JLH'S MOCK DRAFT
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JH Trenches draft

  • JLH DRAFTING FOR THE
    Bengals
Draft Selections
Taliese Fuaga Head Shot
PICK: 18 RND: 1 (CIN)
Taliese Fuaga
OT Oregon State
Kris Jenkins Head Shot
PICK: 49 RND: 2 (CIN)
Kris Jenkins
DL-EDGE Michigan
Byron Murphy II Head Shot
PICK: 80 RND: 3 (CIN)
Byron Murphy II
DL Texas
Ainias Smith Head Shot
PICK: 115 RND: 4 (CIN)
Ainias Smith
WR Texas A&M
Javion Cohen Head Shot
PICK: 151 RND: 5 (CIN)
Javion Cohen
OG Miami (FL)
Andru Phillips Head Shot
PICK: 173 RND: 5 (CIN)
Andru Phillips
CB Kentucky
Brennan Jackson Head Shot
PICK: 196 RND: 6 (CIN)
Brennan Jackson
DE-EDGE Washington State
Steele Chambers Head Shot
PICK: 238 RND: 7 (CIN)
Steele Chambers
LB Ohio State
Carson Steele Head Shot
PICK: 254 RND: 7 (CIN)
Carson Steele
RB UCLA
Draft Grade — Bengals
Overall B-
ValueB NeedB TradesB- FutureB-
The Bengals robbed the room for Murphy II. Final grade: B-.

When a board-topper like Byron Murphy II slides to pick No. 80, you do not overthink it, and the Bengals did not. Solid and sensible more than spectacular: a B-.

They covered a lot of ground and still skipped tight end, which is a strange place to end up. Job largely done: cornerback settled and 6 of 8 of the wish list covered. The trenches got the money picks, top to bottom.

A tidy weekend of work that should hold up just fine.

Pick Analysis
Pick18 Rnd1 Taliese Fuaga
In slot 18 they get a long-term starter on the line. A real need, handled.
Pick49 Rnd2 Kris Jenkins
Kris Jenkins in Round 2, Pick 17 is exactly on the number, no argument either way. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Pick80 Rnd3 Byron Murphy II
Taking Byron Murphy II in the 80th overall pick is close to grand larceny; an interior defensive lineman that good had no business lasting this long. That was the need underlined and circled, and now it is checked off.
Pick115 Rnd4 Ainias Smith
A straight-up fair deal on Ainias Smith at the Round 4 slot, value and slot in agreement. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
Pick151 Rnd5 Javion Cohen
Nothing to complain about; Javion Cohen went a shade earlier than his grade, which is fine. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Pick173 Rnd5 Andru Phillips
A tidy little value on Andru Phillips in the 173rd pick, a step better than break-even. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
Pick196 Rnd6 Brennan Jackson
You do not let an edge rusher like Brennan Jackson reach pick 196 and blink. They did not. Depth on depth, at a spot that was hardly crying out.
Pick238 Rnd7 Steele Chambers
A slide stopped in pick No. 238, with Steele Chambers worth more than the price. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
Pick254 Rnd7 Carson Steele
They did well to land Carson Steele in the 254th overall pick, just ahead of his grade. It fills a real need, too.