Given the Cincinnati Bengals\u2019 issues on defense the past couple of years, it\u2019s a foregone conclusion that they will do what they can to give defensive coordinator Al Golden enough to succeed in his second season with the team. However, with such a heavy offensive identity, that doesn\u2019t mean the team won\u2019t look to add to that side of the ball this spring.<\/p>\n
I was recently privileged enough to be on a recent NFL media conference call with NFL Network\u2019s draft expert Daniel Jeremiah and was able to ask him something regarding the Bengals\u2019 plans. While it\u2019s fairly obvious the team will lean defense at No. 10 overall, might they be looking to add to their immensely talented wide receiver group?<\/p>\n
While the question sounds a bit crazy on its head, Cincinnati could use a true slot receiver this year. When this offense operated at its best in 2021-2022, Tyler Boyd manned that spot, with Trenton Irwin also showing capability in role.A tough, sure-handed and shifty guy inside of Ja\u2019Marr Chase and Tee Higgins would be a commodity and potentially take this star-studded offense to the next level.<\/p>\n
When I asked Jeremiah about these potential options ahead of the NFL Combine, I was personally thinking more about in rounds 3-5. However, the NFL Network draft guru had another guy in mind a bit earlier in the class.<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s the transcribed rundown of our exchange:<\/p>\n
\u201cI know it\u2019s going to be a defensive-heavy offseason for the Bengals this year, but looking maybe, mid-rounds for some sort of slot receiving option\u2026just another ancillary option for that offense,\u201d I queried.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf I can scheme\u2014if I can put a master plan together, and you told me I could use pick No. 41 to get that accomplished (Bengals\u2019 current second-round spot), I would run Omar Cooper, Jr.\u2018s name up to the podium,\u201d Jeremiah responded. \u201cI tweeted out the other day that I think he is \u2018The Rams-iest receiver in the draft\u2019 as a compliment\u2014just someone that is SO incredibly tough and strong\u2014like, we use the term \u2018crowded through the catch\u2019, your cleats are in the ground, you have confidence in your hands\u2026you\u2019re not leaving your feet and corralling the ball with your body, which gives you opportunities after the catch.\u201d<\/p>\n
A portion of my initial question specifically touched on Tyler Boyd, who was one of the Bengals\u2019 best receivers and was a key to the team\u2019s championship window a few years ago. Since both he and Irwin have left, Cincinnati has drafted three options to potentially fill that void over the past few years to varying degrees of success (Andrei Iosivas, Charlie Jones, and Jermaine Burton).<\/p>\n