Mock draft Monday is back for another week, and this time, I am taking a look at yet another scenario that could play out in just a few short weeks. Last week, I went in a similar direction as I did the week before, taking DT Jer’Zhan Newton, after taking Byron Murphy in the 1st round previously. This time, in the 1st round, I elected to bolster the trenches on the other side of the ball for the Bengals.
Rd 1, Pk 18: OT – Taliese Fuaga
Fuaga is a massive OT prospect who plays with power, length, and athleticism. His upside is through the roof, and he projects as someone who will be a high end starter when he puts it all together. Though the Bengals did sign Trent Brown to play RT this season, Fuaga fills a long term need. Sitting behind Brown will give him the chance to work on his technique behind the scenes, while also serving as an upgrade to the team’s depth for this season
Rd 2, Pk 49: DT – Braden Fiske
Fiske doesn’t have prototypical length for the position, but his high running motor has made him a consistent threat to get quick wins, or clean things up on a play that might be dragging on. He is a good athlete and has an underrated element of power to his game.
Rd 3, Pk 80: TE – Ja’Tavion Sanders
Sanders is an athletic TE with the ability to make plays out of the slot or the in-line position. He makes things happen with the ball in his hands, but is also good in contested situations. There are improvements to be made as a blocker, but he isn’t someone I would pigeonhole as just a receiving TE. With added strength and better technique, I think he can block at the next level.
Rd 3, Pk 97: WR – Jermaine Burton
Burton has the speed to take the top off the defence, but also has enough size and strength to battle through contact to make more contested catches. He’ll need a bit of development as a route runner, but the bigger thing regarding his draft stock is reported attitude issues. Based on talent, he’d probably go earlier, but with the possibility that he falls, the Bengals could get some value in the 3rd.
Rd 4, Pk 115: G – Isaiah Adams
Adams has good size and strength, allowing him to play with power. He is also a pretty good athlete for the position. His technique, including footwork and hand technique, will need some work before he is ready to see game action. He is a developmental prospect, but has the upside to start at some point down the road.
Rd 5, Pk 149: C – Drake Nugent
Nugent is lacking in length and may have some leverage issues at the next level. However, he is a strong player and anchors pretty well. The Bengals are in desperate need of C depth behind Ted Karras. Trey Hill hasn’t done anything to suggest he could competently fill in if Karras goes down. Nugent would help out their depth.
Rd 6, Pk 194: DT – Khristian Boyd
Boyd is someone I became familiar with through the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. He impressed in both prospect games, showing flashes as a pass rusher. Boyd is an athletic player who also brings a lot of power to the table. Though he is a small school prospect, so there will be an adjustment period.
Rd 6, Pk 214: QB – Taulia Tagovailoa
LB was a consideration here, but I didn’t like how the board fell. I decided to shake it up a bit and add a QB. Taulia, the brother of Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa, has fallen under the radar, but has the arm talent and athleticism to be a high end backup or potentially a solid starter at the next level. Traits never looked like an issue to me, but his decision making proved to be costly for him at times. But as a late round pick, I love the value. As he develops, he is someone who could be a good backup to Burrow once Browning moves on from the Bengals, and the potential of a trade also exists, should he impress in the preseason or potential regular season action as a fill-in.
Rd 7, Pk 224: DE – Solomon Byrd
Byrd is someone who caught my eye watching both the Hula Bowl and East-West Shrine Game. He was pretty quick getting around the edge in these games, and displayed good technique and a variety of rush moves. However, I haven’t gotten around to his game tape yet, so the sample size I’m going off of is very small. Something to keep in mind.
Rd 7, Pk 237: CB – Qwan’Tez Stiggers
After a family tragedy, Stiggers elected not to play college football, and was away from the game for a while. But he later returned to the game, and eventually ended up in the CFL with the Toronto Argonauts. As a rookie last year, he tied for 2nd in the league with 5 interceptions. Stiggers plays a physical game and has consistently shown ball hawking tendencies. It is rare to see a draft prospect who already has pro experience, while having not played college ball. But for Stiggers, being acclimated to the pro environment should help him. And he has clearly shown he has the talent to play in the NFL.
