Cincinnati Bengals NFL Draft Picks 2020: Round-by-Round Results, Grades
The Cincinnati Bengals got off to their worst start in franchise history in 2019, losing each of their first 11 games. Under first-year head coach Zac Taylor, they were the first team to be eliminated from playoff contention and finished the season 2-14. As a result, Cincinnati holds the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL draft.
In the 2019 draft, the Bengals selected offensive tackle Jonah Williams No. 11 overall. They added tight end Drew Sample in the second round and linebacker Germaine Pruitt in the third round. Cincinnati made seven selections between the fourth and seventh round, with former N.C. State quarterback Ryan Finley being among the team's more notable choices.
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According to The MMQB's AFC North team needs, after selecting LSU QB Joe Burrow with the No. 1 pick, Cincinnati should look to add offensive line and linebacker talent in the early rounds. The 2-14 Bengals should also look to target additional potential developmental starters on both sides of the football to avoid replicating their 2019 struggles.
You can follow along with AllBengals' draft live blog. A full list of Cincinnati's picks will be updated below as the draft progresses.
Round 1, Pick 1 (No. 1 overall): Joe Burrow, QB, LSU
Analysis from Andy Benoit: By all appearances, Cincinnati’s commitment to Burrow has been strong and steady from the start. The only reasonable knock on LSU’s 2019 breakout star is his lack of top-level arm strength, but that’s not to say Burrow can’t still make every throw. What sets him apart is how he gets to those throws. He sees and exploits the entire width of the field; he moves calmly, courageously and craftily within the pocket, and has good enough wheels to make plays outside of it. There’s no task in Zac Taylor’s zone-based, play-action-oriented offense that Burrow can’t perform. Getting him to quickly maximize the potential of those tasks will require better play at offensive line and wide receiver, areas the Bengals could address later in this draft but will also improve by default with wide receiver A.J. Green and 2019 first-round left tackle Jonah Williams returning to health. This can be a whole different Bengals offense in 2020. Grade: A
Round 2, No. 33 overall: Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Andy Benoit's analysis: This speaks to the Bengals’ concerns about incumbent wide receivers John Ross and especially A.J. Green staying healthy. They made this move despite having glaring needs on defense. Higgins, with his 6' 3" frame, wide catch radius and perimeter ball-attacking ability, is much more similar to Green, who will be 32 come Week 1 and is coming off a season-long foot injury in 2019 after missing seven games the previous year. One important note: Higgins improved in his last year at Clemson, including as an inside receiver. In Taylor’s play-action heavy offense the receivers often align in tight splits, working the middle of the field. Grade: B
Round 3, No. 65 overall: Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
Andy Benoit's analysis: There were some who thought Wilson was almost on LSU first-round linebacker Patrick Queen’s level in terms of pass coverage potential. If the Wyoming product pans out, he gives the Bengals the top-flight coverage prowess that they were hoping to get from third-rounder Germaine Pratt last year. Pratt played a much more prominent role in the second half of last season and will have every opportunity to take a big step forward in 2020. If Wilson can, too, the Bengals will be very comfortable playing nickel defense. Grade: A
Round 4, No. 107 overall: Akeem Davis-Gaither, LB, Appalachian State
Round 5, No. 147 overall: Khalid Kareem, EDGE, Notre Dame
Round 6, No. 180: Hakeem Adeniji, G, Kansas
Round 7, No. 215 overall: Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
This story will be updated.
