Oz'S MOCK DRAFT
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  • Oz DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Byron Murphy II Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (CIN)
Byron Murphy II
DL Texas
Kris Jenkins Head Shot
PICK: 49 RND: 2 (CIN)
Kris Jenkins
DL-EDGE Michigan
Cam Hart Head Shot
PICK: 80 RND: 3 (CIN)
Cam Hart
CB Notre Dame
Tyler Davis Head Shot
PICK: 97 RND: 3 (CIN)
Tyler Davis
DT Clemson
Johnny Wilson Head Shot
PICK: 115 RND: 4 (CIN)
Johnny Wilson
WR Florida State
Malik Mustapha Head Shot
PICK: 149 RND: 5 (CIN)
Malik Mustapha
S Wake Forest
Jared Wiley Head Shot
PICK: 194 RND: 6 (CIN)
Jared Wiley
TE TCU
Michael Barrett Head Shot
PICK: 214 RND: 6 (CIN)
Michael Barrett
LB Michigan
Carson Steele Head Shot
PICK: 237 RND: 7 (CIN)
Carson Steele
RB UCLA
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall B-
ValueC+ NeedB+ TradesB- FutureB-
A sensible, unshowy class lands the Bengals a B-.

Nobody else had Carson Steele anywhere near No. 237. The Bengals did, by 76 spots, and that gap is the whole story. They moved the roster forward and banked a B- for it.

They punted on offensive lineman, and it is the miss that keeps the grade honest. Job largely done: cornerback settled and 6 of 8 of the wish list covered.

Bottom line, more hits than misses and a roster nudged the right way.

Pick Analysis
Pick18 Rnd1 Byron Murphy II
In the 18th pick they get a disruptive interior force at fair value. It fills the loudest need on the roster.
Pick49 Rnd2 Kris Jenkins
Kris Jenkins at pick No. 49 is right where the board had him, plain and simple. Useful depth more than a marquee fix.
Pick80 Rnd3 Cam Hart
A conviction pick on Cam Hart at No. 80 that the board grades a round light. This was priority one on the needs board, and now it is handled.
Pick97 Rnd3 Tyler Davis
Tyler Davis at the Round 3 slot is the kind of overdraft that needs everything to break right. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
Pick115 Rnd4 Johnny Wilson
A premium they did not need to pay, Johnny Wilson a notch or two before his time. A must-fix position, and they treated it like one.
Pick149 Rnd5 Malik Mustapha
A market-rate safety, with the board and the slot shaking hands on Malik Mustapha. It thickens a room that could stand to be thicker.
Pick194 Rnd6 Jared Wiley
Jared Wiley at the 194th pick is neither steal nor reach, just the going rate. The one spot they could not leave alone, and did not.
Pick214 Rnd6 Michael Barrett
They paid sticker price for Michael Barrett in the Round 6 slot, and that is fine. A need, and now a little less of one.
Pick237 Rnd7 Carson Steele
Carson Steele at Round 7, Pick 17 is the pick scouts circle, and not in a good way. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.