Three Senior Bowl Standouts That Could Bolster Bengals' Defense

Which prospects can help the Bengals defense bounce back from a disappointing season?

Author:
Parker Blake
Publish date:
Feb 13, 2024 9:36 AM EST

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The Bengals' defense had some real struggles in 2023 and while there's a lot of focus on the offensive side of the ball, adding a couple key pieces on defense may be more impactful. Here are some prospects that caught my eye at the Senior Bowl:

I have developed a little draft crush on Ohio State defensive tackle Michael Hall Jr. He's incredibly explosive out of his stance and has great hands as a pass rusher.

He's also a physical run defender that can cause real problems for offenses. He's able to blow offensive linemen off the ball and can generate a lot of pressure in passing situations. Hall is an exciting day two prospect that could be an instant contributor for the Bengals.

I am interested to see what Chris Braswell (Edge, Alabama) could do for this Bengals defensive front. I know not a lot of people would be excited about an edge selection in this draft, but he has the power profile to contribute in a significant way.

In addition to how he can contribute as a run stopper, he plays on the edge and has pass rushing ability. Braswell has an impressive ability to play with leverage and drive offensive tackles into the pocket. He's not just a power rusher, though. He's shown good flashes of being able to get hands off as he works around the edge. I see him as another defensive lineman that could go on day two of the draft and be an early contributor to this Bengals defense.

Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell is another player that the Bengals could target. It would have to be in the first round, which may surprise some, but his high level athleticism and quick twitch ability would help get this secondary back to where it was in 2021 and 2022. I like the young talent the Bengals have brought in, but finding the guy that could lineup opposite of Cam Taylor-Britt and complete the rebuild of this defensive secondary should be a priority.

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