Bengals pulling out all the stops in meeting with top offensive linemen at NFL Scouting Combine
The combination of need and talent available makes offensive line the most likely direction the Cincinnati Bengals take with their first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft. Cincinnati needs a new right tackle to account for Jonah Williams' inevitable free agency departure. They could also use a new starter at left guard and a future […]
The combination of need and talent available makes offensive line the most likely direction the Cincinnati Bengals take with their first-round pick in this year's NFL Draft.
Cincinnati needs a new right tackle to account for Jonah Williams' inevitable free agency departure. They could also use a new starter at left guard and a future starter at center in a year that could see nearly 10 o-linemen go off the board in the first 32 picks.
If you have a favorite blocker in this class, chances are Bengals have talked with him in Indianapolis.
It's been three years since the Bengals have used a top-100 pick on a protector for Joe Burrow, and their last swing in that range whiffed badly. For the position group to truly take the next step, a young and highly-talented player is needed to contribute immediately. The Bengals' activity at the Combine shows they realized this as well.
Bengals meeting with several top o-line prospects
There are two offensive tackles, Joe Alt and Olumuyiwa Fashanu, who are projected to go much earlier than where the Bengals pick in the first round. Those who are expected to follow them on draft night are very familiar with the Bengals now.
Alabama's JC Latham, Georgia's Amarius Mims, and Houston's Patrick Paul all confirmed meetings with the Bengals, and said what you'd expect about being able to block for quarterback Joe Burrow.
"I remember that 2019 run he had," Mims said of Burrow's historic championship season at LSU. "He was a dawg. I would love to block for Joe."
Burrow and LSU of course toppled Mims' future school in the SEC Championship that season. It's been a few years and a pandemic since the Bengals' franchise quarterback took college football by storm, and his time there still resonates.
Mims' immense size may only be challenged by Paul, who measured in at 6-7 and 330 pounds at the Senior Bowl. Paul mentioned during his media availability that his formal meeting with the Bengals stood out to him.
"Everyone was in that meeting," Paul said about talking to Cincinnati. "It was surreal."
Paul isn't a projected first-round pick like Latham or Mims are, so it makes sense for Cincinnati to get to know more about him now.
Interest along the interior is apparent for Cincinnati as well
The Bengals aren't just interested in edge protectors. Oregon's Jackson Powers-Johnson and Duke's Graham Barton are interior offensive linemen the Bengals have met with, and each of them could hear their name called in the first round. Michigan's Zak Zinter, who suffered a brutal leg injury towards the end of the 2023 season, has also met with the team.
The potential star of the trio is Powers-Johnson, who's A to Z Sports' James Foster's top-graded center. He's as intrigued with Burrow as many of his peers are.
"It'd be amazing, Powers-Johnson said of playing with Burrow. "Elite quarterback. He's got the style, he's got the drip. Maybe I get some of those glasses. I don't know if they'd fit on my face."
He's got jokes to go with talent, eh?
Cincinnati's willingness to spend free agency money on offensive linemen has been a breath of fresh air over the past few years. Riley Reiff, Alex Cappa, Ted Karras, La'el Collins, and Orlando Brown Jr. have all come in to help solidify an o-line that was so desperate for stability.
That approach was useful, and now it's not as repeatable with so much cash already invested in those that are still with the team. The Bengals need to get back to drafting linemen, and they need to do it right.
Signs are pointing to the first part happening. We'll see if the second part comes true as well.
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