Rwh'S MOCK DRAFT

14

  • Rwh DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Mason Graham Head Shot
PICK: 17 RND: 1 (CIN)
Mason Graham
DT Michigan
Malaki Starks Head Shot
PICK: 49 RND: 2 (CIN)
Malaki Starks
S Georgia
Dylan Fairchild Head Shot
PICK: 81 RND: 3 (CIN)
Dylan Fairchild
OG Georgia
Andrew Mukuba Head Shot
PICK: 117 RND: 4 (CIN)
Andrew Mukuba
S Texas
Jake Majors Head Shot
PICK: 152 RND: 5 (CIN)
Jake Majors
C Texas
Tahj Brooks Head Shot
PICK: 191 RND: 6 (CIN)
Tahj Brooks
RB Texas Tech
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall B
ValueA NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
Brooks should have been long gone. The Bengals pounced, and earned a B.

The rest of the league will want that one back. Tahj Brooks tumbling to the Bengals in the 191st pick is a gift they did not have to think twice about. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B.

If this class has a fault line, it runs straight through cornerback. Spending an early pick on safety with cornerback, tight end and other spots open is the decision the grade keeps circling back to. On the needs board they went 3 of 8, with interior defensive lineman the one that mattered most.

All told, a solid class that does its job everywhere but cornerback.

Pick Analysis
Pick17 Rnd1 Mason Graham
In No. 17 they get a load in the middle, outstanding value to boot. The biggest hole, addressed.
Pick49 Rnd2 Malaki Starks
A top-tier safety at a bargain, Malaki Starks in the Round 2 slot, plain and simple. Useful body for a position without much behind the starter.
Pick81 Rnd3 Dylan Fairchild
Somehow Dylan Fairchild was still sitting there in Round 3, Pick 17, and they pounced on premier offensive lineman value. It fills a real need, too.
Pick117 Rnd4 Andrew Mukuba
Of all the spots to shop, they chose safety. Andrew Mukuba in pick 117 leaves cornerback, tight end and other spots for later.
Pick152 Rnd5 Jake Majors
A offensive lineman of that caliber at slot 152 is the definition of value, full stop. A real hole, addressed with a reasonable pick.
Pick191 Rnd6 Tahj Brooks
The board fumbled Tahj Brooks all the way to pick No. 191, and they scooped it up. It plugs a real leak on the depth chart.