Cincinnati Bengals select Cedric Ogbuehi No. 21 in 2015 NFL draft
The Bengals picked up just 20 sacks last season, which led a lot of people to believe that they'd take one of the pass rushers in this incredibly deep class. But with guys like Shane Ray and Randy Gregory dropping out of the first half of round 1, there was the potential to find the right fit in later rounds. Cedric Ogbuehi is an interesting pick here because Bengals left tackle Andrew Whitworth was one of the NFL's best blockers in 2014, but Whitworth will be 34 in December, and both he and right tackle Andre Smith are in the final years of their current contracts.
Ogbuehi was in the same Texas A&M recruiting class that brought the Aggies Luke Joeckel and Jake Matthews, and he's played guard and tackle at a very high level. There is concern about the ACL injury he suffered in A&M's Liberty Bowl win in December, but Cincinnati's in a position to redshirt Ogbuehi if need be and develop him into the team's next franchise left tackle.
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Strengths: Quick and agile athlete for his size (6-5, 306)who gets out into a consistent and fluid kick-step in pass protection and accelerates quickly to the second level. For the most part, plays with good lateral speed and power, and a wide base, to keep defenders at bay. Has a good eye for twists and stunts and other schemes than require him to peel off his original target and scan protections. Has the short-area quickness and flexibility to excel in pulls and traps. Optimal physical prototype for the position, with a solid frame, good musculature and long arms. Has played guard and tackle at a high level, against some of the best pass-rushers and run-stoppers the NCAA has to offer.
Weaknesses: At times, will come off the snap too high and can be pushed back into the pocket -- not always a physically dominant player when first attacked. Stronger NFL edge-rushers may throw him around for a while. More an engager than a true drive-blocker -- more prone to sealing the edge with technique than just ramrodding an opponent out of the picture. Slight choppiness in kick-step may leave him vulnerable to speed counters. Struggles to re-direct quickly and pick up the slack when he's beaten to the edge. Not always a target-hitter in space. Concern about functional strength may be overplayed -- sometimes, Ogbuehi simply loses power due to technique issues. Suffered a torn ACL last December.
Player Comparison: Derek Sherrod
