{"id":43472,"date":"2018-05-03T15:35:53","date_gmt":"2018-05-03T19:35:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/?p=43472"},"modified":"2018-05-04T04:45:28","modified_gmt":"2018-05-04T08:45:28","slug":"cincinnati-bengals-2018-nfl-draft-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/2018\/05\/03\/cincinnati-bengals-2018-nfl-draft-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft Review"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The 2018 NFL Draft has come and gone, and now we get to welcome all the new faces of the <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonprofootball.com\/nfl-teams\/bengals\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cincinnati Bengals<\/a>. Join the Last Word on Pro Football as we break down every Bengals pick, so you don\u2019t have to. Cincy made two trades and ended up with 11 picks in this year&#8217;s draft.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Traded the 12<sup>th<\/sup> overall pick and a sixth-round selection (187th overall) along with offensive tackle <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GlenCo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Cordy Glenn<\/a>\u00a0to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for the 21st overall pick and a fifth-round selection (158th overall).<\/li>\n<li>Traded a second-round (46th overall) and a third-round selection (100th overall) to the Kansas City Chiefs for their second and third-round pics (54th and 78th overall).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>With those picks the Bengals selected the following players:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>First Round, 21<sup>st<\/sup> overall: <a href=\"http:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2018\/02\/15\/billy-price-2018-nfl-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Billy Price<\/strong><\/a>, offensive guard\/center, Ohio State<\/li>\n<li>Second Round, 54<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <a href=\"http:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2018\/04\/19\/jessie-bates-2018-nfl-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Jessie Bates III<\/strong><\/a>, safety, Wake Forest<\/li>\n<li>Third Round, 77<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <a href=\"http:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2018\/02\/22\/sam-hubbard-2018-nfl-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Sam Hubbard<\/strong><\/a>, edge, Ohio State<\/li>\n<li>Third Round, 78<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <a href=\"http:\/\/lwosonnfl.ms.lastwordonsports.com\/2018\/03\/30\/malik-jefferson-2018-nfl-draft-profile\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><strong>Malik Jefferson<\/strong><\/a>, linebacker, Texas<\/li>\n<li>Fourth Round, 112<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <strong>Mark Walton<\/strong>, running back, Miami (FL)<\/li>\n<li>Fifth Round, 151<sup>st<\/sup> overall: <strong>Davontae Harris<\/strong>, cornerback, Illinois State<\/li>\n<li>Fifth Round, 158<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <strong>Andrew Brown<\/strong>, defensive tackle, Virginia<\/li>\n<li>Fifth Round, 170<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <strong>Darius Phillips<\/strong>, cornerback, Western Michigan<\/li>\n<li>Seventh Round, 249<sup>th<\/sup> overall: <strong>Logan Woodside<\/strong>, quarterback, Toledo<\/li>\n<li>Seventh Round, 252<sup>nd<\/sup> overall: <strong>Rod Taylor<\/strong>, offensive guard, Ole Miss<\/li>\n<li>Seventh Round, 253<sup>rd<\/sup> overall: <strong>Auden Tate,<\/strong> wide receiver, FSU<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Cincinnati Bengals 2018 Draft Grade: 8.5\/10 B<\/strong><\/p>\n<h1><strong>Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft Review<\/strong><\/h1>\n<h2>The Best Player: Billy Price<\/h2>\n<p>Price is exactly what you look for in an interior offensive lineman. He is versatile, having played both center, and both sides of the offensive guard during his career at Ohio State. He tied former teammate <strong>Pat Elflein<\/strong> for a Buckeyes\u2019 record of 55 straight starts. In 2017 he was a unanimous first-team all-American and won the Remington Trophy as the nation&#8217;s top center.<\/p>\n<p>Many scouts and teams expected Price to fall into the second round after suffering a pectoral tear during the Combine. Price should be ready to go by training camp though and clearly, the Bengals didn&#8217;t have a problem with the injury.<\/p>\n<p>Price should come in and be the starter at center instantly but can play either left or right guard if needed.<\/p>\n<h2>The Head-Scratcher: Why Not a Wide Receiver Early?<\/h2>\n<p>The Bengals finished 26th in the league in receiving this past season. A lot of that is because of their lack of top end guys at the position. They do still have <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/G\/GreeA.00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">A.J. Green<\/a><\/strong> who is the highlight of this group but lacks depth around him. Last year they spent a first-round pick on <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/R\/RossJo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Ross<\/a><\/strong>, but he is very injury prone and not proven.<\/p>\n<p>They drafted Tate in the seventh round, but he isn\u2019t looked at as a guy who can make a difference. The one hole they still have on their team heading into training camp is a true number two receiver and a number three player who can help <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/D\/DaltAn00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andy Dalton<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h2>The Surprise: Mark Walton<\/h2>\n<p>Walton\u2019s last season at Miami was cut short after an ankle injury sidelined him. That\u2019s why it was a bit of a surprise when he came out as a junior coming off the injury. Still, he is a good back who can provide support in both the run game and in the passing game.