However unlikely it is, I'd love to snag Murphy @ #18 and miraculously find one of the RT's ranked above Morgan fall into our laps at #49. Another goal would be to come out of the draft with a RT and a IOL that could both be ready to be solid starters by 2025. If they keep all 10 picks (unlikely?) I'd be fine with an RT, a G/T and a C/G at some point. I'm not fond at all of our OL depth.
1. Fuaga
2. Murphy
3. Bowers
4, Latham
5. Mims
Need to protect Joe and really have to have a DT that is respectable vs. the run. Doubt Bowers id there (they all could be history by #18), but too good to pass up.
We leave Fuaga and Murphy on the board to take Thomas? Fuck that, we can get a solid WR Day 2. If they deal Tee (which I truly doubt) there should be a late day one or an extra Day 2 to pick one up.
I'm hoping either Fuaga or Latham are there at 18. If not, one of the 3Techs may well be there. There also may be a couple of surprise CB's &/or WR's sitting there. I'm seeing Bowers there at times too. I jump on him if the top RT's are all gone.
Round Two. I really like Sweat as one of the few NT's in the draft. Many have 49 as too soon for him, but I don't see him being there at 80. I'd go ahead and pull the trigger.
As far as round three? I could see a double dip at OL (IOL) or DT (3Tech). I'd consider either Jackson-Powers-Johnson or Kris Jenkins if still available at 80 then start going BPA (with some regard for need if it's close). I could see one of a trio of Longhorns (TE Ja'Tavion Sanders, WR Adonai Mitchell or RB Jonathan Brooks) at 97.
From what I've seen there is a grand total of four guys in the draft who could remotely be considered a NT:
Sweat (Texas) Rd 2-3
McKinley (Miss St) Rd 3-4
Jefferson (LSU) Rd 5-6
Anderson (FAU) Rd 6-FA
Am I missing anyone?
Rogers didn't do much at DL for Aubie after leaving the shadow of Deone Walker at UK. Was a five-star at OL coming out of High School. Might make a decent conversion project to OG that late in the draft. I'd take Walker as the Bengals first round pick and be damned happy.
Love this! Now have C (Karras). RG (Cappa) and LT (Brown) lockeddown. Volson will start at LG, but there should be several serviceable C/G wing guys for depth (I'd also scan the wire). That leaves RT. I give Jonah first shot for a year, but Brown's signing doesn't keep me from looking OL in the first round. If Dewand Jones is their at 28 and they think he can be the roadgrader they need there I don't hesitate in pulling the trigger for him. I let him sit behind Jonah for a season (if need be) and then I bookend him with Brown for three years.
OC Karras
LG Volson
RG Cappa
LT Brown
RT Williams
C/G (Mid-round pick)
G/T Carman
T Jones
I believe there are going to be more than a few RBs available in the FA or the middle rounds of the draft (3rd-round or later) that can give the Bengals what Mixon gave then or better (hopefully better in pass-pro) and I don't think the need better with the emphasis on the passing game.
I would not select a RB in round one, even if they were the top-rated remaining guy in the draft. I would look at OT, EDGE, CB and even TE ahead of a ball-carrier and there should be more than suitable ones of those there when the Bengals pick.