This is one scenario where the Bengals could add a quarterback of the future while still addressing their need at linebacker.
The draft is drawing closer, and we are weeks away from seeing who the Bengals will add in this years draft.
While one-round mock drafts are fun and entertaining, it usually will leave you wondering what your team will do in the next round. That is especially true if the player projected to your team doesn’t exactly address a need.
Since it is becoming more and more common for mock drafters to send a quarterback to Cincinnati, it seems like a good time to look at a mock draft that goes beyond the first round after having the Bengals take a quarterback.
This mock draft was created by The Athletics’ Dane Brugler. It is a seven-round mock draft that was created based on what he has been hearing from around the league. It also doesn’t include any trades. Here is his first selection for the Bengals:
11. Cincinnati Bengals – Dwayne Haskins, QB, Ohio State
Haskins might be the toughest prospect to project in the first round because opinions on him are split around the league. However, the Bengals, who have an established veteran as a starter, would be an interesting landing spot where he can develop under the watchful eye of first-year head coach Zac Taylor.
It seems like the news that the Bengals are interested in a quarterback in the first round (whether you believe that rumor or not) and the rumor that NFL teams aren’t as high on Haskins have really come about at the same time.
When the draft process first started, it seemed like very unlikely that Haskins would even be an option for the Bengals at 11. At that time, it seemed like their marriage with linebacker Devin White was inevitable. Things have really come a long way though. Now Haskins is projected to fall, and White is commonly paired with the Buccaneers at fifth overall.
You may have your opinions on Haskins, but regardless of his strengths and weaknesses, this would be the Bengals buying a lottery ticket for a franchise quarterback. Haskins would also be landing in one of the more premiere locations for a rookie quarterback, because he would likely be afforded time to sit behind a veteran and learn. Most of these first-round quarterbacks will likely be counted on to start very early in their career.
Haskins having this time would allow him to work on weakness like his mechanics and decision making. He would also be able to build up some familiarity with guys like A.J. Green and Tyler Boyd during practices, which would help with his down field throwing. Not to mention having a guy like Zac Taylor being able to groom you for a season or two in his system is bound to help polish off some his rough edges he’d have as a rookie.
What is very interesting about this pick is that the Bengals also had Devin Bush on the board to fill their huge hole at linebacker. Opting for Haskins would be an interesting move, but Brugler doesn’t have the Bengals waiting long to address that hole.
Here is Brugler’s second pick for the Bengals:
42. Cincinnati Bengals – Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama
The Bengals are searching for their version of Leighton Vander Esch, which is why Devin White and Devin Bush are on their radar in Round One. But Wilson isn’t a bad Plan B in the second round. He has three-down abilities, including the potential to be one of the better cover linebackers in this class.
In this mock draft, Wilson ends up being the third linebacker off the board, and only one more goes at the end of the second round. This ends up being the only time Cincinnati takes a linebacker in this mock draft as well.
Wilson may not get the hype that White and Bush are getting in the first round, but he will still end up being a quality player. As Brugler states, Wilson will be very helpful as the Bengals try to find a linebacker who can come in and solve their issue of of covering at the linebacker position.
The major thing working against Wilson is that he only started 17 games. His inexperience led to some inconsistent tape, but the flashes are enough to give you hope that his ceiling is still very high in the NFL.
This gives an interesting case where the Bengals end up addressing their biggest need without using their first round pick. It is a scenario that most Bengals fans would likely be happy with at the end of the day, and it gives the Taylor era some solid footing to start out on.
Here’s how the rest of this mock draft played out:
72. Cincinnati Bengals – Max Scharping, OT, Northern Illinois
110. Cincinnati Bengals – Gerald Willis, DT, Miami (Fla.)
149. Cincinnati Bengals – Isaac Nauta, TE, Georgia
183. Cincinnati Bengals – David Sills, WR, West Virginia
198. Cincinnati Bengals – Mitch Hyatt, OL, Clemson
210. Cincinnati Bengals – Devine Ozigbo, RB, Nebraska
211. Cincinnati Bengals – Montre Hartage, CB, Northwestern
213. Cincinnati Bengals – Shareef Miller, EDGE, Penn State
223. Cincinnati Bengals – Keelan Doss, WR, UC-Davis
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