<\/p>\n<p>This pick is a surprise because the Bengals still have <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/B\/BernGi00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Giovani Bernard<\/a><\/strong> and <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/M\/MixoJo00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Mixon<\/a><\/strong> on the roster. Mixon was a second-round pick a year ago and should win the starting job in training camp this year. However, the number two spot should be up for grabs with Walton and Bernard fighting it out for who will be the guy.<\/p>\n<p>Walton and Bernard have the same skill set but if fully healthy, then Walton is the better back out of the two. He is a player many won\u2019t expect to make a big impact then shines when he gets a chance. Even though Walton was a surprise pick in the draft, he could end up being the number two guy in Cincinnati come the regular season.<\/p>\n<h2>The Steal: Auden Tate<\/h2>\n<p>During the season Tate was widely considered to be a day two talent but after a horrific Combine performance, his stock plummeted. If you just look at his combine numbers, it shows a story of a very unathletic receiver who shouldn\u2019t be drafted. But if you turn on the film you see a player who is able to win with his size and is a red zone threat.<\/p>\n<p>Due to the lackluster play at quarterback for FSU in 2017, Tate couldn\u2019t produce eye-catching stats as he finished with 40 receptions for 548 yards and 10 touchdowns. He averaged 13.7 yards a carry and averaged a touchdown once every four catches.<\/p>\n<p>His speed and quickness limitations could make finding an NFL role hard for him, but he should be a backup who can be a great red zone threat for a team for years to come. That is great for a seventh-round pick.<\/p>\n<h2>Most Likely to Turn Heads in Training Camp: Jessie Bates III<\/h2>\n<p>Bates is a very athletic safety who has good ball skills. He has very loose hips and can handle man coverage well. He plays bigger than his size and is an aggressive tackler. All these traits point to a guy who can make an impact right away.<\/p>\n<p>Bates will enter training camp as the number two safety but has a chance to challenge <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/I\/IlokGe00.htm?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">George Iloka<\/a><\/strong> for the starting job. The Bengals will be able to give Bates more freedom to roam the backfield and make plays because of his better ball skills and ability to better process and read the quarterback at game speed.<\/p>\n<h2>The Rest<\/h2>\n<p>Hubbard was another steal in the third round. He has below average athleticism but makes up for it with is size and football intelligence. Hubbard has good tape, but nothing jumps off the screen at you. He could end up being a consistent starter for years to come.<\/p>\n<p>Jefferson is a very athletic linebacker who lacks the instincts to play middle linebacker. He will most likely need to line up on the weak side where he can most take advantage of his athleticism. He tends to hit the wrong holes way too often and fails to feel upcoming blocks. Because of this it will take some time for him to become an NFL starter but he should be a core special teams player.<\/p>\n<p>Harris is a versatile player who can play either outside corner or safety. He needs to learn how to play with better anticipation to give himself an advantage in route breaks. He has a chance to be a backup corner for the team.<\/p>\n<p>Brown is a very top-heavy player and it shows on tape. His feet are always slower than his body and it causes him to be easily thrown around. He doesn\u2019t have the speed or explosiveness to beat defenders and lacks pass rush ability. Overall, I think he could find a way to being a backup defensive tackle who will have upside because of his size and motor.<\/p>\n<p>Phillips is a ball-hawk corner who has the athletic ability and short area quickness to handle receivers from the slot. He is effective in both zone and man coverage and can anticipate route.<\/p>\n<p>Woodside has potential to be a good NFL backup. He is an undersized quarterback with an average NFL arm but makes up for it with good football I.Q. and above average accuracy.<\/p>\n<p>Taylor is a player who has a chance to provide depth along the offensive line. He will have to compete for a roster spot in training camp though.<\/p>\n<h2>Bottom Line<\/h2>\n<p>Overall, the Bengals did a good job filling the holes on their roster.They have a lot of prospects who have the potential to be starters.They addressed holes at offensive line and in the front seven on defense as well as adding depth in the secondary.<\/p>\n<p><a id=\"DRJrOkNUROZiQpXTyFBe5A\" class=\"gie-single\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.com\/detail\/951981062\" target=\"_blank\" style=\"color:#a7a7a7;text-decoration:none;font-weight:normal !important;border:none;display:inline-block;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'DRJrOkNUROZiQpXTyFBe5A',sig:'rtS99qep_So5I32m6oKf_qLezgqR_Mzt8mDogpZ-_WI=',w:'594px',h:'401px',items:'951981062',caption: true ,tld:'com',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cincinnati Bengals 2018 NFL Draft Review The draft has come and gone, and now it&#8217;s time to analyze how the Bengals did in addressing the holes on their roster.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2470,"featured_media":43485,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[7,54,1647],"tags":[2580,330,407,61,40,1173,2363],"class_list":["post-43472","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-bengals","category-editorials","category-nfl-draft","tag-2018-nfl-draft","tag-cincinnati-bengals","tag-college-football","tag-football","tag-nfl","tag-nfl-draft","tag-nfl-draft-grades"],"modified_by":"John Bava","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2470"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=43472"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/43472\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/43485"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=43472"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=43472"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/nfl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=43472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}