ESPN names Cincinnati Bengals' biggest 'x-factor' in 2022
ESPN recently named each NFL team's biggest X-factor in 2022 and they went with a rookie for the Cincinnati Bengals. According to ESPN's Ben Linsey, the Bengals' biggest X-factor in 2022 is rookie cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, a second-round draft pick out of Nebraska. Here's what Linsey had to say about Taylor-Britt and the Bengals: The […]
ESPN recently named each NFL team's biggest X-factor in 2022 and they went with a rookie for the Cincinnati Bengals.
According to ESPN's Ben Linsey, the Bengals' biggest X-factor in 2022 is rookie cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt, a second-round draft pick out of Nebraska.
Here's what Linsey had to say about Taylor-Britt and the Bengals:
The Bengals made their way to the Super Bowl with Eli Apple as their No. 2 cornerback, but their investments in the secondary early in the 2022 NFL draft indicate that they're not necessarily looking to run that back this season. Their second-round pick out of Nebraska, Cam Taylor-Britt, could push Apple for his starting spot. Taylor-Britt allowed a sub-80.0 passer rating on throws into his coverage in each of the past three seasons. He could make an impact for Cincinnati as a rookie.
Earlier this week, CBS Sports deemed cornerback Eli Apple as the Bengals' "most overvalued player", so it makes sense that he could be pushed for playing time by a rookie in 2022.
Apple was decent last year for the most part, but he was absolutely dreadful in the Super Bowl. There are a lot of reasons why Cincinnati lost to the Los Angeles Rams, but Apple is one of the reasons that's at the top of the list.
Taylor-Britt has already made his presence felt in minicamps with his vocal approach and bulldog mentality. If Apple slips up in 2022, it won't be long before Taylor-Britt takes his spot.
And that will probably be a good thing for the Bengals.
Featured image via Joseph Maiorana-USA TODAY Sports
