exactly what Logan Wilson and Pratt do with the Bengals. He had 3 INTs and QBs had a 47.2 passer rating against him. This is a luxury pick and not needed but would give great depth at LB. I could see Wilson taking over for Pratt in year 1 or 2 of his rookie deal.
4th Round – Sedrick Van Pran is one of the highest graded centers in this draft and fits the Bengals mold as he is great in pass protection. Ted Karras is going into his final contract year and this gives better depth and a succession plan.
5th Round – Javon Foster is an underrated three year starter coming out of Missouri. He doesn’t have the strength or upside that Mims has but he was solid for Missouri. He could move to guard and probably improve but he can play anywhere on the line besides center.
6th Round Pick 1 – Ben Sinnot is one of the best overall graded TEs in this year’s draft and may not be available here. At 6-4 245lbs., Sinnot played at Kansas State and faced tough competition while grading as one of the best run blocking TEs in college football. Sinnot graded as a 81.0 receiver and 76.1 as a run blocker. He has size and is agile, I think he is currently underrated on draft boards.
6th Round Pick 2 – Tahj Brooks is a 5-10 230lb. RB coming out of Texas Tech. He led college football in broken tackles and I think he can be a viable 3rd down back who can pass block. He caught almost every ball thrown his way but he isn’t much of a receiving threat and won’t be running a 40 yd dash much faster than 4.6, but he’s more of a tank build that should be able to fend off defenders in pass protection and get short yardage.
7th Round Pick 1 – J.C. Davis is coming out of a smaller school in New Mexico but against their competition he dominated and hardly ever let anyone near the backfield. He could be another candidate to move to guard.
7th Round Pick 2 – Troy Taylor is a giant for a punter at 6-4 232lbs. He averaged 48.2 yard per punt for Iowa and will continue to get better precise and strength. Another pick that may not be available here come draft day.