The Senior Bowl advantage

[akiliMVP]

The covid-19 outbreak all but eliminated pro days and face to face interviews. Most teams have not had much 1 on 1 time with the players outside of the combine.

 

The Bengals got to spend an entire week coaching 50+ prospects at the Senior Bowl. This gives them a huge advantage over other teams.

 

Teams who coach the Senior Bowl already notoriously draft guys they coached there. With teams having so much less opportunity to meet with players there is no doubt the Bengals lean heavily on the experience in the draft.

 

Here's a breakdown of the Senior Bowl (South) roster:

QB Justin Herbert, Oregon (Top 10)

QB Jalen Hurts, Oklahoma (rd 2-3)

QB Steven Montez, Colorado (rd 6-7)

 

RB Ke'Shaughn Vaughn, Vanderbilt (rd 3-4)

RB Lamichael Perine, Florida (rd 5-6)

RB Eno Benjamin, Arizona St (rd 4-5)

RB/WR Antonio Gibson, Memphis (rd 4-5)

 

WR Austin Mack, Ohio St (rd 4-5)

WR Kalija Lipscomb, Vanderbilt (rd 7-UF)

WR Collin Johnson, Texas (rd 4-5)

WR Jauan Jennings, Tennessee (rd 5-6)

WR Van Jefferson, Florida (rd 4-5)

WR Devin Duvernay, Texas (rd 3-4)

WR Brandon Aiyuk, Arizona St (rd 1-2)

 

TE Stephen Sullivan, LSU (rd 5-6)

TE Jared Pinkney, Vanderbilt (rd 5-6)

TE Josiah Deguara, Cincinnati (rd 6-7)

TE Harrison Bryant, FAU (rd 4-5)

 

OT Prince Tega Wanogho, Auburn (rd 3-4)

OT Terrence Steele, Texas Tech (rd 6-7)

OT Alex Taylor, South Carolina St (rd 6-7)

OT Tyre Phillips, Mississippi St (rd 6-7)

OT Ben Bartch, St John (rd 2-3)

 

G Logan Stenberg, Kentucky (rd 4-5)

G John Simpson, Clemson (rd 4-5)

G Damien Lewis, LSU (rd 3-4)

G Tremayne Anchrum, Clemson (rd 6-7)

 

C Lloyd Cushenberry III, LSU (rd 3-4)

C Keith Ismael, San Diego St (rd 6-7)

 

DE Jabari Zuniga, Florida (rd 3-4)

DE Trevis Gipson, Tulsa (rd 3-4)

DE Darrell Taylor, Tennessee (rd 2-3)

DE DJ Wonnum, South Carolina (rd 5-6)

DE Jonathan Greenard, Florida (rd 3-4)

DE/LB Anfernee Jennings, Alabama (rd 4-5)

DE Terrell Lewis, Alabama (rd 2-3)

 

DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina (top 20)

DT Marlon Davidson, Auburn (rd 1-2)

DT Benito Jones, Ole Miss (rd 6-7)

DT Raekwon Davis, Alabama (rd 3-4)

DT Josiah Coatney, Ole Miss (rd 6-7)

DT Robert Windsor, Penn St (rd 7-UF)

 

LB TJ Brunson, South Carolina (rd 7-UF)

LB Cameron Brown, Penn St (rd 5-6)

LB Akeem Gaither-Davis, Appalachian St (rd 2-3)

LB Davion Taylor, Colorado (rd 3-4)

 

CB/S K'von Wallace, Clemson (rd 3-4)

CB Kristian Fulton, LSU (rd 1)

CB AJ Green, Oklahoma St (rd 5-6)

CB Dane Jackson, Pittsburgh (rd 5-6)

CB Darnay Holmes, UCLA (rd 2-3)

CB Kindle Vildor, Georgia Southern (rd 6-7)

CB Reggie Robinson II, Tulsa (rd 3-4)

 

S Kyle Dugger, Lenoir-Rhyne (rd 2-3)

S Jared Mayden, Alabama (rd 6-7)

S Brian Cole II, Mississippi St (rd 6-7)

S Antoine Brooks Jr, Maryland (rd 5-6)

 

K Rodrigo Blankenship, Georgia (rd 6-7)

P Joseph Charlton, South Carolina (rd 7-UF)

LS Blake Ferguson, LSU (rd 7-UF)

[akiliMVP]

Looking at the roster a few names and positions stand out as good fits.

 

Brandon Aiyuk didn't participate in the practice or game but he was there. He would be a great pick at 33. 

 

Ben Bartch is a small school guy who really stood out. Pick 65 would be a good spot for him.

 

Akeem Gaither-Davis excelled in coverage at the Senior Bowl. He's undersized but is the type of player the NFL is moving to at LB. Wouldn't be surprised if we picked him at 65.

 

There are a bunch of edge guys projected in the middle rounds. Makes sense to target one for depth in round 4.

 

There are a handful of offensive players from LSU I could see reuniting with Burrow. Sullivan in round 5 or 6, Cushenberry or Lewis in 3 or 4.