My how things have changed for hungry Bengals fans, who are now feasting at the upper dining room tables with the emergence of their Franchise QB JOE BURROW. However, the team will be tested sorely over the next few seasons as MR. BURROW approaches that all important second contract, whereby he will eat up a seriously disproportionate percentage of the teams total Salary Cap. That is why, this Draft and the ones to follow have to be carefully planned and executed by upper management so that the uber -talented BURROW has enough good players around him to succeed. So let’s move on to bring in the next Rookie class of Bengals.
Round 1, Pick 28 DARNELL WASHINGTON TE Georgia 6’7/265 The team used the band-aid approach successfully last season bringing in HAYDEN HURST to provide BURROW with a solid vet TE, and overall it worked well. But now HURST has packed his bags, so the BENGALS are bringing in the best blocking TE in the 2023 Draft Class. But he has the athleticism, and desire to do more that just block. He is multi-talented and seems motivated to achieve greatness as a pro. He isn’t going to catch 100 balls this season, but he’ll improve the running attack, and his targets & catch counts should go up as the season progresses.
Round 2, Pick 60 EMMANUEL FORBES CB Mississippi St 6’1/170 Yes he is skinny as a rail, but he’s not being drafted to lead the run game support from the secondary. He’s coming in to beef up the coverage on a Corner. He has great ball skills and the 4.35/40-speed to go with it. He also has a knack of taking his Interceptions to the house. CHIDOBE AWUZIE has been a solid vet stop-gap at LCB, but FORBES is a long term answer there.
Round 3, Pick 92 TANK BIGSBY RB Auburn 6’0/210 This hard charging runner from the SEC may have to be ready to go from the start of Training Camp. MR. MIXON appears to have some new off-field issues to deal with. And the BENGALS may just be at the end of the rope with him. Losing PERINE in VFA is also a blow to overcome.
Round 4, Pick 131 A.T. PERRY WR Wake Forest 6’4/200 PERRY may be groomed quickly to replace a piece of BURROW’s weapon cache’ of CHASE/HIGGINS/BOYD. Three such quality guys may be just too expensive for the frugal Bengals to fit under their Cap number in the very near future. He fits the physical profile of HIGINS & BOYD and was a steady force at Wake.
Round 5, Pick 163 EARL BOSTICK OT Kansas 6’6/310 The Bengals are under no immediate obligation to grant JONAH WILLIAMS trade request, made about 10 minutes after ORLANDO BROWN signed a big VFA contract to start at LT. But unhappy players are best sent packing once a deal can be consummated. BOSTICK is a big bodied, talented player, who got little press because he played for a weak football program at Kansas, that perennial basketball power house. But he has NFL starter written all over his future. If not a RT, he might make his mark as an OG. Great value at this Pick, IMO.
Round 6, Pick 206 CALEB MURPHY ER/DE Ferris State 6’3/255 This is the guy you have heard impressive things about if you are a Draftnik, or college football fan. Ferris St is a D2 football power from the state of Michigan. D2 football has seem marked improvement in its football level of competition in recent years, and MURPHY is one of their marquee names. His Sack & TFL numbers are insane at just about any level. MURPHY recorded 39 TFL and 25.5 Sacks on the 2022 season, ultimately wining the TED HENDRICKS Award as the nation’s Top LB, regardless of level of competition. Every team in the NFL is looking to add another Edge Rusher, or two, to its roster.
Round 7, Pick 246 A.J. FINLEY SS/ST Ole Miss If you look carefully at NFL rosters you may be surprised at how many DB and Special Teamers from Ole Miss dot those rosters. FINLEY is one of several who will be in NFL Training Camps from this years Ole Miss prospect lists. FINLEY somehow missed getting a Combine invite. But he got a SHRINE BOWL invite and more than a few scouts gave him some extra attention in Vegas. Special Teams immediately, but DB duty in short order to my eyes.
I like this group for the BENGALS. It provides some immediate roster assistance, as well as including some good athletes who should benefit from pro level coaching. Most of these guys excelled at the collegiate level and look to have even more juice for the pro game.
Cheers
Pigskin
