A little while removed for the 2022 NFL draft now, it’s clear reviews of how the Cincinnati Bengals performed have been mostly positive.
That’s a credit to the team finding good value while hitting on some notable needs. And that was set up thanks to some major spending in free agency on the offensive line, which freed up the draft resources for a best-player-available approach, especially in the all-important early rounds.
Still, there are always some nitpicks worth highlighting along with the great stuff, so let’s step back and look at a few things to love and question about the team’s trip to the 2022 draft.
Love: The aggressiveness
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Not all aggressiveness is created equal. But the Bengals got smart about picking and choosing their spots to move up for prospects, which is pretty impressive for a front office that doesn’t usually do that. They moved up to get Cam Taylor-Britt in the second round and Tycen Anderson in the fifth. In the process, they didn’t sacrifice anything major. Those extra picks it cost to move up probably don’t make a Super Bowl roster anyway, but the players added after the trade up — at good value and spots of need — could help right away and possibly have long-term starting roles, too.
Question: The LG spot
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Yes, the Bengals did a brilliant job upgrading the offensive line in free agency. But they didn’t touch the left guard spot, presumably leaving it to a competition where 2021 second-rounder Jackson Carman is the headliner. But Carman’s maturity issues and other problems make that a risky gamble. Bringing Quinton Spain back might seem like a good idea, but he struggled a lot last year. Maybe fourth-rounder Cordell Volson helps make this a moot point, but it’s looking like left guard could be an issue.
Love: The value-need combo
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