The Cincinnati Bengals made a surprise run to the Super Bowl this year and they will be looking to sustain that level of success going forward. There is a lot to be excited about in Cincinnati, as that offense is loaded with weapons surrounding Joe Burrow. In order to stay at the top, the Bengals need to continue adding good players in the NFL Draft.
Alas, their biggest weakness also lies on that side of the ball. Anyone who watched the NFL playoffs watched Burrow get battered on a weekly basis. Cincinnati is committing malpractice by putting their franchise quarterback behind that offensive line.
Burrow has been sacked 83 times and faced 254 total pressures in 26 regular-season games. During the four postseason games this past season, Burrow was sacked 19 times and hit numerous more.
Fixing the offensive line is priority 1-5 for the Bengals this offseason and with good reason. If they cannot keep Burrow upright and healthy, this team won’t find much success in the future.
However, that isn’t the only spot on the team that could use a little help. On the other side of the ball, it wouldn’t hurt to add some more talent to the secondary. The Bengals have a solid group with Mike Hilton, Chidobe Awuzie and Eli Apple, but the team could look for some long-term potential at the position in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Awuzie has an out in his contract this offseason if the Bengals need to create more cap space. Apple was solid for Cincinnati last season, but he was picked on throughout the Super Bowl and has struggled throughout his career.
If Cincinnati is looking for a high-upside option in the middle rounds of the draft, their attention could be turned toward Cincinnati cornerback, Coby Bryant. Bryant combined with Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, who is a potential top-10 pick in this year’s draft, to create a shutdown duo for the Bearcats last season.
Bryant has some limitations given his athleticism and burst, as NFL speed could present a problem at times. His shorter arms will lead to some missed tackles, but teams will appreciate Bryant’s willingness to get involved in run support.
A four-year starter at Cincinnati, Bryant uses his experience to overcome his physical limitations. He possesses the size you want to see in an outside corner and could develop into a starter down the line.
A high-character player, Bryant will fit in any locker room. He was leaned on as a leader at Cincinnati and those qualities are certainly something that will draw NFL teams to him. The work will be put in to develop into a starter and any team that selects him could be getting a steal later on in the 2022 NFL Draft.
