Bengals: Syracuse OT Matthew Bergeron named sleeper first-round pick
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best offenses in the NFL thanks to quarterback Joe Burrow and a lethal trio of wide receivers in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd. They'll still look to add more in the NFL draft with tight end still being a need despite the signing of Irv Smith […]
The Cincinnati Bengals have one of the best offenses in the NFL thanks to quarterback Joe Burrow and a lethal trio of wide receivers in Ja'Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and Tyler Boyd.
They'll still look to add more in the NFL draft with tight end still being a need despite the signing of Irv Smith Jr., and running back is another intriguing position with the uncertain future of Joe Mixon.
Cincinnati have been linked to offensive linemen as early as the first round, especially Oklahoma's Anton Harrison. However, Tony Pauline of Pro Football Network dropped an interesting nugget on Thursday. He claimed that the sleeper pick for the Bengals at 28th overall is Syracuse offensive lineman Matthew Bergeron.
Conventional wisdom says the Bengals will draft a tight end or cornerback. I have them selecting tight end Dalton Kincaid in my mock draft and Cincinnati is another team considering cornerback DJ Turner in the first round. The sleeper pick for Cincinnati is offensive tackle Matthew Bergeron of Syracuse.
They signed tackle Orlando Brown in free agency to play left tackle and plan to move Jonah Williams to the right side, but the former first-round pick is demanding a trade. I’m told the Bengals feel the athletic Bergeron could play right tackle on Sunday and would be a better pass protector for Joe Burrow than Williams.
The Bengals certainly have some uncertainty at right tackle with La'el Collins coming off a torn ACL and MCL plus a disgruntled Williams. So, Bergeron, at 6'5" and 318 pounds, is an intriguing name to throw in the mix as a possible selection for the Bengals.
During his four-year career with Syracuse, Bergeron logged 1,376 pass-blocking snaps. He allowed just 13 sacks, six quarterback hits, 36 hurries, and 55 pressures. He posted pass-blocking grades of 85.4 and 80.8 over the last two seasons according to Pro Football Focus.
Bergeron was also versatile in college tallying 1,946 snaps at left tackle, four at left guard, and 577 at right tackle.
Surprises happen all the time in the draft, and Bergeron to the Bengals could be another on Thursday.
